ARRR (Artonsamay River Recon Report)

Gwylim winged back after midnight, dropping breathlessly onto the Argus' rail near where Wryn sat cross-legged.
 
<Master, my wings are going to fall off! You've never had me travel so far. And at night! I could have been eaten! I'm pretty sure a wyvern followed me for over 5 miles! But never fear, I shook him in a copse of trees before I continued back here. I wouldn't want him to sting you to death, dear master... After all, you've treated me so well these past weeks...>

Wryn's expression was a study in unimpressed, forced patience. "How very kind of you, dear Gwylim," came his response, dripping in sarcasm. "Please continue - with useful information this time."
 
<You have no appreciation for the dangers I've faced tonight, Master!> Gwylim sulked.
 
"Stop being so dramatic; you can't die," Wryn reminded him.
 
<You think I don't feel pain?! Gwylim screeched in his head. You try streaking toward the earth like a burning comet and THEN tell me I'm being dramatic!>
 
Wryn sighed. "Fine. When we get back to Redspan I will release you to spend a whole day in the Widom Ethlam's windowsill pecking at her pies."
 
<A whole day? Truly?>
 
Wryn eyed the bird, irritation building. "Yes, Gwylim. Now do not test me further. Tell me what you've seen."
 
Gwylim's feathers ruffled and he preened under a wing a moment before continuing.
 
<Thank you, Master! OK, where to start...? Well, I found a delicious patch of blackberry bushes while resting for a few...>
 
Gwylim trailed off as he noted the whites of Wryn's eyes.
 
<Oh, you wouldn't care, right... OK, well, I'd flown maybe 20 miles when I noted campfires up ahead. As I got closer I circled a small ship, very similar to this one. It was anchored in a cove, well hidden around a bend along the north bank. I only saw the torches on it since I was maybe 300 ft above the river, but you wouldn't see it from the river, even at night. The banks are high and thick with trees.>
 
Gwylim paused a moment to gauge Wryn's expression before continuing.
 
<There was a body floating in the cove, Master. Headless. What I could make out of the body told me it was dressed similar to the sailors on the Argus. On that ship's deck were four sailors bound to the mast and three men patrolling the deck with crossbows in hand, wearing mail.
 
There was another patch of firelight maybe a quarter-mile west along the river, also. It turned out to be a camp. The camp has two wooden palisade walls, ten feet high, maybe sixty or seventy feet on a side - facing north and west. There are two towers set into the northwest and northeast corners that stand five feet higher than the walls. In both walls there are gates maybe ten feet wide with double doors made of stout timbers - just like the walls. The north gate is blocked by a large covered wagon. The other two sides are bordered by ten-foot ledges dropping into water. A narrow wharf juts out maybe twenty feet into the river. I can't be certain, but I think even a ship the size of the Argus could dock there.
 
There's another covered wagon in the center of the camp, a few handcarts and two cages. Supplies in boxes and sacks were scattered throughout the camp. There's also a platform five feet high along the riverbank. I noted five tents pitched inside the walls - one was large, maybe ten to twelve feet on a side.
 
I saw only three humans patrolling the walls, another walking the wharf and a fifth stepped out of a tent to relieve himself. There was one more in a cage.>
 
Gwylim hopped from one clawed foot to another, pleased with himself.
 
"Nice work. Let's get below deck, where there is better lighting, and I will draw up a detailed map for the rest of the crew."