A Visitor's Guide to Fort Inevitable
Between the Echo Wood and the broad expanse of the West Sellen River stands a resolute stronghold of law and order: the walled town of Fort Inevitable. From its stern keep, companies of Hellknights ride forth to enforce the strict laws of their commander and bring authority to the unclaimed lands of the Crusader Road. While the taxes imposed by the town’s rulers are heavy and the laws inflexible, no one can deny that prosperity has followed the Hellknights’ establishment of hard justice in this small corner of the River Kingdoms. Merchants, travelers, and adventurers journeying on the Crusader Road find that Fort Inevitable provides a rare island of safety in an otherwise lawless land—so long as one is careful not to run afoul of the Hellknights’ laws.
A Brief History
The settlement was first established after the defeat of Zog and the fall of his Kingdom. The village of Southwood was one of the earliest human settlements in the area, on the very southwest corner of the Echo Wood. Emos Varden, a Hellknight commander on his way to the Mendevian Crusade, was hired by the village to rid the area of the bandits and other outlaws plaging them. Varden decided, after securing the area, to establish a permanent base to maintain the area for pilgrims and others moving through to the Crusade, he named the base Fort Inevitable.
Varden ruled as lord commander for many years, taking several expeditions to Mendev during that time. His rule was cut short five years ago by an assassin. Lady Commander Drovust, who had been his second in command, came to power and began her rule with a vicious investigation that ended in the hanging of 11 suspected conspirators.
Law and Order
The Fort is under the civic and martial rule of the Hellknight's Order of the Pike. The current commander is a stern, middleaged Chelish woman named Paralictor Audara Drovust. She is the commanding officer of the Order of the Pike’s chapter in the Crusader Road region, ruler of the Citadel, high magistrate, tax assessor, director of public works, keeper of the treasury, and chief regulator of business and commerce.
The Hellknights forcefully patrol Fort Inevitable and the surrounding lands, enforcing Drovust’s strict laws. They swiftly intervene to break up brawls and prevent crimes and maintain a long “wanted” list of known or suspected criminals. Sketches or descriptions of suspects are regularly circulated. Bandits and other criminals from nearby towns have a saying: "The Hellknights never forget."
While obvious monsters are fair game to all, the Hellknights do not recognize the right of any self-declared adventurer to kill "villains" and seize their belongings. That’s common banditry, and those who ride back to Fort Inevitable after committing such vigilantism can expect to be arrested—unless they’ve first secured a letter of warrant.
A letter of warrant is a license from the lord commander authorizing the bearer and her company to “act in the interest of good order and keep the lady commander’s laws.” The lady commander’s agents also require reports of just what actions were taken with a letter of warrant.
While the lady commander seems to wield complete authority, appearances can be deceiving. Two other Hellknight orders—the Order of the Nail and the Order of the Gate—maintain presences on the Crusader Road, and while they defer to Drovust, each maintains its own chain of command and works toward its own purposes. Much of the town’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of the Council of Prosperity, a group of wealthy merchants and industry owners that exerts a good deal of influence over the Hellknights’ decisions. Finally, the lady commander is bound by her order’s vows and regulations; the Hellknights don’t break their own laws.
Points of interest
- Caerlin's Vineyard (Farm) After fleeing the destruction of Mosswater, half-elven Caerlin established a vineyard to continue his trade with his daughter Taeserle. Taeserle now manages most of the winery's production.
- Stonde Homestead (House) Home of the widow Ilyanda Stonde and her children. Her son Davon has been heard talking to other kids about the “goblin fort” he found in the forest.
- Drurn's Tannery (Shop) Retired half-orc sellsword Drurn keeps a dozen slaves to work in the Tannery. He’s routinely in trouble with the Hellknights about his excessive treatment of the slaves.
- Naldred's Farm (Farm) Expansive fields of golden wheat surround the fine stone farmhouse of Naldred Tillman. As the largest private slave owner, he is a staunch supporter of the Hellknights’ rule.
- Holworth Dairy (Farm) The green hillside overlooking Misty Lake is home to the Holworths, a large and rambunctious clan of native Southwooders who have lived in this spot for the better part of 2 centuries.
- Serragon Ironworks (Foundry) The ironworks’ proprietor is Daldar Serragon, a former nobleman of Galt who fled to the River Kingdoms 20 years ago to escape the gallows. Daldar is not much of an artisan, but he has the loyalty of an excellent ironmaster, the dwarven smith Hurmarsk Firehammer.
- Misty Lake Misty Lake is fed by both a small, unnamed stream that flows out of the southern Echo Wood and springs under the low hill on which Fort Inevitable stands. The lake is deep, reaching 50 feet in its middle.
- Kettlefoot Mill (Farm) The well-established halfling miller Anden Kettlefoot is the owner of this large and prosperous mill. He and his family live in the attached house.
- Mosswater Gate (Gate) This gate consists of a large timber door sheathed in iron plate, plus a portcullis on the inner side. The Mosswater gate is under the command of Maralictor Kiera Wirt. She leads a detail of five Hellknighs who question everyone entering or leaving town.
- City Wall (Wall) The walls average 30 feet in height and are a little more than 10 feet thick at the base.
- Gate market (Shops) Local farmers and livestock-keepers apply to the Citadel for licenses to bring their produce, dairy goods, and meat to market on a regular rotation. The townsfolk often meet and gossip in the market square while stocking up on household provisions; “I heard it by the gate” is a local expression for the rumor mill.
- Zoldor's Masonry The establishment of the stonemason and builder Zoldor Maril. He sorely resents the Hellknights’ heavy taxes and their insistence on fair dealing, but his work is safe and solid, and many of the buildings in and around town were built under his supervision.
- The Juliver Arms (Inn) Large and comfortable by anyone’s standards, the Juliver Arms is the best inn to be found in Fort Inevitable. It’s under the management of a bustling clan of halflings named the Reedbanks, who pride themselves on setting a lavish table. The accommodations are not cheap: the Reedbanks cater to wealthy merchants and adventurers with loose pockets.
- The Red Shield Tavern Named for the striking coat of arms hanging in the common room, the Red Shield is a busy taphouse that is especially popular with the Hellknights.
- Poldmar Stables This large livery store, carriage shop, and stable is under the management of Kallon Poldmar, a respected member of the Council of Prosperity.
- Gertrand Yeldun (Home) A comfortable townhome on Juliver Way, this house belongs to the human moneychanger Gertrand Yeldun.
- Mirelinda the Clothier (Shop) A shop that produces and sells cloth by the bolt. The flamboyant Varisian Mirelinda Doumaz owns this workshop and regularly hosts lavish entertainments at her home, and often scandalizes the town with her affairs. There are many dark rumors about where she found the coin she needed to establish herself in Fort Inevitable.
- North Gate Cemetery The grounds of the Temple of Silence are well tended, and there have been no problems with undead in living memory.
- Temple of Silence (Church of Pharasma) The Temple of Silence has stood here for almost 200 years, founded after a priestess of Pharasma passing through was struck by a powerful vision on the spot.
- The North Gate Smaller and less busy than the gates on Juliver Way, the North Gate is intended for foot traffic only. The Guard detail here is smaller than at the other gates, consisting of three Hellknights plus a gate-sergeant.
- Garrison Stable The Hellknights maintain a good-sized stable close by the town's north gate. The Hellknight in charge of the stable is Hielon Keenlance, a battered and scarred old veteran.
- Nolm Bindery (Shop) Trading in papermaking, bookbinding, inks, and books of all kinds, Falandra Nolm’s Bindery is a cluttered and friendly place that is part workshop and part used bookstore.
- The Stalwart Priory (Monks) A small number of monks from the Taldan Order of the Stalwart Fist answered the call of the Mendevian Crusade. Three years ago, a master of the order named Sister Khedra established a small priory in the Crusader Road region to aid and support pilgrims and Stalwart Fist members on their way to Mendev.
- Serfurd's Potions and Reagents (Shop) Londor Sefurd is an unpleasant character with an oily, wheedling manner and an unhealthy interest in exotic toxins. He deals in potions, spell components, alchemical mixtures and, of course, a wide array of poisons.
- Rillin's Armory (Shop) Master armorer Rillin Nadinghad is widely acknowledged as the best crafter of plate armor for a hundred miles around Fort Inevitable.
- Braddon's General Store (Shop) Owned and operated by the affable merchant Thom Braddon, this shop sells provisions, tools, cookware, tack and harness, and a hundred other useful things.
- Victory Fountain This fountain consists of a stone plinth within a pool, crowned by a statue of the half-elf heroine Tarwynna, leader of the army that crushed the goblin kingdom of Zog.
- Hall of Rectitute (Courthouse) Cases of criminal and civil justice in Fort Inevitable are heard in this imposing courthouse. The Hall of Rectitude is home to a pair of spacious courtrooms, the offices of the town’s magistrates, and an extensive jail that’s usually quite full of prisoners, most serving short sentences for minor offenses.
- Mardyl Barracks The original stronghold of Southwood is now used as an auxiliary barracks by the Hellknights. Lady Drovust assigned the Mardyl Barracks to the Order of the Nail, and allows them to use it as their local headquarters.
- The Bailey (Training Grounds) This open ground in front of the Commander’s Citadel acquired it’s name years ago when the Hellknights were considering the construction of a much larger keep on this spot, and the name stuck. The wide, green field serves as the Hellknights’ primary practice ground inside Fort Inevitable.
- Chancery (Library) This building includes a chapel dedicated to gods of law, a goodsized library, arcane workrooms, and the Fort Inevitable offices of the Order of the Gate.
- Commander's Citadel The single strongest fortification in the Crusader Road region, the Commander’s Citadel is a roomy, octagonal tower more than 90 feet tall. The Citadel is home to Lady Commander Audara Drovust, as well as 40 Hellknights of the Order of the Pike and a number of servants. Those who wish to speak to Lady Drovust find that they’ll need to explain their business to the castellan Karn Kerromick or the chamberlain Erron Nythist first.
- Temple of the Golden Key (Church of Abadar) One of the largest and most ornate buildings in town, the Temple of the Golden Key is dedicated to the worship of Abadar, god of law and commerce. Hellknights under arms do not set foot in the temple without asking permission from the ranking priest present. The current leader of the temple is High Mother Sarise Dremagne, who oversees a small staff of three junior acolytes, a handful of servants, and a number of laypeople who serve as deacons and attendants.
- Goldfoot's Mercantile (Shop) These buildings are the headquarters of the prosperous trading house Goldfoot’s Mercantile, under the proprietorship of Mormuk Goldfoot.
- Juliver Leather Goods (Shop) This store sells armor, clothing, saddles, tack and harness, and other goods made from leather. The proprietor is a competent leatherworker named Salle Ulmander.
- The Salamander Company (Mercenary) The Salamander Company is the largest and most successful mercenary band in the area. They number almost 200, scattered all over the River Kingdoms in small bands on different contracts.
- Tsador's Arms (Shop) The best weapon shop in Fort Inevitable is Tsador’s Arms, owned and operated by the half-orc weaponsmith Tsador Ironmaker.
- The Helmed Lady (Tavern) The second taphouse in Fort Inevitable is the Helmed Lady, located between Fountain Square and the North Way. The tavern takes its name from the statue of Tarwynna in the nearby fountain.
- Lord Commander's Granary These four large silos hold a huge reserve of grain. The Hellknights buy up the first quarter of each local farmer’s harvest and set it aside.
- Dilapidated House This shady house has stood vacant for several years. The Hellknights are preparing to take possession of the place and auction it off.
- Abernard Royst's House A whitehaired sage of 55 years, Abernard Royst is one of the most notable adventurers permanently residing in Fort Inevitable.
- Juliver Gate Identical in construction to the Mosswater Gate, the Juliver Gate is home to another dozen Hellknight guards, led by an half-orc officer name Bolgur.
- Town Sewers Fort Inevitable’s streets are drained by a wellbuilt sewer system that empties into a small creek on the north side of the city wall. The discharge is covered by a locked grate.
Corruption +3 Crime -3 Law +4 Lore 0 Society -2
Qualities insular, prosperous
Danger +0
Demographics
Government overlordPopulation 960 (878 humans, 25 half-orcs, 18 dwarves, 9 half-elves, 30 other)
Notable NPCs
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