Lore:The Restoration of Fort Grief

At the direction of the High Priest of the  , I visited   recently to perform a survey of the old fortifications. The site is ideal for a base in the Imperial  , and the island location provides us with the ability to keep prying eyes well away from our important work. My recommendations follow.

First, some background may be in order. Fort Grief was constructed on an island at the mouth of the   between   and  , in the early years of Emperor  's reign. Intended to protect the eastern shoreline of   against attacks from the   or  , it proved superfluous even before it was completed. The  's rapid expansion eliminated any real threat of enemy fleets ascending the Niben, and even the most aggressive   raiders never struck directly at the Heartlands. By  , the fort was largely abandoned.

During the next three centuries, customs officials and patrols from nearby cities occasionally used the Imperial fort as a watchtower to combat smuggling and local piracy. However, no one made any serious effort to maintain Fort Grief, and it fell into ruin. While the walls and stone towers remain in good condition, most of the wooden flooring and roofs have deteriorated beyond repair in the humid conditions surrounding Niben Bay.

My plan for refurbishing the fort follows:

Phase I (2 months) 
I have learned the fort can be leased from the   by any landed noble willing to take on the cost of its upkeep. We need nothing more than a cooperative local lord who might have a plausible interest in sponsoring "anti-smuggling patrols," and some well-placed bribes to the right officials in  . I understand the High Priest is already seeing to these matters.

Phase II (4 months) 
Repair the fort's docks and dredge the channel nearby. As matters stand, one can only approach the island in a small boat and go ashore by wading. If we intend to carry out major restorations, we must have a landing suitable for barges carrying heavy timber and stone. Cheap labor is available in   and Leyawiin. We will also require temporary housing for the workers, but tents or shacks should suffice for that.

Phase III (8 months) 
Repair damaged foundations and shore up the walls. The most challenging job involves a major expansion of the cellars beneath the main keep. I have been informed that the Order requires this space for a special project. The masons we bring in for this part of the fort's restoration must be disposed of when the work is complete—we should hire them in distant cities to avoid awkward questions from local officials.

Phase IV (4 months) 
Re-floor and re-roof all interior buildings. Furnish each building as needed for its purpose. Local laborers should suffice for this work, although we should make sure that none are allowed into the main keep. Stock the storehouses and armories with supplies, sufficient to support a moderately sized garrison for up to three months. While Bravil is not far away, we cannot rely on the city for regular provisioning due to its proximity to the ongoing  .

Assuming sufficient funds are available, I see no reason why we cannot take full occupancy of a rebuilt Fort Grief within a year and a half. For the glory of  !