Deer's Den

Deer's Den is an Imperial fort located in Muighobar, Chrichheim. It guards a crossroads approximately two hours north of Week village and is primarily tasked with defending the village itself, the surrounding countryside, and the local chunk of Loch Mor's coastline.
== Characteristics ==
=== History ===
The fort of Deer's Den has a long history that stretches all the way back to the Empire's founding. Back then, the fort was more for local defence against rival clans and rampaging orcs. The fort has maintained a similar purpose ever since, though it now has to also deal with occasional incursions from the Vampiric Union.
It was more recently discovered that the current site of Deer's Den was also once a settlement for a pre-Imperial tribe, after the remains of a camp were discovered just outside the fort during the construction of defensive earthworks.
=== Construction ===
Deer's Den, despite its modest size, is strategically situated to oversee and control the vital crossroads leading to the northern territories and the nearby village of Week. It is designed to blend in with the surrounding terrain, utilising local hills as natural defences. The fort is primarily constructed from timber, with its outer walls reinforced by earthworks. The main entrance is accessible through a heavy, iron-bound gate that leads into a central courtyard, around which the fort's main buildings are arranged.
Within the fort's perimeter, the layout is pragmatically organized. The central courtyard serves as a muster point and training area, surrounded by the barracks, armoury, and the captain's house. A small, but well-equipped infirmary is also present. Towards the back, a stable houses the mounts used for patrols and messages.
=== Purpose ===
Deer's Den serves as a crucial military outpost locally, tasked with the surveillance and protection of the strategic crossroads it overlooks. This it to ensure the movement of citizens, messages, and trade goods. The fort's presence not only deters potential threats from hostile factions but also acts as a symbol of authority and a point of safe passage for its citizens. Additionally, it functions as a hub for local military operations, providing support to the surrounding settlements and facilitating Imperial control over the area.
== Layout and Inhabitants ==
=== Layout ===
==== Outer Defences ====
The outer defences of Deer's Den are pretty standard-issue for Imperial rural forts. The timber palisades, sourced from the local area's woodlands, are robust and tall, with their tops honed to sharp points to deter would-be attackers. These wooden walls are further reinforced by earthen ramparts, piled high against the inner side, providing additional cover and absorbing the impact of artillery fire. The main gate, constructed of heavy timber and reinforced with iron bands, stands as a sturdy bulwark against entry.
==== Central Courtyard ====
At the heart of Deer's Den lies the central courtyard, an area of compacted earth that serves as the nexus for the fort's daily activities. This space is meticulously maintained, ensuring it remains level and firm to accommodate troop formations, drills, and gatherings. The courtyard is flanked on all sides by the main buildings of the fort, with wide paths leading to each entrance. It's here that the garrison comes together, whether for daily muster, training exercises, or to receive orders.
==== Barracks ====
The barracks are a study in functional simplicity, constructed from the same sturdy timber as the fort's walls. The building is divided into two floors: the lower for daytime activities and communal living, with tables and benches for dining and planning, and the upper floor dedicated to sleeping quarters. Here, rows of bunk beds line the walls, each with a small chest at its foot for personal belongings. Windows are few, designed more for ventilation than view.
==== Armoury ====
The armoury of Deer's Den is the place where the fort stores its weapons and powder reserves. It is dug into the ground so that it can withstand both external threats and the accidental ignitions of its volatile contents. Within, the interior is a meticulously organized arsenal, with racks of flintlock muskets, sabres, and bayonets arrayed in precise rows, alongside leather bandoliers and wooden casks of gunpowder stored in a separate, specially ventilated chamber. The armoury's heavy door is typically locked, accessible only to the fort's officers and the master-at-arms.
==== Captain's House ====
Set slightly apart from the rest of the fort's confines, the captain's house is an enclave of relative comfort and status. This residence, while still constructed from timber, features finer workmanship, with panelled walls, glass windows, and a shingled roof. Inside, the furnishings are of a higher quality, with upholstered chairs, wooden desks, and beds with proper mattresses. The house includes a study filled with maps, dispatches, and military treatises.
==== Infirmary ====
The infirmary is a crucial facility within Deer's Den. It is a single-storey building, with large windows to allow in light and air. The interior is divided into two main areas: a ward with several beds for patients, and a smaller room that serves as an office and storage for medicines and surgical tools. The beds are spaced apart to prevent the spread of disease, with simple curtains for privacy. The infirmary is staffed by a lead surgeon and assisting medics, who are equipped to perform a range of treatments, from setting fractures to more complex surgeries.
==== Stables ====
The stables at Deer's Den provide essential support for the fort's mobility and communication. Constructed to the side of the main compound, this long, low building is designed to house horses in individual stalls, providing them with shelter and care. The structure includes a loft for hay and grain storage.
=== Inhabitants ===
Being a military fort, Deer's Den is inhabited only by the fort's officer staff and its garrison. The garrison itself is comprised of a single company or part of one - about 100 troops. The captain of the fort and some of the senior staff are stationed in the fort year-round, but your typical soldier is not - being rotated in and out of garrison duty every 6 months or so. That being said, there are some soldiers, usually those in support roles, that choose to stay stationed permanently at Deer's Den.
==== Officer Staff ====
The officer staff of Deer's Den is comprised of the fort's commanders and leadership. Given the fort's size, however, this team is largely restricted to the fort's captain, the master-at-arms, and lesser officers.
The leader and commander of Deer's Den is Captain Eldert Lemmerman - a 58 year old imperial. Originally from Zeeheim, Lemmerman has been stationed in Chrichheim for most of his career and consequently fell deeply in love with the county and its culture. He often wears a tartan sash over his uniform to symbolise this commitment. As a captain, Lemmerman is a disciplined and strategic leader. He commands respect, with experience visible in the measured gaze and deliberate manner in which he navigates command. Lemmerman is not only a skilled tactician but also a leader deeply committed to the welfare of his soldiers, often seen engaging with his men or deliberating over maps and reports in his quarters. Despite his firm exterior, those who know him well speak of a man with a deep sense of duty and a quiet warmth, making him a well-respected figure amongst the fort's garrison.
Lieutenant Lydia Stuart is the second-in-command behind Captain Lemmerman - a 36 year old imperial. She is known amongst the company for her discipline, skill, and unwavering commitment to the Imperial Army. A career soldier, her skills have been honed by years of rigorous training and so displays an aptitude for leadership and combat. Stuart is a practically-minded woman, though uncompassionate. She carries multiple scars from her time in service, which she carries with pride. Lieutenant Stuart is also Deer's Den's master-at-arms, meaning she is responsible for the physical training and drilling of the fort's garrison. This is a role she handles with formidable strength.
Lieutenant Helle, the fort's esteemed third-in-command, is a High Elf and about 700 years of age. Helle, as old as he is, has served in both the armies of the Elven Dragon Dominion and the Empire of Man. He is an incredibly experienced commander with a calculated, strategic mindset. As third-in-command, Helle is often left to lead many of the wider logistical runnings of the fort and his counsel on strategy and tactics is highly respected by Captain Lemmerman. However, Helle is also known to be a commander that values disciplined and obedience and so drills those under his command near-constantly. This makes him somewhat unpopular amongst the regular soldiers, and this fact has likely held Helle back from promotion.
==== Garrison ====
The fort's garrison includes the regular soldiers that man the fort, as well as support staff like doctor's and blacksmiths. Most of the garrison at Deer's Den are rotated out of garrison duty every 6 months, however some choose to remain posted at the fort full-time. These people are usually the support staff, who prefer to relative comforts the fort provides than the roughness of field work.
Doctor Arran Gibb, a 42 year old imperial, is Deer's Den's designated surgeon and doctor. A man of intellect and compassion, Gibb has dedicated his life to the art of healing. Gibb possesses a calm demeanour and is considered a man of curiosity, empathy, and quiet humour. Many of the soldiers at Deer's Den commend Doctor Gibb for his warm bedside manner. He is also a man that desires knowledge above almost all over things, and often looks unkempt from hours spent poring over medical texts. Indeed, Gibb is a scholar at heart and combines the traditional practices that are expected of him with new ideas he discovers from his research. Unsurprisingly, this experimentation is met with quite a bit of scepticism by the fort's garrison. Despite this, he is a beloved figure among the solders of Deer's Den and a trusted confident to many within the fort.
The quartermaster of Deer's Den is Damichar, a 58 year old tiefling. Damichar holds considerable repute amongst the soldiers of Deer's Den, respected for his charm and pragmatic energy. He has an affable demeanour and speaks with a dry wit that makes him a fun character to be around. However, he is also undeniable competent and dedicated to his role in the fort. His role as quartermaster has made him indispensable, which Damichar uses to get away from a level of casualness that most within the Imperial Army would be punished for. Captain Lemmerman allows this due to a combination of Damichar's skill as a quartermaster and how popular he is among the soldiers.
Sergeant Alice O'Hart, a young imperial at only 26 years of age, is Deer's Den chief scout, an important role given the fort's rural location. Originally from Glasheim, Alice is a career soldier and a talented one at that. Her upbringing in the wilds of Glasheim made her an excellent tracker, hunter, and scout - skills that she brings to the Imperial Army. Known for her stoic demeanor, she possesses an unwavering sense of duty and a loyalty to the fort. But, despite her often reserved nature, Alice is not without warmth, displaying a dry sense of humour and a deep-seated kindness to those she considers friends.
== Trivia ==
* Deer's Den is inspired by the town of Kintore, in Aberdeenshire, and more specifically the Roman camp that was discovered there (also called Deer's Den).