Imperial Fort

*"You see the ways I have changed the Game, even building games within games? I do not want any surprises to befall you when you face the Usurper."*

## Event 1

*You are brought to the Commander of the fort, Caelus Pompeius Trenico.*

*"Mercenary, we need supplies of wood and stone. Go out and find what you can for us."*

*A squad of soldiers, led by one Captain Alpus, make ready to accompany you into the wilds.*

**The player gains 20 Soldiers.**

**These Encounters are revealed on the map:**

* Dense Woods
* Light Forest
* Narrow Ravine
* Quarry

## Event 2

*Commander Tremico makes a cursory inspection of the wagon of wood on your return.*

*"Good work, men!" He commends the troops who accompanied you, before quickly retreating to his tent.*

*His lieutenant remarks, "Keep searching the hills, we will need stone as well. You may visit the mess tent for supplies so long as you remain useful to us."*

*"And someone get this mercenary some decent equipment!" he roars, heading back to his tent.*

**The player gains 2 Fame.**

**The player gains 1 of 2 Equipment Cards.**

*You are at the Empire Fort.*

*There are X soldiers on duty here.*

1) Inspect the defences.

*You discuss the state of the fort defenses with Captain Alpus.*
*"What would you suggest we construct?" he asks.*
A) Wooden spikes. (30 Wood, +80 Def)
*Construction begins on a series of wooden spikes along the edge of the perimeter ditch.*
**The player loses 30 Wood.**
B) A palisade. (80 Wood, +190 Def)
*Construction begins on a wooden palisade around the fort.*
**The player loses 80 Wood.**
C) Gatehouse (requires a palisade). (70 Wood, 10 Stone, +150 Def)
*Construction begins on a gatehouse.*
**The player loses 70 Wood and 10 Stone.**
D) Ballistas. (60 Wood, +120 Def)
*Construction begins on a set of ballistas.*
**The player loses 60 Wood.**
E) Barbican (requires Gatehouse). (40 Wood, 15 Stone, +180 Def)
*Construction begins on a barbican to protect the gatehouse.*
**The player loses 40 Wood and 15 Stone.**
F) Central Tower. (110 Wood, 35 Stone, +280 Def)
*Construction begins on a central stone tower.*
**The player loses 110 Wood and 35 Stone.**
G) Finish inspecting the defenses.
2) Visit the mess tent.

*You enter a tent filled with the unpleasant aroma of hardy soldiers and unidentifiable food.*
*While securing supplies for your next trek into the wilderness, you overhear soldiers talking.*
* *"I speared two of those savages with a single ballista shot yesterday!"*
* *"My great, great grandparents came this way with the old settlers. The fairy folk scared them back to the city after just a few years though."*
* *"I was on duty in the gatehouse last night and I swear I saw some of those filthy mountain men just outside the light of the torches!"*
* *"That mercenary Alpus found sure knows his way around these mountains!"*
* *"The new ballistas will make short work of those barbarians!"*
* *"The dark forests of the Northern mountains are haunted!"*
* *"The ravine bridge means that I don't have to hike for 12 miles whenever I'm on wood duty!"*
* *"The gatehouse is cold and does nothing to keep out the chill mountain air - but it's better than walking the wall."*
* *"The prisoners speak of their leader as though he were a god himself. Well, the Empire has crushed god-kings before."*

**The player gains up to 5 Food.**
3) Leave the fort.

4) Lead Captain Alpus on another gathering mission.

*You set off into the mountains once more.*
**The player gains 20 Soldiers.**