The Bunker

The Bunker, or The New Bunker, is the main base of the Vindicators, and home to the majority of the faction.

Constructed during summer and autumn of 1701, the new Bunker replaced the old one after it became compromised by a traitor in summer of 1701. It can not be visited by non-Vindicators, including family members. Its exact location is protected from prying minds by talismans possessed by each Vindicator.

## Role and Purpose

The Bunker, being the larger of the the Vindicator bases, has taken a natural role as their main base, where most Vindicators live. All younger cadets and new recruits live exclusively at the Bunker until they are ready to graduate to active duty, as do mothers with young children or anyone who is currently injured or sick. Most Supports reside at the Bunker, if not permanently, then at least most of the time, as this is where their skills are most helpful. Farming, crafting, repairs and maintenance mostly take place here.

The Bunker is used as the main storage due to the larger size of the base - this includes both food supplies and loot from raids, with smaller portions of goods being distributed to the Fort as needed.

## Outside and Surroundings

The Bunker is hidden in Southern Onea, about one-and-a-half days travel from the War Lord’s road. It is hidden in a rocky outcropping in the forest, Earth Manipulated into the very bones of the hill underneath.

The base is surrounded by the typical Onean forest landscape, with tall pines and spruces offering a lot of natural cover. The forest around them is untouched and wild, with some of the Silverwood creeping in.

Berry bushes were transplanted from the old location, and several cold-resistant fruit trees (mostly apple and plum) have been planted into the nearby woods, cultivated by Plant and Earth manipulation. Rudimentary farmland has been set up near the Bunker, about half a mile west. Made by slash and burn method, this patch of farmland is currently waiting for its first harvest, and is planted with basic gains, such as oats and rye, as well as hardy root vegetables, like carrots and potatoes.

Some three hundred feet north from the Bunker is a clearing made by the Vindicators - this is where trees have been cut for building and firewood. The clearing is also used for sparring and as a Cadet playground as of now, with some additional vegetable gardens lining its edges.

Vindicators moving to and from the Bunker try their best to avoid creating clear paths from civilization to their base, so the route to the Bunker is, for the most part, untouched and hard to traverse thick woods. Paths that do begin to form are carefully camouflaged with blessing use as often as possible.

## Entrance

The main entrance is hidden within the rocky landscape, barely visible even when you stand next to it. It leads to an underground passageway lit by torches and decorated with various small chimes to alert those within of a new arrival. For additional safety, there is a rear entrance that gives into a heavy, dark thicket. This entrance is not used unless in case of emergency, and has been partially grown over with plants via Plant Manipulation. The rear entrance passageway is unlit near the entrance, but kept lit deeper within the earth. Both passages lead to different parts of the first floor.

## Inside

In the year since it was established, the Bunker is slowly becoming more of a finished space, although construction still continues. It is still significantly smaller than the old one - it has four levels instead of three, but each level is smaller and less complex than at their original hideout. It is built mostly by the use of Earth Manipulation, and supported with wooden structures.

Compared to the old Bunker, the new one is more basic and and offers less amenities. The most vital areas were prioritized during construction, and only now have improvements been made to things like fireplaces - the first winter in the Bunker was pretty rough. As of now, the living floors all have several sturdy fireplaces, with smoke being guided out of the base by small chimneys. If it is suspected that enemies are in the area, fires are not lit.

On the first floor is a single large main hall, where most rations, supplies, weapons and armor are stored. There are a few pallets lining the walls, especially near the main entrance. There is a small section separated by two wooden half-walls which acts as an infirmary.

The second floor down is the main living area, with communal spaces for sparring, eating and socializing. Extra pallets are kept here. A simple kitchen forms a separate room. This kitchen includes a large firepit, small root cellar and a wash basin for which the water is supplied by a hidden rainwater gatherer and a pipe down. It can be comfortably worked by five equines at a time, and can cook simple meals for up to 150 equines.

On the third floor are the main sleeping areas. This floor consists of another larger hall, filled with pallets in neat rows. There are currently no private areas for families, although some basic privacy curtains have been hung up to divide the space a bit.

The lowermost floor is cold storage, and used to store extra rations and other supplies that can withstand the cold. This floor is the largest, as enlarging it takes fairly little effort.

The Bunker can be aired through several smaller, unpassable and pipelike tunnels leading to all the main rooms. They are covered by wooden hatches on the inside, and are only kept open when scouting confirms that it is safe.