[OOC: Suggested soundtrack: In Taberna Quando Sumus (Carmina Burana), by Carl Orff]

The northern border of the Barony of Tyntern is a freezing mountain range. On the other side of the border lies the Duchy of Mornay, governed by the treacherous cousin of Sir Bedivere Grayson, Baron of Tyntern. On the highest peak of this frozen mountain range there is a Tower with a perfect view from above of all the border, and the most loyal knights of Tyntern volunteer to go there on sentry all alone, on long shifts, ready to alight a beacon made of logs covered with highly flammable resin, in case of invasion.
This sentry job is so harsh and bleak that the tower is known as Hellwinter Tower!
Recently, the brave knight Sir Gallaharn Kairn sadly died while on duty and there are unconfirmed news of strange movements across the border, so Sir Gallaharn decided to send more knights on duty, rather than only one as usual… and this time YOU volunteered for the job!
You have been named Wardens of Hellwinter, with the right to collect taxes in the shape of… just enough food rations to keep you alive, from the poor frontier village of Gallows End, the closest civilized village before Hellwinter Tower and the border. You will be in touch with that isolated village with carrier pigeons. Your only contact with the civilization in months, probably.
You know that this sentry duty is the best way for you to be promoted to the status of landed knight, but first of all you volunteered for this job to give a real purpose to the sacrifice of the brave Sir Gallaharn, that lost his life while protecting the Barony as best as he could.
The road to Hellwinter Tower is long and grim, first to Gallows End, then through the Forest of Bron and finally climbing Hellwinter Peak, under pouring rain and whipped by freezing gales. Finally, you take possession of the vacant Hellwinter Tower, where you start your grim sentry. Time passes, although very slowly, on the Hellwinter Peak.

It is another freezing night of one of the last weeks of winter. You know that in few more weeks you will be replaced by another group of brave knights and you are secretly looking forward to that. It’s dusk, and the cold winds that usually sweep Hellwinter Tower have been blowing all day. Your constant scrutiny of the border during the day showed once more that the situation is extremely quiet and you don’t expect any change in the next future, due to the poor weather. As the night lies down her mantle of darkness upon the land, vivid stars light up the sky, ever so bright.
Looking southwest, you can see that the village of Gallows End is floodlit. It looks like some sort of celebration is taking place. Suddenly, as if in answer to their question, a carrier pigeon flies out of the night to the Tower, delivering a message. The pigeon is cold and wet… it must have struggled a lot to reach you, so you quickly feed it before reading the message. It is written by the Headman of Gallows End with an uncertain calligraphy.

After reading the message, Garl leaves to inform the others.  He feels mildly unsettled by it, although he can’t figure out why.

Perhaps it was merely because all the constant feasting and celebrating of his people had driven him half mad, which is why he had abandoned them in favor of a harsh life spent adventuring among strangers.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:17, Tue 08 May 2018.

Galendra rises from where she'd been sitting, back against the warm stone wall, listening to the wind outside. How many are posted at the tower? Certainly, we can't all go -- we must leave a detail behind. She tilts her head, yearning to join the festivities at the village, but knowing someone will surely have to stay behind.

“I’d love to stay behind, if possible.  Loud music and revelry were never to my taste, as I much prefer a tall stack of books and a bright candle to steer them by.”

Judging by his glum expression, Garl obviously expects to be shanghaid into attending the festival.

Robustous gave the fire one last prod with the poker in his hand before standing to admire his handy work. It had kept him busy and distracted, collecting wood, making kindling and setting the fires every morn and evening.

But now that winter was over he might miss the routine, though the cold he certainly would not. Taking out his pipe and setting to preparing it for his match Robustous breathed in deeply as the cinder finally took. "Would it be discourteous for us not to attend, I can't imagine it would be to my taste either, though a few ales would not go wrong."

-

[OOC who does go and who does stay? :) ]

OCC: Robustous will end up going.

Ooc: I’ll go, although Garl won’t like it.

Galendra furrows her brow, almost scowling, as the conversation sways toward abandoning their post. Though the past few days have been extremely quiet and the weather is inclement, an attack masked by poor weather could be dire indeed. She weighs the guard's options. "I don't think we should entirely leave the tower," she says. "You two go into town -- enjoy. I'll light the beacon if needed. How long will you be gone?"

In reply to Galendra (msg # 9):

"Just enough to make an appearance and to make the trip worth while. We should be back in good time." Robustous went to collect his things and to ready himself for the trip.

-

You reach Gallows End around midday, during the celebrations for the Night of The Three Beggars. Colored paper lanterns have been hanged all around the village, and the whole community has gathered in the village square where big, bright fires burn, to dispel Winter darkness. The square is crowded by merchants’ booths and carts. A group of wandering musicians are warming the feast with their licentious ballads. As promised, you are heartily welcomed by Headman Ion Killean and all the merry folk of Gallows End.

You are offered spicy boar and strong ale at will, as part of Gallows End tribute to the Baron and in general as a sign of hospitality.

Robustous gracelessly accepted the ale and meat and ate heartily of the boar. After a taste of the ale he drank in moderation knowing they still had a return journey to make through the woods and being intoxicated would not make for a fun trip.

Still fancy fare was always welcome.

-

As you eat, you are reminded some information about the Night of The Three Beggars: this night is marked by a stellar conjunction which occurs once a year. The constellations of The Fox, The Raven and The Fawn (scilicet the Three Beggars) align on the horizon and manifest all together in full for one night only, when Winter is about to finish. It’s a night for magic and mystery, a night of new things to be undertaken.

You are invited to visit the merchants, the alchemists and the seers all around the square.

Taking the opportunity Robustous will take in the stalls that line the square more out of curiosity then anything else. He also keeps an ear to the ground for any rumors or gossip that seem to be enthralling the villagers while enjoying the festival.

At some point he will have to gather a basket to take back for Galendra so she does not completely miss out on the festival.

-

Meanwhile, back at the tower, Galendra remains warm against the wind as she continues to keep watch over the borderlands. Her eyes are drawn to the bright stars in the sky, heedless of the stellar conjunction.

The merchants’ carts have plenty of wares to trade. You notice the following:

      Short Sword 50 Gold Crowns
      Small Shield 10 Gold Crowns
      Long Sword 65 Gold Crowns
      Leather Cuirass 55 Gold Crowns
      Fur-lined camping tent 30 Gold Crowns
      Lantern 6 Gold Crowns
      Quill, ink and paper 4 Gold Crowns
      Longbow 25 Gold Crowns
      Arrows, a row of six 4 Gold Crowns
      Spear 12 Gold Crowns
      Horse 50 Gold Crowns
      Candles, a dozen 4 Silver Shillings