07.07 - The Indigo River Lighthouse: Progress Point

Hex 07.07 - the lighthouse marking the entrance to the Indigo River, I envision as a guidepost in addition to a fail-safe. It both marks for the incoming boats where the river is and where to avoid sandbars, etc. - but also I see it as a sort of Ellis Island almost to the new frontier: a point where an adventuring party could jump off, either ferrying up across the river to the beach and heading North towards the Watchtower, itself, or ignoring the adventure entirely and heading in some vague South direction: hex-crawling into the Bullywug Wilds.

In either case, I'd been working on it this weekend, trying to draw out the small compound and populate it with a set of vaguely 3D NPCs - here is how far I got. Game on!

B - Blacksmith

A permanent resident of the Indigo River Lighthouse compound, the blacksmith maintains the metal equipment required to keep the compound functioning as well as the arms and armor of the men at arms charged with its security.

• The blacksmith is a male Halfling Swordmaster, Nicephor; he is lame in one ankle, which he earned in an ambush while traveling with an adventuring company years prior. His original intent was to return home - but he's since grown comfortable.

• The blacksmith's apprentice is a female normal Human, Bertrude. She is young - younger than is typical for lone travelers - and frequently dirty. She romanticizes the concept of adventure, which is what drove her to the Indigo River, but has become grateful - based on company - that she is at least making an honest living.

The blacksmith's hut consists of three main spaces; an open 10x10 area with an anvil, a 10x10 foot portico, and a 20x10 foot enclosed cabin. Along the exterior - but in the cover of the portico - are found the blacksmith's trade tools and a chest of coal. Inside the hut can be found the personal effects of Nicephor and Bertrude; Halfling-sized chainmail and a sword hang proudly near the entrance.

Bertrude has a lockbox hidden in her bunk, near the rear of the space. In it is 40 silver pieces and a necklace of semi-precious stones worth 8 gold.

Nicephor carries with him typically 20-40 gold pieces - depending on business. In the evenings, he prefers to spend time at the bar in the Main Compound.

C - Courtyard

Light scrub-grass valiantly attempts to blanket this well-trodden, oft-grazed area. Near the Kitchen (K) is a chicken coop; on each side, enclosing the space from the exterior, is a post-and-wicker fence (dotted lines): constructed of posts every few yards and limbs of one to two inch diameter woven around them and nailed in place. The fence is four and a half feet in height. Near the exit by the Main Compound is an uncovered wagon - it appears to see limited use.

There are two exits through the fence. Beyond the gate between the Lighthouse and the Kitchen, there is a well-worn path heading towards a grove of live oaks in the distance.

G - Goat Pen

This enclosed space sits along a path leading towards a grove of live oaks in the distance. In it, there are a dozen or so goats of varying sizes. There are some construction materials - as though someone had started work on a tower for the enclosure - however there has not been much progress.

H - Hog Pen

Area in white is covered, but open to the courtyard. Area in blue is open to the elements. Inside is mud, a trough, a raised area in back with hay, and a dozen or so hogs of various sizes.

K - Kitchen

This outbuilding, kept away from other buildings due to the incessant heat, is used by culinary staff. In it is a sizeable collection of cooking tools - enough to feed the full contingent of residents. Inside, it feels cramped, as there are more utensils and pans than there are places to store them in addition to a sizeable washtub.

• The head chef is a male Human, Gill, who seems always distracted, but is likewise always busy. He has two errand runners / assistants:
• Millicent, a female Footpad who is secretly working as an agent of an old-world power seeking to ensure any industry on the Indigo River supports their own agenda as conflict looms.
• Savaric, a male Seer who had been adventuring with a group set on making a fortune in the live-oak woods to the west; but in the interim had fallen enamored of Millicent. His party has since gone west without him and he, having worked through his adventuring money, is working for his keep.