The Inciting Incident

At the edge of Bastion’s territory, the small fortress on the foothills of Shadowpeak has gone silent, failing to send reports and providing no answer to magical correspondence. The fort had been complaining of undead attacks, so Bastion leadership has dispatched a group of new Chainbreakers to investigate the situation. Fort Shadowpeak is not only important to Bastion’s defense as the stronghold protecting the northeastern-most border, it is also built out as a trade hub, the nexus through which lumber and medicine was shipped to Vel Frazzek and where the oath-bonded couriers of Vel Barrikess would deliver their packages on behalf of nations across the region. Bastion has been attempting to normalize trade relations with Barrikess’ Five Roads to be able to pay for imports second-hand, using the trade nation as an agent. Barrikess is known to be more loyal to coin than kin, but if Bastion cannot guarantee safety for the couriers, the fledgling nation will be entirely cut off from the region’s economy. The fort is a day-and-a-half’s ride from Chorae’s Stand, and the couriers are due in two days at dawn, carrying a powerful artifact Bastion leaders believe will help strengthen the country. The PCs will need to race through the dangerous forest, break any siege or oust any occupying forces, relieve whatever troops remain, and ensure Barrikess’ couriers arrive unscathed, finally holding the fort until reinforcements arrive. Additionally, Bastion leadership is very invested in the country making a good impression on these couriers to lay the groundwork for developing a larger trade alliance between Bastion and Five Roads. Therefore, the PCs may want to prevent the couriers from learning Bastion has lost control of Fort Shadowpeak at all.