Fort Bulwark

Hex 21.11. Fort Bulwark is the homebase of the armored paladins known as the Bulwarks. Mostly composed of bogrils, the Bulwarks consider it their mission to protect the Great Slog from brigands and troublemakers. They generally patrol in groups of three riding their signature BOGRILLIAN WAR TORTOISES and can be encountered anywhere along the road from the Middle-Route Runoff, all the way to the Crossroads. In the absence of any sort of official law enforcement in the Used T'Be Forest, the Bulwarks are the only justice that exists.

Fort Bulwark itself is a well-guarded, stone compound with anti-siege equipment, a barracks, and a jail for criminals. It usually houses 1d6+1 Bulwarks (as WARRIORS) at a time, while the rest are out on patrols.

what's going on

• The Bulwarks are recruiting new paladins as best they can, but their numbers have dwindled greatly over the years.
• The dungeoneer industrialists, who care nothing for the Bulwarks' noble ways, are pushy about making sure their caravans and shipments are protected from bandits on the Great Slog.
• BANDIT gangs terrorize the Great Slog. In fact, they are terrorizing much of the Used T'Be Forest and the Bulwarks can't keep up.
• Paladin Mong is as corrupt as they come, and is rotting the Bulwarks' moral core from the inside, all unbeknownst to Captimus Creeb and the rest of the paladins.

CAPTIMUS CREEB

One tough, tortoise-riding, frog feller. Sworn in by the previous Captimus, Meebee Mandee (she retired at the ripe old age of a hundred and fifty five), Creeb is the master of ceremonies and keeper of the Big Book of Bulwarks. Creeb polishes all of the tortoise shells every Moondee after tea and toodles and he's always trying to recruit potential newbies with a seminar held every Sundee at Fort Bulwark, to no avail.

• Traits: Cheerful, extremely dedicated, talks with a whistle.
• Motivation: Organize the last Bulwarks (by his count about twelve) into a fighting force so fearsome that the Great Slog will be safe on reputation alone.

ELRIK THE DORGON

The famed Hound of Bulwark, renowned not only for his ability to speak several languages perfectly, but also for just being one heck of a loyal pooch. Elrik is the groundskeeper at Fort Bulwark and always seems to be up to speed on Fort Bulwark rumors. Probably because people tend to have loose lips around “pets.”

• Traits: Has a nose for the truth, fiercely loyal, whines when nervous.
• Motivation: Be a good boy.

sights and sounds

1. BOGRILLIAN TORTOISES bathe in a huge trough as a boggle hoses them down.
2. A signpost that reads "We're Here to Serve You" has almost entirely sunk into the mud.
3. A wandering pilgrim tips her cap and checks out the job board.
4. A battle-worn Bulwark rides defeatedly into the fort.
5. Two Bulwarks shout from the ramparts throwing rocks at a scurrying BANDIT.
6. An old, hunched bogril Bulwark repairs the crumbling stone walls.

rumors

• The Bulwarks desperately need new blood. Raids from BANDITS and beasts have made life in the Used T'Be Forest dangerous for regular folk.
• There's a one of a kind talking DORGON who lives at Fort Bulwark.

outbound rumors

• Lady Shareen of the Soot Finger Gang in Crickstop has put a price on Captimus Creeb's head.
• The BOGRILLIAN TORTOISES of Crickstop, the prime breeding ground for the famous Bulwark mounts, are getting sick and no one seems to have a cure.
• There's a rumor that Doomnozzle, a cave in the Sounder Hills, is once again home to a GWARGLEBEAST, a stain on the Bogwatch's honor.

PALADIN RORK

The skinny rookie is also a disgraced noble, banished from Munch after being framed for murder by Slek Slorgood. She ran away, changed her name, and joined the Bulwarks. Though innocent, Rork works hard to redeem herself and always volunteers for dangerous assignments.

• Traits: Overeager, angsty, pure heart
• Motivation: Prove her worth and restore her good name.

PALADIN MONG

A boisterous Bulwark with a tremendous track record for eliminating crime along the Great Slog. Paladin Mong is quick to point out the failings of his Bulwark brothers and sisters, and is of the opinion that they should be, in his words, “hard as hail on all them bandit scums.”

• Traits: Outspoken, hard to work with, secretly crooked.
• Motivation: Bleed the Bulwarks dry by taking cuts from the local BANDITS and THIEVES until he's set for life.

PALADIN GARYMANDERER

An old paladin known as the Used T'Be Hero for his gallant deeds, not least of which was slaying the Gwarglebeast of Doomnozzle. But the title is also an insult: the Bulwarks are seen as nothing more than relics of another era, of what used to be, much like the mighty forest that was.

• Traits: Old timey, courageous, waxes poetic.
• Motivation: Find a final noble quest, now that he is aging and no longer as swift and strong as he once was.

quests

WHO WATCHES THE BOGWATCH?

Captimus Creeb has troubling news from Bogwatch, which is no news at all. The Bulwark hopefuls recruited there have stopped corresponding with Fort Bulwark. Investigate what's happened there and re- establish correspondence.

• Nothing is wrong at Bogwatch, but BANDITS keep intercepting the monthly reports.
• It's normally Paladin Ponderwold's duty to send the reports, but he unwittingly outsourced that job to a Juncher GANGSTER from Camp Mudbank (p149). Why? Because Ponderwold spends all of his time obsessively investigating Krogland where his other pet chicken went missing (see quest The Animal Thief p342).

HOW TO HOLD UP A HEIST

Paladin Mong needs to know the Subterranean Pits and Lairs LLC caravan schedules so that he can make sure the Soot Finger Gang doesn't get the upper hand. Find out the SPL trade schedules at SPL HQ and report back to Mong.

• Mong is actually feeding the information to the Soot Fingers to orchestrate heists along the Great Slog (p378).

THE BEAST RETURNS

Paladin Garymanderer heard that a GWARGLEBEAST returned to Doomnozzle and is terrorizing the Sounder Hills (p380). Even though the beast mostly eats ETTINS and BANDITS, the right thing to do is stop it. After all, it will only get stronger and more dangerous. But time has taken its toll on the old Bulwark, and he doesn't think he can take on a GWARGLEBEAST by himself anymore.

• Paladin Garymanderer (Attack:+2, Dread:1d10, Defense:-2, Courage:15, Block:1, Mettle:+2).
• HEROIC TITLE ACHIEVEMENT: Slay the GWARGLEBEAST or banish it back to the Underlands.
• Hero of the Used T'Be Forest•. Charm Check: Once every session, deeply impress a WARRIOR or fighter type.

ELRIK'S QUEST

Elrik the DORGON has overheard things. Incriminating things. He suspects that Paladin Mong is in league with the Soot Finger Gang. He wants you to follow him, track his movements, and catch him in the act.

• Paladin Mong is traveling the Great Slog to discuss business with the Soot Finger leader Lady Shareen in Crickstop (p232).
• Lady Shareen (GANGSTER L6-C) is accompanied by 2d6 Soot Finger THIEVES (L3-G) who are all disguised as traders.

BULWARK BOUNTIES

Captimus Creeb is deputizing adventurers willing to brave the Used T'Be Forest to catch BANDITS. Turn in an arrested BANDIT to receive 1 pouch of Silver Coins from the Bulwarks.

• Slice Nolgar: Human Knucklebone BANDIT (L8-C), wanted for murder in every region of the Mucklands. Last seen around Ettin Horn (p364).
• Ulawar Hangrip: Bugbear Soot Finger THIEF (L3-B), wanted for a heist of a Subterranean Pits and Lairs LLC caravan. Last seen around the Dirtnap Dunes (p377).
• Fitz Neebo: Shrym Tricky Toe GANGSTER (L10-G), wanted for counterfeiting almost a million Krog Bucks in Krogland. Last seen around Blackrill bridge (p129).
• Ty Ty Donavor: A TROLL (L4-B) robber of the Red Boots, wanted for robbing merchant caravans along the Great Slog (p378).

TAKE THE OATH

Anyone willing, capable, and in good-standing can take the Bulwark Oath to always protect the innocent and stand up for justice. Sometimes you will be called upon to complete a quest for the Bulwarks which takes first priority above all other pursuits. In return, you wear the signature spiked bronze helm of the Bulwarks, gain access to Fort Bulwark's resources, and a title.

• HEROIC TITLE ACHIEVEMENT: Take and uphold the Bulwark Oath.
• Bulwark Paladin•. Inflict +1 Dread and gain Advantage on Intimidate Checks against BANDITS, GANGSTERS and THIEVES.