Drygar Watch was a formidable fortress erected along the northern frontier of Varnathus that had for many years served as a forward base of operations for military incursions in the north. Reinforced towers gave ample view of the surrounding lands and heavily fortified outer walls had withstood many an attempt to breach it. And while to one unfamiliar, the scorched and blackened stone walls might seem a poor choice to withstand the brunt of any organized attack from the north they seemed to breathe with an inner life of their own. Faint red veins could be found snaking their way through the stone, and a hand upon them would reveal a startling warmth rather than the unexpected cool touch of stone. The red banners that hung from the outer walls bore the house sigil of General Sulos; a poised lion with a mane of flames.
The interior of the fortress was no less impressive and today in particular it was even more a bustling hive of activity than ordinary with soldiers patrolling every inch of the compound. Numerous war machines where in varying states of repair as mechanics worked over them and the tell-tale signs of recent battle could be seen on their damaged hulls, and those beyond repair where being scavenged for parts.
The state of activity did little to distract from the overall tension of the fort though. It was a poised and watchful tension though. The tension that came with a sense of anticipation. The source of that anticipation would soon become apparent as one of the tower watchmen sounded a loud horn, announcing the arrival of a convoy from the south.
From atop the walls archers armed with rayden bows signaled to soldiers on the ground who quickly released the gear mechanism that would open the gates.
The arriving convoy was met with great enthusiasm as soldiers stood at attention, fists raised to their chest as none other than General Sulos himself led the way through the front gate with an escort of iron knights at his back. Unlike the armor of the more common soldier, that of the iron knights was truly a spectacle to behold. Like the walls of the fortress their blackened armor held veins of red that seemed to seep through and give off an inner warmth of uncertain origins. The design of the armor itself was that of interlocking heavy plates and sweeping spikes meant to intimidate. Like all iron knights, their faces remained concealed within heavy enclosed helmets. The deeply slanted eye openings afforded little more than shadowed features of what may lay beneath. It was this enigmatic nature of the iron knights that helped to bolster their reputation to impressive heights, but their formidable prowess in combat was a reputation well earned as well. Also unlike the soldiers of the outpost whose weapons of choice varied greatly from unit to unit from a great array of firearms, bows, and melee weapons, the iron knights uniformly bore wicked looking gun-blades and shields.
The general himself wore only basic Varnathian armor paired with a red cloak and gun-blade, but the simple and utilitarian look with an entourage of iron knights at his back only furthered the sense of command and authority that this man held through the startling contrast.
It was highly unusual for the general to visit such a remote outpost - even one as prominent as Drygar Watch - but recent events it would seem had drawn him north. Events that had left a smaller outpost to the west in shambles - victim of an organized attack from insurgents. And though the Varnathian forces stationed there had succeeded in weathering the attack and holding off enemy forces until reinforcements from Drygar Watch could reach them, the damages and casualties sustained had been extensive. The outpost had been abandoned and its forces withdrawn to Drygar Watch.
The interior of the fortress was no less impressive and today in particular it was even more a bustling hive of activity than ordinary with soldiers patrolling every inch of the compound. Numerous war machines where in varying states of repair as mechanics worked over them and the tell-tale signs of recent battle could be seen on their damaged hulls, and those beyond repair where being scavenged for parts.
The state of activity did little to distract from the overall tension of the fort though. It was a poised and watchful tension though. The tension that came with a sense of anticipation. The source of that anticipation would soon become apparent as one of the tower watchmen sounded a loud horn, announcing the arrival of a convoy from the south.
From atop the walls archers armed with rayden bows signaled to soldiers on the ground who quickly released the gear mechanism that would open the gates.
The arriving convoy was met with great enthusiasm as soldiers stood at attention, fists raised to their chest as none other than General Sulos himself led the way through the front gate with an escort of iron knights at his back. Unlike the armor of the more common soldier, that of the iron knights was truly a spectacle to behold. Like the walls of the fortress their blackened armor held veins of red that seemed to seep through and give off an inner warmth of uncertain origins. The design of the armor itself was that of interlocking heavy plates and sweeping spikes meant to intimidate. Like all iron knights, their faces remained concealed within heavy enclosed helmets. The deeply slanted eye openings afforded little more than shadowed features of what may lay beneath. It was this enigmatic nature of the iron knights that helped to bolster their reputation to impressive heights, but their formidable prowess in combat was a reputation well earned as well. Also unlike the soldiers of the outpost whose weapons of choice varied greatly from unit to unit from a great array of firearms, bows, and melee weapons, the iron knights uniformly bore wicked looking gun-blades and shields.
The general himself wore only basic Varnathian armor paired with a red cloak and gun-blade, but the simple and utilitarian look with an entourage of iron knights at his back only furthered the sense of command and authority that this man held through the startling contrast.
It was highly unusual for the general to visit such a remote outpost - even one as prominent as Drygar Watch - but recent events it would seem had drawn him north. Events that had left a smaller outpost to the west in shambles - victim of an organized attack from insurgents. And though the Varnathian forces stationed there had succeeded in weathering the attack and holding off enemy forces until reinforcements from Drygar Watch could reach them, the damages and casualties sustained had been extensive. The outpost had been abandoned and its forces withdrawn to Drygar Watch.
Last edited:
