"Session" 1 - Arrival

There is a large building in the center of the compound, where the officer, priestess, and official are standing, that Martin would guess is the Praetorium, or administrative building of the fort. There is likely to be found the Fort's interior shrine, quartermaster's office, and head Annalist's office. The most likely source of information would be there.

As the group heads toward the praesidium the priestess and the official that were standing near its entrance depart, arm in arm. The officer that was with them enters the praesidium with a disappointed look clear on his hard face.

The party enters, passing four heavily armored legionnaires armed with spears and shields, swords hanging at their sides. They say nothing and make no moves as the party enters the building.

Inside, there is a large, open, square space with a tiled floor in the center, open to the sky, and surrounded by simple columns supporting the roof of the building that surround the open area. On the far side of the courtyard is a crosshall, with a raised speaking-platform to the right. Across the crosshall are three rooms, separated from the rest of the building only by bronze, gated fences, allowing clear view into the room and out of them.

The centermost room is an elevated shrine. There, a pair of legionnaires works to remove the statute of Ianna, goddess of war. A veiled replacement stand just outside the gate.

The left room contains a man at a desk, scribbling notes and poring over ledgers. This, by all appearances is the annalist. The room on the right has a low cedar table, and there the Officer from outside is speaking with a large, round man.

The gates to each of these rooms is open.

The man looks up from his notes and ledgers and gives a squint and a blinks a couple of times as his eyes adjust from his books. He looks slightly annoyed at the interruption at first, but then softens a bit as he regains composure. "Hail and welcome. Eh... I'm, uh, fine, I guess. I am Cornelius Soccolo, chief scribe and annalist here. Uhm... what can I do for you Paladin... oh," noticing suddenly the group of people following Martin, Cornelius looked slightly quizzical for a moment. "Paladin and friends, I see. Ah, are you lot adventurers? That seems to be an increasingly popular profession these days."

"Yes, that does seem to happen. A reason I have always avoided such tasks. However, as the regions chief historian and cataloguer of lore and law, I am more than happy to assist those that do undertake such things. It seems the local authorities have been looking for more and more people to hire for "field missions," as you put it, these days. I presume that is why you have come to me? Sent on some mission or other by a legate or magistrate? So what can I assist you with?" Cornelius is a slender, pale, bookish man, clearly nearsighted by his spectacles and squinting.