1. Gatehouse

1. Gatehouse: This two-story building has a hallway 10' wide straight through the middle of the building; toward the back, a heavy iron- reinforced door is positioned on each side, giving access to the interior of the gatehouse. These doors are locked most of the time, of course. The double doors at each end of the hallway are likewise heavily reinforced. "Murder holes" pierce the walls and ceiling of the gatehouse, allowing defenders to shoot arrows into invading forces, or pour boiling oil down upon them, and the gatehouse itself is stocked with the oil and ammunition necessary for this purpose. In peacetime, however, the gatehouse is manned by two regular soldiers led by a corporal or sergeant, as well as a scribe. The scribe has a small table with ledger book, ink and quill, with which he records the names, nationalities and occupations of all who enter the fortress. Animals brought in are counted also, and all who enter must pay a tax of 1 sp per person, 1 cp per animal; those who can show that they have paid the tax within the last month do not have to pay it again. Elsewhere within the gatehouse is a large iron- bound chest, in which the scribe keeps the tax stamp mentioned above (the stamp used to mark antique coins after the relevant tax is paid). Adventurers returning to the fortress with such treasure will be made to wait while the chest is brought out and the scribe counts their treasure. The 10% tax is placed within the chest as the money is counted, with each 9 coin being stamped by the sergeant or corporal on duty (as the scribe cannot be bothered with such a menial task). Each night when the gates are closed, the chest is taken to the keep (area 25) and emptied into the treasury there. There are actually two scribes, Hobeth and his apprentice Glorin; only one will be on duty at a time, with a 70% chance it is Glorin. Though Glorin is noticeably younger, they otherwise look very much alike, leading many to think that Glorin is Hobeth's son. This isn't true, and suggesting it makes either of them angry. Both are bookish sorts who don't like adventurers at all, even when they bring substantial treasure (and taxes) into the fortress. 1. Gatehouse, 2nd Floor: The south wall of this area is lined with 12 bunks, arranged to allow defenders access to the arrow slits in the exterior wall. There are 12 trunks for the guards' personal belongings, one beneath each bunk. They are not locked, and they contain nothing of value. There are weapon racks on the east and west walls, next to the doors, with sword, dagger and crossbow for each guard housed here. Down the middle of the floor, in a north-south line, is a ten foot wide pattern of holes cut into the floor. The holes are large enough for the guards to fire their weapons into the lower level of the gatehouse. Against the north wall there are two vats of oil, located to either side of the hole pattern in the floor. Each vat hangs over a loaded brazier, ready to light. Wood is stacked next to the vats to fuel the fire for the boiling oil. The braziers are mounted on wheels, to be rolled along the floor next to the hole pattern. Once the brazier is in position, the vat can be tipped, pouring the hot oil through the holes in the floor and into the lower level of the gatehouse.