Goldgrass Keep

[Lord Howland Royce]

The small keep was made of stone, but had enough room to have the smallfolk sleeping on raised cots in the main hall and in the hallways. It was surrounded by a mediocre stone wall.

[Lord Howland Royce]

Wat looked over the courtyard. The gallows had been erected and ready for use.

"Jack! Your boys better be done with the women now. It's time for the bloody hanging!". The smallfolk cheered.

[barker520]

"Aye, but you can't rush Dan. He's my youngest boy, and never had no highborn lady before," Jack said, smiling through his teeth, the ones he still had. "Dan! Little Jack!" he bellowed into the halls of the keep, "Come on out now! And bring them women wit you!"

A few minutes later Jack and Dan, Jack's sons, entered the courtyard, pushing an older woman and a young lady ahead of them with the point of their swords.

[Lord Howland Royce]

Wat grinned through his cracked teeth as he looked at the sobbing wretches. "Not so high and almighty now are you". The smallfolk tossed some rocks at them. The smith of the keep put the nooses around their necks. "You sent my boys out for a fool war," the smiths' eyes were feverish of madness.

"Look how fat they are. The highborn feasts on our bloody work, while we are left with the rotten leftovers. Enough is enough. Their tyranny ends this bloody day!" Wat cackled as he used his staff to knock the support under the Stout women.

[barker520]

Shouts and jeers were coming loud from every part of the courtyard, and Jack stood upright, proud, reveling in the death of these oppressors. They took my home, and my wife... my beautiful Lisa... He opened his eyes and saw the same thoughts in the eyes of the others. This isn't over yet, Jack swore to himself during all the commotion. If vengeance feels this damn good, I want some more of it.

[Lord Howland Royce]

"Dear free people of Goldgrass! This was just the beginning. Are we so cruel that we will let our cousins of Stony Shore suffer the same bloody fate as us?". No was the answer the people yelled. "I have sent three Wats to spread the tales among the other villages. They also want to be bloody free. The people of Stony Shore shall rule themselves! For freedom!". Wat raised his staff high in the air as the people joined in the shouting.

[barker520]

Later in the day, Jack, along with twenty other men, were digging into the hard, cold earth in front of the castle walls. Jack himself had pursuaded the villagers that defenses needed to be improved, and sharpened wooden spikes outside the walls were a quick and easy way to do that. Bloody good idea, that was, he thought to himself. His hands were near freezing, and although he worked and toiled to his body's limit, not a drop of sweat would break out on his skin. He bent over, hands on his knees, resting for a moment. I'll be happy we put these here spikes, if we was to be attacked, Jack reminded himself. He glanced upwards, towards the tops of the keep's walls, where several corpses were hanging, swinging with the wind. They had all been Stout's men or women, and had raped, murdered, and committed grave crimes against their population in at his command. The sight gave Jack strength, and he went back to work, encouraging the others.

[Lord Howland Royce]

A raven appears with a letter from Highton