Ronald
**Rian Koern 🔸 River Peak, the Rustlands**

Reaching a Black Gate was always a relief, but Rian disliked this one. It was well known that he never slept well unless in the wilderness, but this fortress was unpleasant even during the day.

River Peak was the House of Koern's southernmost bastion, and it showed. Banners flew high and rangers walked at times in uniformed armor, without rust or chipping. The town even dared to step several of its buildings outside the black walls. Blissful ignorance.

What Rian disliked about River Peak could perhaps be better explained by the two bridges that leapt over the flanking rivers that gave the Black Gate it's name.
The southern bridge, that which conected River Peak to the Gray Hills and its hucksters, was worn but sturdy; made out of stone and boasting several pillars anchoring it to the riverbed.
The northern bridge, meant to be used by rangers to carry out their sworn duty, was a haphazard wooden contraption with uneven supports and missing planks. It was far from unusable, but Rian thought it exemplified perfectly where the wardens of River Peak had set their priorities.

"They think patrols are only for dry season, when the river empties and the nasty critters can cross," Said Lahel.

Gallows humor. The "Critters" Had claimed from her an eye and one of her ears.
Still, it could always be worse. She could've ended like Brean, unconcious and missing two limbs. Rian's party had gone trough great lengths to keep him alive.

"Open the gates!" Shouted Rian as soon as he reached the fortress. "We have a wounded ranger! He needs attention immediately!"
Patricia
**Martin Koern, Rivers Peak, the Rustlands**

The day had gone as usual for the rangers of Rivers Peak, under the command of their Ranger-Captain, Martin Koern, the neatly kept rangers had been patrolling along the walls and fortifications of the Black Fortress, holding watch over all areas, but often rangers would linger on the half overlooking the bridge south, hoping to spend their pay on the wares of hawkers riding north from the Grey Hills. In truth though, they had come to find that few of the pampered southern merchants would risk the journey to the feared Rustlands to sell their goods, those that did were either desperate or at the end of their lucrative routes with only the dregs of their caravans to present to the northern rangers.

Martin was relatively fine with this, after all, if relatively few of his rangers fell prey to the beasts of the north was that not a good thing? He himself had spent the day so far marching throughout the Black Gate with his rangers, taking the occasional swig from a plump wineskin. Just as Martin was about to head off the wall to refill his drink he noticed a gathering of his men by the northern gatehouse, before he could do anything he found himself facing a panicked ranger.

"Captain, Captain! We got some rangers up at the northern gate, they're claimin' to have wounded with em!"

Martin narrowed his eyes, "Wounded?.." Could it be bandits? No, no common brigands would be as bold as to stroll up to a black gate in such a manner... He waved a hand "Bring me to them, after that you go fetch the apothecary, understood?" The ranger nodded "Aye Captain, follow me, quicklike!" The ranger began to rush off, Martin in tow. They quickly reached the gatehouse, Martin shoved through the massed ranks of his rangers, "What are you lot waiting for? Open the bloody gates, move it!" At that they quickly regained their wits, rushing downstairs to operate the crank.

As the Gate began to open Martin rushed down from the gatehouse, looking about he could see his man from earlier standing at the entrance, waiting and ready with the local apothecary. As Martin waited anxiously for the portcullis to retract he began to shift nervously. Looking at the party of battered rangers outside his gates he winced, taking note of their injuries and equipment, worn thin from use, he hoped that something could be done for whoever was the "Wounded ranger" Among them.
Ronald
**Rian Koern 🔸 River's Peak, the Rustlands**

The party wasted no time crossing the gates. Rian's men headed straight for the town while he and Lahel stayed near the walls. One of stood out among them: Martin, the son of Malorn Koern, late captain of River Peak's rangers.

Rian had heard a lot about him. Not always good things. He had a reputation for glory seeking and debauchery. A trait inherited from Malorn's unwise mingling with House de Lysse, as the bulberry tint on Martin's irises could attest.
But the Rangers of River Peak trusted the man, and in Rian's opinion nothing else mattered. Malorn's heir may not have the rugged facelines and thick hair of the other Koern, but he was every bit as capable as he or any other of their commanders.

"Martin!" He said. "It's good seeing you here!" But seeing how Martin's attention was focused towards the man in the makeshift pelt stretcher, he felt the need to explain.

"Brean lost a couple limbs. Alpha wolf. We're lucky he survived."
Patricia
**Martin Koern, River's Peak, the Rustlands**

Martin's attention would be drawn away from the wounded ranger, turning to face his fellow house member "Alpha?" He raised his eyebrows "Indeed, that Brean fellow must have the constitution of an Ox to survive that... Pity about the limbs though..." He shivered as he watched the man being carried through the gates, almost immediately being set upon by the apothecary and her assistants.

He paused as he looked across the ranks of Rians rangers, taking them in before shaking his head "Well, enough of that unpleasantry, I assure you we shall do what we can for poor Brean." He clapped his hands together "So, Rian, is there anything we here at Rivers Peak can do for you and your rangers? We recently got some barrels of wine from down south that we have yet to crack open that we would be more than happy to share with you, and while we are enjoying that you can tell us all about the encounter with the Direwolves, I assure you my rangers would love to hear of your exploits."

While the rangers had been entering the town a gathering of the local folk had built up. Attacks were unfamiliar outside of the dry season to the people of Rivers Peak, and seeing a party of rangers with injured amongst them had attracted the attention of the townspeople, many interested to see what was going on.
Ronald
**Rian Koern 🔸 River's Peak, the Rustlands**

Exploits. Exploits he'd said. As if the keepers of Long Vigil were a bunch of attention seekers who needed the praises and songs of trouvadours. No wonder they were lax in their duties, but Rian was about to remind them what Duty was.

"We could use some of your rangers. Our group is too depleted to complete the patrol."
Patricia
**Martin Koern, River's Peak, the Rustlands**

Martin would frown slightly, pursing his lips before looking about at his rangers, taking note of their relaxed demeanor, most of all he took in their swords, well polished and sharpened, yet most without signs of use. *Not as if there is anything wrong with that, but we ought to do more than just keep our vigil, after all, what is a warrior without the thrill of adventure and combat?* 

"Aye, that we can do. How many of us would you want, and where would we be headed? In truth, it has been a while since any of us down here have been on patrol, I am sure many of my rangers would be more than thankful for the exercise." He snorted, knowing of a few who would be anything but.
Ronald
**Rian Koern | River Peak**

"Between ten and fifteen should be enough. With Brean out of action, our own party has been reduced to nine. Bring your best trackers."

Rian doubted the men of River Peak were good trackers. They were more concerned with becoming great warriors and duellists. Still, he hoped to be proven wrong.
Patricia
**Martin Koern, River's Peak, the Rustlands**

"Alright, I shall gather them with the utmost speed, a moment." With that Martin turned, clicking his tongue before gesturing at the gathered townspeople and rangers "Have any of you lot seen Bran about?" One of the rangers nodded "Aye Captain, been loungin' about the Keep." Martin sighed "Alright, go fetch him, and be quick about it." 

Martin returned his focus to the rest of the men, putting on a commanding tone he called out around a dozen names, as he did so multiple rangers stepped out of the crowd, some more eager than others. They were soon joined by the ranger Martin had sent off, accompanied by a sandy-haired young man flushed with drink "Hoy Bran!" Martin called out to him "Get your wits about you lads, we are to go on patrol with Rian and his lot here." He nodded towards Rian. 

"Since you are among some of the best rangers this Gate has to offer I expect you to behave accordingly, so, are you ready?" He was met by a scattered bout of ayes, Martin turned to face Rian "That's the best trackers then, all ready to move out." He paused, shooting a look back to Bran who was currently looking about in a daze as he gathered his wits "Don't be fooled by Bran over there, he is one of the best rangers we have, in fact probably the best tracker in the whole company." 

A group of young stableboys lead the rangers' horses to them, within a few minutes the rangers of River's Peak were all seated upon their mounts, ready to go out on patrol.