Ruth
Luck wasn't exactly with Ingvar in recent years. The loss of his lords land and his title becoming secondary - a landless knight without a lord to pledge himself to. He finds himself currently in a tavern - not a well reputable one, that's for sure. The amount of bar fights he's seen from his corner booth in the 20 - 30 minutes he's been here is astounding - and one would not be blamed for mistaking this for a wrestling pit instead of a tavern. Regardless he's been waiting on someone who supposedly has information on a nearby bandit camp - a bandit who deserted after he got sick and tired of the leaky roof... It doesn't seem like he's arrived yet, which gives him plenty of time to prepare.
Juan
Ingvar drums his fingers on the table as he waits. His eyes are cast down upon one of his academic books on fortifications. Despite the place being a tavern, he drinks water to keep his head clear for the task ahead. He places no bets on any of the fights and stays in his corner of the room, ready to run at a moment's notice if a fight comes his way. He quietly reads to himself about how to take down various forts, but also how to rebuild them.
Ruth
The book isn't nearly as helpful as he wished it was. It always mentions things in semi-vague terms, almost as if it expects the reader to have some knowledge about siege craft and fortification beforehand. It always mentions the widespread usage of engineers and soldiers - which he has neither of currently. It mostly talks about siege tactics and how best to deal with an attack/siege when fortifications are not finished. Along with other tactical strategies. 

Eventually a man walks into the tavern, his face gaunt and pale white. He slowly makes his way to the table - his head darting about as if he were a bird. Once he reaches the booth he awkwardly slides onto the bench opposite of Ingvar. One last glance to his left and right gives him the confidence to lean forwards and place his hands on the table top asking quietly "You're Ingvar right?"
Barbara
IL Ingvar shuts the book when his name is called out. Not particularly pleased with the content of the book. It's given him some idea of siege tactics, but nothing he's sure he can immediately apply.

"I am." He answers. "I take it you're my contact then?" Ingvar stuffs the book back into his pack and offers a gloved hand to his new acquaintance. "Nice to meet you."
Ruth
His eyes focus upon his gloved hand for a brief moment before looking away. He doesn't reach his own hand out to shake his as he licks his chapped lips and asks "You have the silver right? You haven't told anyone right?" He sounds extremely uncertain, and if the tapping of his foot and the bead of sweat running down the side of his face was any signal he seems exceptionally nervous. A small crunch can be heard as one of the wrestlers breaks a chair over another. The crowd cheers but it makes the man jump in his seat and causes another round of scanning the room.
Juan
"No. Of course not." Ingvar reaches into his coin purse, but he doesn't pull out silver. Instead, he pulls out three gold coins and slowly slides them across the table. "Consider this a payment made in good faith." He says with a smile. "I hope that this is acceptable?"
Ruth
He eyes the gold greedily and snatches the coins up, biting into them with his teeth and grinning when he notices the imprint that they leave. He drops them into a sack on his right side before he looks around once more and leans in closely stating "The tower is along the main road, go down some distance - it should be visible in the far off distance. Placed upon a hill, smoke should becoming from nearby - not out of it. You didn't hear this from me." Before Ingvar has a chance to respond he bolts up and out of the establishment...
Juan
Ingvar sighs. He didn't even get a chance to ask about how many men there would be or their training and arms. The bandits could be deserters for all he knows. Nonetheless, he gathers his things and leaves inn.

Once outside, Ingvar unhitches his horse and promptly hops on. The wandering knight turns his noble steed around and starts making his way to the tower, checking for any signs of smoke.
Ruth
Cantering out of the city Ingvar eventually sees the hill in the distance - a tower in not-so-good repair seems to be placed atop it. A smoke stack not too far away from it can be spotted as well. Clouds have begun to gather in the sky and despite it being mid-noon it seems far darker then it should be. Regardless it will take roughly half an hour at full speed on horse back to reach the tower...
Juan
The clouds in the sky make him sigh, it'll take a while to reach the tower. But it'll be worth it to have this tower in his possession. Of course, he'll have to find a way to keep out squatters. But that'll come later when he reaches the place. His spurs dig into his horse and he gets it moving faster.
Ruth
The horse goes from a canter to a full on gallop in a matter of minutes. As the tower comes closer and closer into view its state of disrepair becomes readily apparent. One would wonder how desperate a person would have to be to setup home in such a decrepit ruin. There's a roof, with more holes in it then swiss cheese. The stone work looks about as sturdy as a house made of straw, and any wood work within is likely just as bad as the stonework or roof. No wonder the deserts are nominally camping outside. Infact they've set up a small camp - three tents, and a campfire a fair distance away from the tower itself. Which upon further inspection seems like it may be prone to collapse if a particularly bad storm hits it. The door lays slightly ajar on its hinges and peaking inside reveals a room that seems to be a complete mess - much of the floor above it seems to have caved in...
Juan
Ingvar looks around the crumbling tower. He knew it'd be in disrepair, he didn't think it'd be so bad. Fixing it will cost a good chunk of gold. Parts of it will almost certainly need to be patched up with wood as a cost saving measure. He looks over to the camp. Ingvar walks over to his horse and fishes his helmet off of his mount before he puts it on and makes his way over to the camp.

"Which one of you is in charge around here?" He asks when he gets to the camp.
Ruth
Upon approaching the camp something seems to be off... It's empty, more or less. But not in the "We just left and took our things" But in the "They just up and disappeared." The fire is just smoldering coals, what seems to have been a meal at one point now just a charred mess. One of the tents has a massive hole torn in its right half - inside is a mess, straw pillows torn to shreds bedding strewn about. No signs of death, but this camp is eerily quiet. Upon further inspection what looks to be deep cuts in the earth move towards the forest in the distance...
Juan
Slowly, Ingvar draws his trusty longsword from its sheath and makes his way towards the forest, following the deep cuts. He's starting to think that his contact was worried for an entirely different reason.
Ruth
The air is full of silence with each step he takes towards the forest. Soon however, he feels an increase in moisture in the air before the quiet but growing piter patter of rain can be heard. The wetness from the raindrops soaks into any exposed clothing - hope he doesn't mind being cold and wet! Though luckily for him, there isn't much distance from here to the forest canopy. Upon entering the forest the deep cuts in the earth seem to have changed into rather large... Bear prints.
Juan
Looking down at the prints, he sighs. And here was hoping it'd just be bandits. Still, he steps into the forest and moves deeper, following the prints. But the lack of any blood or bodies is curious. Presumably the bandits fled, but why not into the tower? Too ruined? Where could they have gone?