The Ranch

The village is named after the ranch which was built around the watchtower, when the frontier moved on. Zebediah takes a wagon to Northold, once a month or so, with any tack that is ready for sale, and the horses that are ready for market. Sgt Daly, or one of his troops, makes the trip with him, and supplies for the settlement come back with them.

• The Watchtower - A small tower, two stories tall, with a flat roof, Sergeant Daly commands the tower and its small garrison (5x Guards, Inc Sgt Daly ).
  Note (The tower is 20ft square, The ground floor is a common area, while the upper room has bunks. Treat as one fortified lodging)
• The Ranch - which specializes in sheep and horses under the watchful eye of Zebediah Turgut a hobgoblin. Both the sheep and the horses are wild-grazed, roaming far and wide under the watchful eye of their herders, although they are rounded up and brought close to home for the winter months. Horses, is perhaps, a mis-description - the main herds consist of hardy ponies and donkeys, with just a single herd of light horses. Mules are deliberately bred from the ponies and donkeys, and are all trained as draft animals. Ponies are generally trained both for riding and as draft animals - while they will carry a pack saddle, they are just as comfortable pulling a small cart or driving a mill wheel.
• Review this bit The ranch consists of a series of stables and paddocks, surrounded by open countryside. There is a small house for Zebediah and bunkhouses for the workers. There is also a saddler and tack maker on site, working from a crafter's cottage. Zebediah normally trains pack horses/mules and riding horses/ponies. He will train warhorses, on request, but rarely has one available for purchase.

Notes on Zebediah: (Rogue/Ranger)

Zebediah was a Hobgoblin scout - not quite considered good enough to be front-line soldiers, Hobgoblin Scouts are one of the lowest status groups in the Hobgoblin military, they get a bit of status, because they are in the army, but not all that much. Zebediah was with a patrol that got ambushed, and almost wiped out, and would have been held responsible for not spotting the ambush - and would be executed for Failure of Duty, should he ever return to his clan. However, he was wounded and subsequently captured - and knowing his fate (if he went back home) decided to co-operate with his captors. He was soon put to work as a soldier/scout, under strict observation until he proved his loyalty. Once his period of service was over, he settled here - more comfortable in the wilderness, than in normal human society.

Notes on The Ranch

Captured / renegade goblins are sent here to work as servants in Zebediah's cottage and the bunk houses. Zeb has a harsh regime for them, and soon winnows out the bad ones - who all seem to disappear shortly after they are discovered. The rest live communally, wear a neat brown uniform and carry out household duties - they have a better life than most goblins, and have nothing to fear, so long as they do their jobs well. These tend to be the quietest and least aggressive of the captured goblins, and they don't have to deal with the 'scary' horses.

The rest of the 'staff' is made up of loners and misfits (of many races), who are happy to spend a lot of time in the field (herding sheep and horses) - and who live in bunkhouse accommodation when they are back at the station.

• Mules/Donkeys are trained for heavy labor, and know the tricks come and work.
• Ponies are trained to bear a rider, and know the tricks come, heel, and stay. They are taught work as an aditional trick.
• Light Horses are trained to bear a rider, and know the tricks come, heel, and stay.