Purpose:

1. Museum Guards/Guides.
2. Guard Thistletop + Bramble-warren
3. Patrol Forest
4. Patrol Village

Command Structure: Sir Robyn is the Steward and over all garrison commander. Drusilla acts as Robyn’s squire, apprentice and corporal, then spends time in the forest with her dogs. Velma has day-to-day control of the Museum and Museum Guards, although they all fall under Robyn’s command in case of an attack / troubles.

I think this probably provides enough defence to start building economic developments within the Bramble Bailey and offer basic security. Museum Guards/Guides: We get 5x Civilian Guards when the museum is complete and there is accommodation for them in the bunk room. Need to check that we have sufficient income from a completed museum to give Velma a raise and fund these guards. These might be commoners or Experts – depending on how Artifex feels about it. We might be able to influence that with a carefully worded advert, as we put the word around. If we can get Experts we can arm them with simple weapons, as a symbol of position and to give minor defensive aid - probably just a truncheon (club) and sling, so we get extra firepower from the high defensive points. We might be able to do that for commoners, with some minor training costs.

Guard Thistletop: 5xGuards (warrior-1) cost 100 gp, although we need to buy gear for them. Currently minor gear (Short Sword, Dagger, Leather Armour, Small Wood Shield, Sling) costs 77gp as we have some equipment collected from various adventures. There is accommodation for them in the Bunk Room. Need to check that we have sufficient income from a completed museum to fund these guards as well as the Museum Guards. If not, we need to agree a wage cost with Artifex, until we generate more income.
Investment cost: 177gp

Active Patrols: Guards will only defend an area, we need soldiers to actually go out and look for, and engage, enemies. Upgrading the military guard to soldiers (Costs an extra 120gp) means we can have simple patrols around the area. Drusilla, her dogs and a couple of Soldiers make up a basic patrol unit. That still leaves 3x soldiers and 5x civilian guards at Thistletop/Bramblewarren. One or two could also be deployed as caravan guards to facilitate Able’s trade plans.
Investment Cost: 120gp

That is probably enough (supplemented by Sir Robyn, Dru and Velma) to guard Thistletop and Bramblewarren. But not enough to keep the road and forest clear, or build a settlement.

If we choose to develop Bramblewarren, we will need to provide security for the people who live there and the goods they produce. So extra guard patrols around bramble warren and regular road patrols, to keep the road to Sandpoint clear of bandits and other threats. That means more troops, which means we must undertake further building work. I would like to have those troops based on Thistletop itself, as that add to the security of the Citadel. However, there is no space left on the ground floor, and the basement (and catacombs) are not really a viable option, so we will have to build new (which we would have to do, if we put the extra troops in Bramble Warren). This means another bunk room and an armoury. , which is much cheaper than buying decent gear separately. However, as soon as we have an armoury, we can upgrade the equipment for our existing soldiers (eg: scale mail, a longsword, a heavy wooden shield, and javelins), but retain their lighter equipment for later use.

The Bunk room costs 400gp and (if Artifex is being nice) might fit in the upper section of the tower (C15) Which is described as being 30' high. We would need to count the space provided in C14, C15 (ground) & C15 (Upper) together, to give us enough space. It might also get us a discount, as much of the infrastructure is in place. That gives us accommodation for another 10x troops. That is probably sufficient for our needs.

The Armoury cost 390gp, and won't get much of a discount - if any. There is no suitable space, however we could build the Armoury in the ‘notch’ between C11 and C15. We dismantle the outer wall, and rebuild it 10 feet further out, then add and internal wall. However, as soon as we have an armoury, we can upgrade the equipment for our existing soldiers (eg: scale mail, a longsword, a heavy wooden shield, and javelins), but retain their lighter equipment for later use. This is much cheaper than buying decent gear separately.

There are a few options that we could use to strengthen Thistletop and make it more defensible.

Guard Posts give a +1 bonus on Initiative checks and on Perception checks against intruders at the Guard Post and cost 320gp. One on top of the Barracks Tower, might give extra warning of attack - but that seems like high cost for a low return. Especially when we will (most likely) have people in Bramblewarren anyway. Probably not a good option - see Gatehouse below.

Thistletop is described as a 'Goblin Stockade' created from scavenged ship's timbers - which implies that the outer wall is the equivalent of a Downtime Rules defensive wall. If Artifex agrees with that interpretation, we might be able to use the fortification enhancement on the outer walls, making them a fair bit tougher and more fire-resistant. I estimate this will cost between 600 and 1000gp. A nice idea, perhaps, for the long-term.

We could build a gatehouse (630gp), if we decide we need more security and better access control. It adds an extra high point, with the benefits of a Guard Post, as well as the option to add strong doors, portcullis etc. Another long term option, which along with Fortification (earlier) makes Thistletop into a simple castle.

This section needed rethinking. It was written without consideration to wages - L3 warriors are really expensive - even if we take board and lodging into account. Reduced to a garrison of fifteen, all at L1. Possibly rising to 20, but adding more L1 soldiers.

We might need to negotiate non-standard gear for soldiers and guards. The normal gear isn't particularly suitable for our needs and terrain. Lighter gear, perhaps with a missile weapon (at least for some of the troops) would be better. Perhaps something like Studded Leather, Buckler, Light Cross Bow and short sword? However, I have to check on costs and make sure they are equivalent and within range for the NPCs level.

I think a garrison of twenty fifteen will be sufficient – However, these extra troops could be added gradually.

• 5x Civilian Guards (Commoner1 or Expert1) with truncheons and slings act as museum guards, guides and house guards for Thistletop. Note: We can equip commoners like this, even though they might have attack penalties, It we have experts, we can arm them more effectively, in case of attack. (we already have these from the Simple Defence plans)
• 5x Guards (warrior1, with our light gear) to act as Guards for Thistletop and bramble Bramblewarren. That upgrade to armoury gear, when we get it) (cost 100gp plus wages)
• 5x Soldiers (Warrior1, with armoury gear) to conduct local area patrols and help guard Able’s trade caravans. (cost 220gp plus wages)
• 5x Skirmishers (Warrior3, with armoury gear) who keep the forest clear of threats and help guard Able’s caravans. (cost 360gp)
• Ideally, I would like another 5x Soldiers (Warrior1, with armoury gear) to strengthen local area patrols and help guard Able’s trade caravans. (cost 220gp plus wages)

We start with Commoner watchmen, upgrade to Expert Security Guards, guards, and finally soldiers - which adds a nice little Career Development path (Yeah. I know I take things to extremes sometimes) for our troops :).