Our 4th Hexploration helps you brainstorm a fort or stronghold: Why is it there? How old is it and what is the condition? How large are the forces there? What secret does it have?

To use this chart simply roll for each column or look at the options for inspiration or use a combination of the two approaches. For example, you may roll 4-2-6-1-2 resulting in an old but fully restored fort that is defensive and overlooks a river. It has an unusual group of creatures or soldiers (griffons & riders for example) and we have to roll again so perhaps we get a 2 resulting in there only being 1 officer and minimal staff. We’ll come back to this. It is just a square wooden palisades around several wood buildings. The secret is it has a key leader who is a spy.

So we throw that into the brainstorm hopper and think about why there are so few people at the fort, but some griffons & riders. Well, what if the spy sent out most of the forces on a suicide mission? The spy, one other officer and a few support staff were left behind. But the officers on the suicide mission realized what happened when they were ambushed (perhaps they had some suspicions already) so they sent a rider or a magical message to get reinforcements to the fort as soon as possible. A group of griffon riders and their mounts have just arrived and more regular cavalry is a day or two behind them. That’s the situation the PCs walk into! Just from a chart, some random rolls, and trying to rationalize the results in a fantasy setting. Have fun!

d6 Age/ Condition Original Purpose Forces Materials/ Construction Secret 1 New Defensive against neighboring land Abandoned Square wooden palisades surrounding 5-10 wooden buildings Enemy forces have burrowed under a wall tower or main building 2 Recent, in great condition Defensive overlooking river/harbor 1 officer and a minimal logistical staff Circular wooden palisades with several stone buildings and about 10 wooden buildings A key leader at the fort is actually a spy for enemy forces 3 Recent, but badly damaged. Exploration Outpost 100 infantry, 20 archers and 3 officers serve under the fort’s commander Square stone wall and towers with several stone buildings and about 10 wooden buildings A fearsome creature (dragon or similar) has been lured here by enemies to harry the fort 4 Old, but fully restored Storage/Transfer Point A battalion (300 infantry, 30 archers, 30 cavalry, and 10 officers) currently is stationed here Circular stone wall and towers with 10+ stone buildings and a handful or wooden buildings An innocent prisoner was executed here and haunts the fort 5 Old, intact but showing signs of wear Military Training Roll again, plus a battalion (300 infantry, 30 archers, 30 cavalry, and 10 officers) is stopping here as they move further out or to defend this location Built into a cliff-face or solitary stone mountain; Has a few structures on top, but most rooms are underground Caves are underneath the fort; their existence and connection to the fort is unknown to the fort’s current forces 6 Old and badly damaged. Prison Roll again, plus it has a group of 10-25 additional unusual fantasy creatures/soldiers (roll or pick): 1. mages; 2. clerics; 3. griffons; 4. lesser undead & necromancer; 5. golems or other constructs; 6. giants 8-12 pointed star-shaped stone wall with bastions at each point. Several stone buildings and many wooden buildings inside A shape-shifting creature (such as a doppelganger) is preying on the soldiers here