(Korcari Wilds)

The structure is not what I imagined. Fort Connor is a fortified structure surrounded by forest. Using that as the basis, I thought Winterwatch Tower is a fortress in the middle of thick jungle. 

From Fort Connor, our carriage had travelled on man made path in the middle of the woods until we saw steep rocky hills. It is well known that Redcliffe itself is an impenetrable natural fortress that Olga Federation had failed to capture despite being the only territory in Ferelden that is directly bordering the federation. 

Seeing the natural walls in the form of endless steep rocky hills that stretch from Korcari Wilds until the sea. Minerva told me there is another such rocky hills at the other end.

The thick forest called Korcari Wilds is vast. 

There are two rocky hills that divide the forest into parts within Hinterland and outside Hinterland. 

The rocky hill we just saw is the natural barrier on the side facing sea, Olga, and Dioral. There is another rocky hills at the other side that we can't see from here is the barrier facing Castall kingdom, Arkland Dukedom, and Gwaren the territory of Count Loghain Mac Tir. 

Minerva told me decades ago when Olga was conquering Denerim and Redcliffe, the previous king, Maric Theirin and others had their base in the middle of Korcari Wilds. 

Upon passing the rocky hills, we see large wall that connects to rocky hills.

"These tall walls stretches until the other rocky hills." Minerva gives her commentary.

There is deep moat dug along the wall. 

I try to look beyond the wall. It seems there are ramparts above the wall which mean ones could climb to space above the wall using stairs and walk along the walkway above the wall. 

I also notice large trees on the other side of the walls.

"There seems to be thick forest behind the wall." Before I could say anything, the vigilant Ivanna asks the other red haired woman beside her.

The red haired woman with spectacle, Margrave Minerva Blare replies, 

"That's also Korcari Wilds. The walls separate the Korcari Wilds into forest within the walls and outside the walls."

It appears the tall walls cut through the Korcari Wilds. From the rocky hills before, the carriage has travelled about 50 kilometres but we find no entrance. 

Realising my action as if gouging the distance, Minerva says,

"The entrance is right at the middle of the wall. The distance between each rocky hills until the entrance is equal." 

Hearing that, my mind automatically estimates the distance. The length of the walls could be over 100 kilometres. 

After traveling further 30 kilometres, we arrive at a drawbridge that is quite similar to the one at Abram City. 

However, we can't enter as it is raised. 

Minerva smoothes out her mussed-up robe, and gestures to her driver through the opening between carriage and driver seat.

Acting as they had planned earlier, the drivers lead their horses towards the the gap in front of the raised drawbridge.

“People of Winterwatch Tower! Margrave of Lothering, Minerva Blare, has come to pay you a visit! Will you not send someone to receive her?!”

The voice of a driver echoes through past the wall.

Yet, there is no response.

The driver looks at Minerva with an expression that said, “What should I do now?”

Minerva indicates that he should announce them again.

And so, he shouts at the top of his voice once more.

However, there is still no response. There is no sign of anyone appearing even after waiting a while.

Her informer had said that there should be guards watching this exit in order to welcome refugees from the outside. If this is the case, someone should have heard his voice.

Minerva looks at me. 

Were they avoiding men?

Minerva recalls the men for the time being, and then asks Irijina.

“It’s your turn now. Go shout a bit and see how it goes.”

The tall Irijina draws near the drawbridge and shouts. Still, there is no response.

***

Hyndel, a top member of One God Cult is monitoring the situation in the refugees dwelling.

"Report! Report! I have a report! Where’s the commander-in-chief?!”

Looking toward the source of that voice, the commander-in-chief, Hyndel sees a refugee who is stationed at the Korcari Wilds wall. The male refugee, Sin mounts on the only horse available there.

This is the only horse they can get from the village girl, Mabel. She is from Haven village in Hinterland and visits the refugees place occasionally. On one occasion, she sold a horse to the One God Cult. Her father refused to allow her selling another horse. 

However, most runners would not use the sole horse to relay a message. It is only employed in dire circumstances — when they need to let the garrison know about the conditions at the wall.

Unease filled the heart of the commander-in-chief, Hyndel. 

“Where’s that guy, Sin from?”

"He should have been posted to the fortress at the surface entrance this week.”

That validates the feeling of dread in Hyndel’s heart. No, given the man’s expression and his near-crazed tone, it is plainly obvious. Asking that much was simply because he does not want to acknowledge the reality before his eyes.

“I’m here! What is it?”

He runs towards Hyndel at full speed. It could not be delayed. This is something which must be heard immediately so a course of action could be quickly determined.

The man, Sin falls off the horse’s back, and shouts as he desperately tries to right himself.

“Commander-in-chief! There’s an emergency! Noble! There’s noble!”

"Calm down! We can’t figure out what you’re saying! What happened? Is everyone else alright?”

“Y-yes! There ladies at the entrance! They say they want to talk about the Ferelden army headed this way!”

“Whaaaaaaat?!”

Could they be the ruler of the Redcliffe, or other nobles? Hyndel reckons.

The cult always expect someone from Ferelden to discover them. 

“Who, who are they? What do they look like! Sin! Gather every man who can move right now!”

“Genitivi is there, assembling men!” Sin answers.

"Good."

The commander-in-chief does not even have the time to watch his panicked subordinate leave.

“How many of them are there?! What are their weapons?!”

“Y-yes! There’s about 30 of them. 2 carriages and 1 wagon. But they don’t seem to want to fight! They even said they wanted to make a deal with us, but three of them look very noble, so I immediately suspect they are from Ferelden!”

Various things play in Hyndel's mind. Why had the Ferelden noble come here? Do they intend to retake this place? Do they coincidentally find them, who are strangers occupying this place?

"Sin. Are you ready yet?! Move out once you’re done! We don’t know what kind of aristocrats are out there, but do not take them lightly! Don’t let them underestimate us! They may not be acting haughtily, but if they look down on us, we’ll be in danger!"

***

The drawbridge is lowered and at the other end, there are three men. 

The youngest looking man wears shabby cloth.  The two other men look older in their forties and are better dressed. The man in the middle looks confident and wears like Christian priest. 

Ivanna, Minerva and Fleuret accompany me towards them. 

We meet on the bridge. 

"Well then, she is the Lord of Lothering, Margrave Minerva Blare. This is her assistant, the daughter of Count, Fleuret Valois. Are you the gentlemen who are in charge of welcoming us?”

I do not know which of the higher-ups is of higher rank, so I address the one who look like a priest. 

“Ah, ehem..I, I am the man in charge of the security, Hyndel. This is Genitivi and this is Sin—”

Minerva steps forward and speaks with a noble tone.

"I am one of the highest noble in Ferelden. I have come to forge a friendly relationship with your group."

The three men look really puzzled.