Printable View
The Rangers and trackers including Captain Mun begin checking the area. Mun comments, all the boats are gone. Rorimac and Bren determine that there are human tracks showing signs of being laden going around the lake. Lindar on his magical steed rides out across the lake to get swiftly to the opposite shore. Linwen sends her scouts out looking for signs of humans.
The houses and the inn look like they were hastily evacuated. The Inn is called the Ferry Dock.
Deor will send Folca up to scout out the tracks and see where they go.
After the battle, Ceol thanks Gilraen and others for healing him from his wounds, as well as thanking Thoroncir and the other Sea-Knights for coming to his aid. "Truly, I have never battled one as skilled at arms as that man was. I am truly blessed to have companions such as thee, or he would have surely slain me."
"No mortal flesh can overcome every challenge, and even the mightiest warrior sometimes needs assistance," Thoroncir says, clapping Ceol on the shoulder. "As you have helped me, so too will I always gladly help you if I have strength to do so, my friend. But tell me, are you fully recovered, and do you feel well? The Princess Gilraen's healing skills are unmatched, but you should not overexert yourself after so grievous a wounding."
Mulligan is quite happy to scout the fort out for people, enemies or traps hidden within
Captain Meriadoc says, "Angelica and Elfstan please wait until we find out what happened down here. Something scared these people off as the town appears intact."
Folca and Bjorn take to the air as does Bren's hawk. Folca shortly reports seeing boats on the other side of the lake. Doing a fly over there appears to be dozens of refugees.
Lindar is the first to return. He sighted the boats on the far shore of the small lake and soon found a small encampment. He road to send Captain Mun to them and rode back swiftly to bring the party around. He saws, "I see signs they are nursing wounded."
Ceol replies to Thoroncir: "Well enough, my friend. Thanks to the Princess, I am certain I shall be fine in no time."
*************
"We should see if we can help the refugees...and we might also learn from them what occurred in the town."
Mulligan whispers to Elfstan, "It must be serious, he's calling me Angelica. We'd better wait."
"Yes, we should send aid to the refugees. We can provide healing for their wounded and learn more about what has happened here."
Do we keep some here in town and send some over or do we all head over?
Ithilneth thinks we need to send some of us to escort the refugees back, some to guard the town, and some to scout the area. It's probable that the force we just destroyed was responsible for the town's attack, but need to be alert to other possibilities.
"I believe that we have a large enough force that we should be able to split up. If that is our consensus, I would like to be among those who goes to help the refugees."
Meriadoc says, "Splitting up might be find. Scouting in force would be good. We can leave the Sea-Knights to guard the town with a few men of Raj."
Sounds fine. Deor will stick around the town, but he'll send Folca along with either of the Druids, if they'll consent; if they can speak to her, Deor will hear the message. Makes for quick communication.
True to his oath, Thoroncir goes where Gilraen goes; he suspects she will want to tend to the wounded. He will designate a qualified and doughty commander among the remaining Sea-knights.
Drindoleth will go to aid the injured refugees. He's perfectly content to bring Folca with him and use her to send messages to Deor if needed.
I will stay in town, in overall command of our party. Volunteers for scouting?
Done. Deor will whistle her down, explain the situation to her, and then he'll go poke around the water's edge and see if any evidence jumps out at him.Quote:
Originally posted by Zuul
Rorimac is quite happy to scout the surrounding area, but Mulligan is more interested in looking the fort over when given the all-clear.
Bitur is fine either staying in town or assisting with the scouting.
Part of the party investigates the village with the Sea-Knights staying on watch. The rest and the men of Raj ride around the small lake to the encampment. Here they find nearly 100 refugees, the bulk of the village's population and a small part of the guard from the fort. One man who was third in charge is in bad shape with a broken leg from jumping off the wall of the burning fort. He pulled himself onto a horse and spurred it down to the village.
Bjorn begins to work on him immediately bringing two strong men over to assist. He pops the man's leg back into place and works his healing over him. Applying salves and unguents and doing something to reknit the flesh and bring down the fever. There is much need for healing and food among the refugees.
From this Lieutenant and the others of the village a story unfolds of horror. The dead rose up led by horrible phantoms and routed the fort. Men and horses were driven mad with fear. Ghouls were eating the flesh of the fallen, at times with the poor man still alive. Fire worked somewhat against these horrors but then fire got out of control and the wooden fort caught fire. One man fleeing saw the Captain of Fort holding his own when he himself ran in panic.
The people of the village fled by boat and on foot. A small group of the soldiers raced off to summon help. They should hopefully arrive tomorrow at the nearest town.
Captain Mun would like to at least investigate the fort is the parties are willing.
The Lieutenant warns them, the path up through the woods to the fort itself is likely to be dangerous but there is a secret way into the fort once the top of the hill is neared. He tries to describe it but realizes he must lead you to it.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...lsNewRuins.gif
The town is in fairly good shape. Only the damage of a hasty and unplanned abandonment.
Rorimac is eager to start scouting out the area and Mulligan is eager to find out about the secret entrance.
Both are ready to head to the fort.
Yes - once we have everyone back and spelled up, we'll go and take a look at it. Do our new allies wish to join us?
Gwaelur will assist in any scouting task he is capable of...
Deor will help out as much as he can.
Ceol is not well-suited to scouting, but he will help with the most pressing healing needs of the townsfolk before we head up towards the fort.
Thoroncir would go to the fort with the scouting party, unless Gil-Gandel or Gilraen bade him stay.
Umm, this may be a dumb question, but why do we have to go through a forest, can we not just walk up the hill?
The hill is very steep and nearly impassable at many points. It would be an small exercise in mountain climbing and the hill itself is not well suited for it. It is crumbly and adds greatly to the protection of the fort normally.
Mulligan ponders the effects of a steep crumbly hill on the rest of the party and thinks that perhaps they might be better suited to following the road.
Up the road we go, then. Ithilneth, and others as well, will maintain sharp eyes on the keep in case it's not abandoned as it seems.
The Sea Knight will stay ready down in the town. The mounts will stay with them. Captain Mun alone of the Men of Raj with the troop and the Lt. from the Fort will join the two parties in heading up. Linwen's scouts will also remain below. The undead is not something they have knowledge of and they can at least help keep the area secure. 3 fast riders of Raj will ride for the closest town in case the first riders failed to get through.
The groups form up with a Paladin to the front and the rear. Ceol getting the front position. Rorimac as a ranger will be by his side. The groups form fairly tight knots 4 wide. Princess Gilraentoward the front of the 24 people and Miregol towards the rear. All spell casters are enclosed in a wall of fighter types this way. As are a few of the archers.
Ceol Rorimac Gwaelur Bitur
Thoroncir Gilraen Deor Gil-Gandel
Sala Ithilneth Drindoleth Capt Mun
Elfstan Mulligan Bjorn Fely
Hlíf Lt. Hadla Miregol Nico
Haldreng Lindar Meriadoc Bren
If this is acceptable we'll head up before night falls. It is latish though, nearly 6pm. Sunset will probably be around 8:10pm.
Deor is ready with Long Light as soon as dusk settles.
"This seems like a good plan. As we move up, I will attempt to detect any evil auras ahead of us on or near the path."
"My axe is at the ready. Where are the necks to cleave?" Gwaelur asks
Sir Thoroncir has no objection to the proposed marching order, and is ready to proceed.
What Exit?, is your other group of players following along with this game thread?
The group proceeds up, Meriadoc is quick to ask for anyone with items that detect undead to have them at the ready. Lindar casts a Detect invisibility spell. Thoroncir’s sword has by far the greatest range and glows immediately on pulling it out. Meriadoc’s glows at a range of only 100’ or so and is not yet glowing. A quick survey shows that they seem to be in the fort and the woods. This should at least give us a chance to reduce their numbers while they are divided. They should not be used to Elves and Druids and Elven Blades or Dwarven Axes.
Onward we go, precautions taken. About half way through the woods a mist begins to form and then a fog starts up. Bjorn sagely says, don’t panic and stand ready. I have a trick in mind. Lindar and Gil-Gandel both begins songs to strengthen the will of their friends.
The fog gets very thick and it feels oppressive. But the spirits of the humans is buoyed by the Elven song. Gilraen has her bauble lit and her Rod ready. Bjorn says, “Stand ready. Ceol and Haldreng give shout if either of you detect evil.”
Lindar says, I detect invisibility to our right. Bjorn begins casting and a very strong wind blows the fog away. Suddenly revealed are a dozen wights and dozens of ghouls. Mírégol blasts half the ghouls out of existence as she reveals she is one of the ancient Elves of the light. It is a light like and yet unlike Gilraen’s bauble but familiar to those that have seen Glorfindel fight the undead. Gilraen herself commands, “"A Elbereth Gilthoniel o menel palan-diriel, le nallon sí di-nguruthos! A tiro nin, Fanuilos!" and the lesser wights are destroyed. The ambushers have been ambushed. There are 17 ghouls left to fight and one wight but 20’ from Ceol.
Deor can oblige the ghouls with a Fireball. He'll use the ruby to expand the radius and catch as many as possible in the blast. If the rest of the group can focus on that wight and knock it out quickly, we should be OK.
His face hidden by his helm, Thoroncir beams with pride at this display of Gilraen's skills. He calls out, "Well done, my friends! Shall the front rank advance, and engage the enemy?" He will join them, if it looks like the Princess would still be safe.
Ceol nods in satisfaction at how Mírégol and Gilraen have thinned out the undead. He moves to engage the remaining wight, swords in hand.
Rorimac moves alongside Ceol to engage the remainder with both swords drawn.
Mulligan will loose chaceldony stones if she gets a clear shot, but it's not likely to last that long.
Talking of clear shots, I believe I have one at that ghoul, so I'll strum him a quick tune on Lindorn. I'll then go to sword if many of the ghouls survive Deor's fireball.
Ithilneth will concentrate launching arrows at any ghouls that survived the magical attacks.
And by "ghoul", singular, I meant "wight", obviously. (It's my Lorien accent that throws people.)
Bitur quickly advances on the wight with the rest of his companions.
Gwaelur charges, axe swinging...
Deor's Fireball kills 9 ghouls but also lights many of the trees up. This is made worse by the winds Bjorn summoned to drive off the fog. Bjorn abruptly drops his winds.
Mulligan finds each of her chaceldony stones drops these foes. Gil-Gandel and Ithilneth and the other archers makes fairly short work of the remaining ghouls before they can close. It this regard at least the flames are useful. Haldreng seems a bit disappointed.
Ceol, Rorimac, Gwaelur, Bitur & Thoroncir close on the wight and surround. It seems a bit shocked by the turn of events. It raises its arms but axes and swords strike it hard and shields bash it. The wight is dispatched quickly.
No one was injured.
Bjorn casts a Quelch Fire Spell and stops the flames.
The party recovers their arrows and stones. Miregol's cat Warrior seems to be able to sniff out magic.
The groups head up the road with no further problems. Gilraen reminds Gwaelur to not forget to use the Helm Rilthol, the light can be recharged swiftly by many in this over-sized party.
The party makes it way up the hillside and cuts over through a concealed gully to were the Lt. says the secret door is. He warns the tunnel is narrow and it will be single file as it is 4' wide and only 6' tall. Most bows will be useless of course but it is only 100' long to the main basement of the fort. This time Hlif is given the lead with Haldreng second. The party snakes its way in. As the front of the party nears the far door, the middle and rear are attacked by wraith-like foes coming through the walls themselves.
The fight is fast and deadly this time. The Lt goes down under combined attack. Rorimac's fate might have been the same but Sala's blades made fast work of one foes and Gilraen's light send the rest running near her. Up front Miregol also send the foes running and Hlif breaks down the door. Nico ran fleeing but Lindar and Meriadoc were nearby to stop the wraiths that Miregol did not chase off. Thoroncir and Ceol got one wraith between them as it turned to run. Gil-Gandel struck one but it fled.
The undead blades are all glowing of course but Ceol reports the evil is beyond 10' at least. Capt. Mun, Nico and Ceol are all lightly injured.
Ceol will attempt to get to the fallen Lieutenant, to see if there is anything which can be done for him.
Thoroncir tamps down any feelings of overconfidence, so well have the battles gone for us so far. He suggests the fallen lieutenant be picked up and brought with us for healing in some larger space beyond this narrow tunnel, rather than bottling up our large party.
The Lt. is quite dead, he seems to be withered and even has signs of frost bite. Gilraen sings a prayer and release his soul to go to the Halls of Mandos. Capt Mun says a few words that only a few understand, they are in the native Rajian language, "Lt. Hadla though I knew you not well, your bravery in returning to a place where you knew horror will live on in the annals of Raj. Let your name ring out when they tell of the new age of the kingdom. Let Hadla mean the bravery to face again what one fears most."
There are some prison cells to the far side of the huge room, a wide set of stairs rising in the middle to the main floor of the fort. There is also a wine cellar off to the north side. Meriadoc's party will check the cells if Gil-Gandel's party will hold the stairs.
Also how will Gil-Gandel's party array itself to protect the stairs if they agree? Options are to hold below or scout in force to the main floor of the fort.