Middle Earth FA64 D&D Game: Ninth Adventure – Against the Cultists

So what is the plan?

How many people are moving around in the courtyard or is it fairly quiet. I think most of the party should head to the main building, find the leader and take him down.

If someone wants to provide cover from the tower, Mulligan and Rorimac can provide invisible ground cover to tidy up any issues that may occur.

Mulligan will also be keeping an eye on Gorung, perhaps not quite ready to trust him fully and also wanting to make sure he doesn't either raise the alarm by accident or cause a riot in the fort.

I am no good to a silent assassination party, I make too much noise. I will happily help lay down cover from the tower.

The dwarves and knights aren't likely to be able to maintain stealth for much further, but I agree, hitting the main building quickly seems like a good plan.

Ithilneth proposes that she and Deor provide cover from the tower, the hobbits can help keep the courtyard clear (maybe making it difficult to open some doors?) and everyone else storms the center building.

I think that having the stealthy ones infiltrate the main building could lead to problems, since most of the resistance is going to be in there. We have the element of surprise right now, so I think we should take advantage of it by sending the frontliners in as the main assault, backed up by the spell slingers, and the ranged attackers provide general cover.

Thoroncir agrees with Ithilneth's proposal, but would like to know which plan Gil-Gandel favors.

Let's not take any risks here. Maybe the hobbits can scout the place invisibly?

The hobbits have been scouting around. Itilneth's plan seems to be sound though.

Gorung says, "The fight will be in the main building. Leaving people outside with do you little good. You want the shamans not the guards, don't you?"

"Let me get close that central building and see if I can see inside, get an idea of what awaits us.", says Mulligan.

"Gorung, once we start into the main building, the alarm will go and the guards will come running. If we take the shamans down, will the guards surrender at that point?", asks Rorimac

Gorung thinks for a moment and replies, "Most will I think, yes, most will but some won't. Many are semi-forced into working for the cult like me. If they see the cults power shattered they will be happy to at least flee or surrender."

"A strong and effective show of force, as at the occupied fort, may be just what the occasion requires," Thoroncir says. "Let yield all those who will do so; slay those who will not."

"Then it should be all hands take the central house and take down the shaman. After all, we don't intend to let them escape for their crimes do we?"

"There is one door on the far side from the tower, probably a couple of hundred metres away from the bottom of the tower. I would suggest everyone heads for there, except for Itilneth to provide cover and Mulligan to clean up out side and keep it quiet while we move", says Rorimac. "When we get to the door, Bitur use his lockpick and we take the place."

"I shall ensleep those soldiers who enter the courtyard," says Ithilneth to Gorung. "And reserve my arrows to those who respond with violence."

Let us do as Ithilneth says. Those who don't fall asleep may find my Stunning Discord discomfiting, and I, no less than Ithilneth, will have a sharp response to those still disposed to fight.

The party heads into the courtyard with Ithilneth & Gil-Gandel in the tower. Mulligan will guard the grounds.

The party moves swiftly to the far side of the central tower and make for the door. Bitur sees the door is shut and notices strange and dark symbols on the door itself. Deor recognizes them as dark magic. Gilraen will attempt to dispel them and warns all to be ready to move fast for they will probably know we are here once I do this.

She carefully summons her magic and uses a few of her trinkets and the brilliant glow of her bauble and the symbols melt off the door with a loud cracking noise.

Bitur makes short work of the door and the party can head in.

The door looks into a large chamber, there is a large 5' wide pillar in the middle and a wooden stair case wrapping around it up to a second floor or down below. The room appears empty of people but the entire outer wall is comfortable looking furniture. Chairs, couched and lounges.

What is the order?

Mulligan will be heading round and locking or blocking as many doors as possible into the courtyard.

Rorimac will be providing cover to the party from behind until they have made it into the tower.

Ceol will quickly look around for any particular sources of evil before we enter.

Unless Gil-Gandel objects Thoroncir will go upstairs, sword drawn, with anyone who cares to join him.

No objection here, Sir Thoroncir. I shall follow so as to keep you in bowshot, if there's room; otherwise any of the heavy infantry take priority. Any sound I am aware of?

Thoroncir starts up followed by Gil-Gandel. Ceol notes there is evil radiating from below. Bitur and Gwaelur realize the stonework is a bit off. Probably magical in nature to some degree. They cannot determine the age of the work either.

Drindoleth senses something wrong with the building. A foulness to it that is hard to define.

Bitur will follow up, axe at the ready.

Deor will bring up the rear, ready to cast as necessary. He'll check ceilings in particular, just in case there are traps.

Hmmm. The magic which Ceol notes is from a basement of some kind, or from the first (ground) floor as Thoroncir and the others ascend to the second?

Gwaelur will proceed with Bitur. Two axes are better than one.

Drindoleth will pause a moment to try to identify the foulness. Is there anything in particular it reminds him off?

As the group begins to head upstairs, Ceol signals for them to wait a moment. "I sense evil, but it seems to be below us, not above. Perhaps we should head downstairs instead?"

Drindoleth can not identify it but feels it is a force basically inimical to life and nature.

Thoroncir is far enough to see a pair of startled young men trying to get into their armor on the upstairs. The have maces nearby.

Gil-Gandel could get clear shots with ease.

It appears the upper floor is a dormitory for younger cultist.

The entire party is inside at this point except the Hobbits and Ithilneth. What do these 3 do?

Sir Thoroncir points his longsword Arcirist at the men and says loudly, "Stop! Yield, and you won't be harmed!"

Mulligan will be staying outside and keeping an eye on the courtyard from above. If Itilneth casts a sleep down there, she wants to be out of the way.

Once they get into the tower, Rorimac will join them and look to try and bar the door or lock it as firmly as possible.

Ceol, who was looking for some entrance to the lower level, glances in the direction in which Thoroncir is pointing. "They may not understand your words. Do you need a hand?"

Ithilneth scans the courtyard plus windows and doors. She is primarily concerned about attacks coming from the latter. She will try not to have an especially exposed profile, if possible. Her plan is to sleep any group that does not pose a direct threat to her. She will send arrows at anyone who launches projectiles or spells at her.

The men stop briefly, one grabs his mace and charges. The other appears to begin casting.

Ceol sees the stairs spiral down also.

So far the courtyard is still free of potential foes, though Mulligan has something to do with that.

Rorimac is inside and seeing to the door.

Thoroncir strides forward to fight the man with the mace, calling back to the others in the party as he does, "If there's anyone in earshot who speaks the local tongue, please repeat what I just said."

Deor will drop a Web on the caster- this one might be worth interrogating.

Before shooting, I'll reiterate Sir Thoroncir's appeal in my best approximation to the local language.

Ceol will move to the staircase, but not ascend (or descend) just yet. He keeps an eye out for whether Thoroncir needs help, as well as to see if anyone is coming up from the lower level.

Hearing Gil-Gandel speak in what is clearly not Elvish, Thoroncir will stop and give the man a chance to comply. He will be braced for the man's attack if that comes, however.

Bitur prepares to aid Thoroncir if the attacker doesn't yield.

Deor's web stops the one foe, the other drops his mace but starts yelling. "Foes, We are attacked, Foes!"

I should've known this would happen, Thoroncir thinks. He steps on the mace's handle to keep the man from picking it up again, and says, "Be silent, and yield, or you may be in even greater danger."

*sigh* Very well, you did the letter of what you were told, while flagrantly disregarding the spirit. As you do, so shall you be done by, the tales tell. But for now, refrain from fighting and we shall see what may be done.

*Prepares to greet any arrivals first with a Stunning Discord and then plenty of arrow fire.

Hearing the sounds of shouting from inside, Mulligan groans inwardly and starts looking round for those who might answer its call from outside.

Having secured the door, Rorimac moves to gain line of sight down the stairs for those who might come up with bow at the ready.

Since it appears subtlety has failed, Bitur prepares for the full assault that will no doubt be coming soon.

At least we seem to have gotten the drop on them somewhat. They probably won't be nearly as prepared to fight us from already inside their defenses than we would have been had we alerted them upon entering the fortress.

Charging up the stairs are two brutish looking pale monstrosities. The are using strangely glowing 5' swords that appear black as night. The light appears to be getting sucked from the around them. They are evil as are the swords.

Gilraen sings her song and lifts her bauble and its glow is enough to counter the strange swords.

Stunning discord has no effect on these oddities.
Gilraen cannot turn them.
Rorimac's +4 arrows do bite their unholy looking flesh. He hits 3 times as Bitur and Ceol brace to meet these odd foes. Gwaelur is ready to assist. Axe, Shield, Holy Sword and short sword clash with the odd blades.

Ceol hits twice on the injured one and Bitur strikes the same with his Axe and blocks the blow from the other's sword.
The injured one strikes Ceol for 12 points of regular damage and an additional 22 points of soul wrenching agony for 34 points total. . Ceol strikes again feeling physically ill but hits with the Holy Sword. Bitur again hits with his Battle Axe and the creature is reeling. He fends off another blow. Ceol evades a blow. Gwaelur strikes down with a great chopping blow on the healthy one and draws a deep and bloody gash.

Thoroncir is subduing the captives?

Drindoleth is free to do something.

Deor can move down to try to assist.

Sala is looking for a chance to dance in and strike.

If Thoroncir can see what's going on with the two pale monstrosities, he'll turn around and go at once to Ceol's and Bitur's aid, hurriedly saying to Gil-Gandel as he passes, "Mind these two captives, please, my friend."

If he can't see it, he will order the captives to lie down on the floor with their hands behind their heads and bind them with any strips of strong cloth or chain that are close at hand. He will then advance further down the hallway to see if anyone is coming out of any doorway in response to the mace-wielder's call of alarm.

"Belethil" growls Rorimac under his breath, as he draws both swords and moves to flank the monstrosities that have appeared.

Mulligan is floating above the roof of the main building, looking for trouble.

Covering the two captives with bow drawn, but if I get any clear shots at the enemy I will cut loose at them with the best ammunition I have.

Hearing the sounds of battle from within, Ithilneth remains ever vigilante from the tower.