Agreed. No time like the present.
Agreed. No time like the present.
Librarians rule, Oook
I presume that all of the prisoner's answers were deemed true.
Sir Thoroncir will, with Sala's help, ask some of our allied men-at-arms to keep a watchful eye on the prisoner. Then he picks his shield back up, draws his sword and makes ready to proceed as our Elf-captain thinks best.
Rorimac gestures for the child to follow him and leads him back to the others where someone can speak the local language.
Mulligan ponders, "Well, I haven't broken into a castle for a while, let's get started. If the gates are shut, it will be the upper floor windows again."
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
The party now heads out as a whole with the additions of Fely, Hlíf and Elfstan. Fely agrees that a group of them should go up and in as the rest enter through the main doors. "Gil-Gandel will you join us and Elfstan can work with ground troops?"
The party makes it to the keep. The front door is open and there is fighting heard within. A body lies in the threshold of the inner door but it is oddly bandaged and tied up. A quick check shows the soldier is still breathing and in a deep sleep. A loud crash is heard above. You see someone peak around the corner, it is Nico, the young archer from Meriadoc's party. He has an arrow notched and ready but sees the Dwarves and refrains.
Last edited by What Exit?; 01 Feb 2011 at 09:30 AM.
Mulligan buries her head in her hands. "They kicked the front door in, oh grief, they just kicked the front door in."
She waves at Nico by way of acknowledgement. "Ok, I'm heading up. Who wants to join me and who is going to secure the ground floor."
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Drindoleth considers his options and that door. Thanks to his new belt, he's able to change shape more often than before, expanding his options. Rather than remaining separated from the others, he transforms back to an eagle to seek out the rest of his party. Even as an eagle he'll do more good there than on the wall now.
"It would seem unlikely that stealth will be needed at the moment, as those who went before us seemed to use main force of arms. I will join you, Mulligan."
I'll stick around down here. Let's search this level thoroughly, both for enemies and for hidden and trap doors.
I'll give Mulligan some archery support - also I cover the ground quickly and can call on the rest of you quickly with a blast on Glinras. Stay alert!
Librarians rule, Oook
I'll stick with those making sure the ground floor is secure.
Thoroncir will go at once to wherever he hears fighting.
"I'll stay down here and provide some more options in case we have any more locked doors they haven't vandalised or Bitur decides he would rather open them with his lockpick." syays Rorimac
"Right, in which case let's head up and see what's assistance we can lend." Mulligan shouts across, "Nico, what news and where can we help?"
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Nico reports, “I was told to hold the front hall, I’m glad to have some support. They’ve gone up to the second floor. One of them was able to um locate Capt Mun’s scimitar and I think his cloak using um a um locate object? Maybe you could leave me one person and explore this floor with the ground troops.”
Elfstan says, “I’m here to help with locks, I don’t climb as well as Mulligan though Fely offered to carry me up.”
Ceol will have a hard time going up the way the treasure finders did. But he and Thoroncir run up the stairs to where they hear some fighting. Ithilneth follows a bit more cautiously.
Bitur, Gwaelur and Hlíf begin to explore the passage. Elfstan checks for traps. Deor supports there effort.
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Mulligan, Gil-Gandel and Fely easily climb to an upper floor window on the east side. They are joined by Drindoleth who flies in as an Eagle.
This room is part of a hall along the outside wall. They see a guard with a crossbow looking down over the entrance of the town. The other direction reveals only a door on the south side.
On the ground they find 5 doors in all. The first in bashed open with 3 trussed up guards in a guard room for the front door. Another is for the stairs going up. The other three have one that is locked and all three are closed. None are trapped.
Who is willing to stay with Nico?
Ceol, Thoroncir and Ithilneth come up behind 3 men at arms wearing banded armor and carrying spears that are charging towards a broken door where the sounds of fighting is coming from.
Rorimac offers to stay behind with Nico to lend some support with both bow and sword.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Mulligan says, "I'll check the door on the South side, does someone want to take care of that guard with the crossbow?"
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Ithilneth shouts, "Stop! Who are you?" as she nocks an arrow.
The three men stop, turn and look confused by the incomprehensible command and the two strange men with the even stranger female archer behind them.
If they are not immediately aggressive, she'll give a friendly smile and gesture to them to drop their arms. Otherwise, she'll draw the bow, aim at the center one, and command "Surrender!".
Is the Comprehend Language spell on Ceol still running? If so, he'll encourage Ithilneth to continue talking to them, hoping to hear them answer.
Thoroncir will briefly wait for this laudable attempt at communication to play out, but is ready to attack if the soldiers do not promptly yield.
Two of the three hesitate, the third barks out in Rajien, "Get them! I'll help the Colonel" He turns to run for the open door.
The pair look uneasy and then drop their weapons and in Rajien, "We surrender, We surrender." As they extend their hands palms up in front of them.
Mulligan finds the door is lock with a simple key mechanism. She can pop it open in seconds. She finds no traps and hears no noise behind it.
Mulligan does so then and opens the door carefully to see what is behind it.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Mulligan finds a hall leading in directly to the spiral stairs going down and it has 2 doors to each side of the hall.
Ceol shouts, "Stop that one!"
Thoroncir pushes past the two surrendering soldiers to get the third. "Halt or be slain, man of Raj!" he shouts.
While Gil-Gandel and Fely disarm and deal with the guard with the crossbow, Mulligan will go and listen at both doors. Drindoleth can provide backup to whoever needs it.
Rorimac, will start asking Nico what happened and hopefully find out how the broke into the keep.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Gil-Gandel and Fely sneak down the hall. Fely grabs him high and covers his mouth and Gil-Gandel takes him low. The man has no chance to resist or yell warning.
Mulligan begins to check the 4 doors. she here's sound of fighting from below coming up the stairs but nothing behind the doors.
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Thoroncir pursues the man. He follows him into a chamber where Lindar is fighting a foe in charcoal gray plate mail using a viscous looking 2 handed sword. Bjorn (at least Thoroncir thinks its Bjorn) has Col. Marn is a tight bear hug. Mírégol is working a spell on Capt. Mun who is tied up lightly and a 10' long giant version of her black cat Warrior appears to be eating a strange demonic monkey on top of a very dead human mage type. The monkey is screeching in pain and agony.
The man at arms runs directly for Mírégol with spear lowered.
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What are the Dwarves and Deor doing on the ground floor?
Nico is unsure how the door was opened, he thinks Bjorn ripped it off though after Mírégol or Lindar did a knock spell. After than things got confusing, Mírégol and Lindar slept a bunch of foes and proclaimed 'that Capt. Mun was upstairs, stay and hold the ground floor Nico' and they were off.
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Haldreng & Meriadoc come out into the passage where Ithilneth and Ceol are. Haldreng looks bloody, Meriadoc does not. "What's the commotion?"
"These Men have surrendered to us. Thoroncir chased a third ahead." Ithilneth replies. Speaking and gesturing to the captured men-at-arms, "Leave your weapons, leave this keep, no harm will come to you."
Good work, Fely.
To the prisoner: I seldom have recourse to bare-hand combat. Don't make me regret settling this without the use of something sharp. We have no ill-will to men of peace.
Librarians rule, Oook
Deor, with the Dwarves' help, will begin searching for trap doors and other secret hiding places for either enemies or objects. The spell binding the town may have a material focus of some kind.
Thoroncir is a bit taken aback by the bizarre scene, but shouts at once, "Mírégol, beware!" He will still try to cut down the man-at-arms from behind.
Ceol gives Haldreng a quick glance. If it looks like a significant amount of that blood is his, Ceol will heal him (using lay on hands); otherwise, he'll follow Thoroncir and back up his fellow knight.
Ceol sees Haldreng is bleeding from several slashes. He heals him 12 points by laying on hands.
Thoroncir charges the man charging Mírégol. Mírégol dodges the spear man but her spell is disrupted. Thoroncir hits the man from behind as Warrior finishes off the demonic monkey thing. Soon the man is fully engaged with both Thoroncir and Warrior. Some flames erupt from the spear but strangely dissipate without doing any harm. Thoroncir finds the foe tough to hit. The man hits Thoroncir for 9 points of damage but Thoroncir strikes back for 18.
Warrior does not seem to be able to help but is distracting the man by weighing down his back now.
Thoroncir strikes with Cirist again and Mírégol hits him with her powerful magic missile spell. He stumbles under the weight of Warrior and his wounds.
Mírégol says, "Help Lindar please".
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Meriadoc says, "Quick I still here fighting." and he rushes to help Lindar and the others.
The pair of men agree to surrender, drop their weapons and flee down the stairs.
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Gil-Gandel's prisoner replies, "That's me a man of peace, I gladly surrender. I don't even know what's going on, the Colonel is acting very odd if you ask me. Yep, peace, peace sounds good."
Fely continues around the outside hall.
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Elfstan suggests a Detect Magic would be useful as he checks each door for traps and locks. The Dwarves note nothing special about the doors.
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Thoroncir charges over to help Lindar as Haldreng & Ceol follow Meriadoc into the room. The fearsome foe in charcoal gray plate mail is swiftly killed. No subduing this one. His sword practically pulsed with evil.
Still to the prisoner: If something is wrong with your colonel, we will put it right if we can. I will not speak too much of what we suspect for now, but your news comes as no great surprise.
Librarians rule, Oook
With his longsword, Thoroncir will ensure that all of his foes are truly dead, and then listen for more fighting elsewhere in the keep.
Ceol points to the sword of the man who wore the charcoal-gray armor. "That weapon is strongly evil. Once we are certain that the fight has been won, we must see to destroying that blade."
"You will hear no argument from me, my friend," Thoroncir says. If any other Sea-knights or allied troops have followed us into the keep, I will assign two to stand watch over the sword, ordering them very strictly not to touch it or to permit anyone else to, either.
Mulligan will let Drindoleth know about the fighting coming this way and then peer behind each of the doors just to make sure no-one is hidden in the rooms.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
The battle is pretty much over. Mírégol, Bjorn and Lindar work together and remove the charms from the Colonel and Capt. Mun.
Gilraen and others work hard at healing those injured.
It appears Tresnik the speaker to the dead, has escaped somehow. The citizens and soldiers of the town begin to awaken from their magical sleep and all those charmed are found and slowly the charms are broken. The Lady in White, a young Mage visiting from Tresti is actually Belinda, the niece to Lady Perna is very helpful in breaking the charms. Both Bards also show great skill in this area. Working together with Mírégol and Belinda, those charmed are freed.
Linwen did use a small army of mice and chipmunks and squirrels to overwhelm the magic detection of the city.
"That went much better than I dared hope," remarks Ithilneth. She will look for any lingering enchantments or hidden spells with detect magic.
Bitur will aid in any reconstruction of the town that might be needed from the attack.
Thoroncir will ask the fair Gilraen to kindly heal his injuries.
How shall we destroy the very evil blade?
Ceol will assist in healing the injured, to the best of his ability. "I am glad that we showed restraint in this combat, even more so now that we have learned that the soldiers here were enspelled."
Perhaps we should find the rooms that the necromancer was in and look them over. See if they have left any details behind.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
The Necromancer left little behind of value. Some ashes of what were probably notes. There were some small items of no real value.
Bjorn flies out after resting from healing to locate King Elessar. He does suggest that the sword be secured and on the next rainy day, Drindoleth tries to destroy it with call lightnings.
The Colonel declares this a great victory and proof of the good will of the far north and the ill will of the order of Necromancers.
The town needs some repairs and the aid of the Bitur is appreciated. Mírëgol uses a few Walls of Stone
Spells to provide some fast building material. It seems to gather up rubble and rocks into well made stone.
Ithilneth finds the town is loaded in enchantments. It has been carefully enspelled over decades of time. She cannot easily determine new for old and fair from foul.
Captain Meriadoc reminds everyone, “We need to be ready to leave soon and start north. Our job is to meet the King and escort him to the King of Raj. The town is in good shape and thanks to the suggestions of Gil-Gandel’s party much tragedy was avoided. They should be able to rebuild with ease. Let’s make plans to be off by tomorrow is possible.”
Deor will do what he can to help the townsfolk rebuild. Though we come here with good intentions, surely the townsfolk can't help but dislike outsiders coming in and attacking locals, regardless of how evil those locals are. We're a huge disturbance here, and we should step as lightly as we can.
Agreed.
Thoroncir will help and guard Gilraen as she goes about her work. Deep down, he's a little nervous at the thought of meeting her father, and considers what he will say when he meets the King.
Mulligan will spend a little time testing out against the enchantments to make sure they all work properly.
Honest.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Colonel Marn is very thankful and wishes to present the participants with Medals of Honor. There is a big ceremony and feast in their honor. He seems to be doing everything possible to play up the potential new alliance and to make the necromancers into enemies of the state, of course as he personally experienced their treachery, it is not much of an effort.
December 20th: is a hot partly cloudy day.
By the next morning the many items found along the way and in the battle are identified. The Colonel makes swift awards of several of the items and then hands 3 more to each party for their own division though the parties can do further trading in the future of course.
Thoroncir: +5 Halberd ancient Númenórean, as the only Halberd user and I understand you are Númenórean.
Mulligan: Knife +4 hold one dose of poison and a chit for 5,000 gold at the Capitol.
Deor: Silvery Robe AC 2/D also give extension effect to Prot vs. Normal Missiles: Works 3T/Level instead and stops magic arrows also.
Rorimac: Boots of Levitation: The speed of ascent is 20’ & descent is 40’ per round. No usage limitation. Weight allowed is 420 pounds.
Gil-Gandel: I noticed your harp and my niece Belinda reminded me of these ancient strings. 8 unbreakable harp strings that she said should aid your spell-singing. Your cures will do 50% more and your charms and sleeps with have a 10% bonus and you should now be able to work the tumblers on locks with your songs like a knock spell. (Must memorize Knock as a 2nd level spell though).
Ithilneth: We have collected a dozen +3 arrows for you and a chit for 5,000 gold at the Capitol.
Ceol: Please accept this +3 helm that will once per day allow you to comprehend languages for 1 hour + 10 rounds / level.
Gwaelur: We have something very useful for you. A wand of light that stores up to 100 light spells which can be used for 50 recharges of your helm. This wand is currently sitting at 56 charges.
Bitur: We have nothing to offer you here but a chit for purchases at the Capitol for 10,000 gold. It is enough to buy a Permanent Strength increase as an example with money left over.
Gilraen: We have little to offer a Princess but we have an ancient treasure said to come from over the waves. It is a beautiful Necklace of Pearls on what must be a very fine Mithril chain. It enhances Gilraen’s beauty and will give her a bonus on charm spells.
Drindoleth: There was a Cloak of +4 protection recovered that cannot be worn with armor, it seems perfect for you.
Sala: We have a +3 Spike (short rapier) to replace your +1 Spike if you like. Also a +1 belt of protection.
Capt. Mun was awarded a captured set of Banded armor +5.
The others were also rewarded.
Bjorn flies out to find the King while this is happening. He returns fairly fast with some excellent news. "The King and his escort are only 17 miles out. The King’s party is 100 strong, King Elessar is leading with Prince Éomund, General Haldon, Legolas and Gimli. 9 Rangers of Ithilien are led by Prince Caramir, 10 Elven Archers of Ithilien follow Legolas. Kalian of Dol Amroth a Wizard of 12th level is along. From the house of healing is Lady Ariella of Estë. There are 20 Knights of Rohan and 50 knights of Gondor (Dol Amroth & Minas Tirith primarily), Also 3 Dwarves, Láki, Páll & Rúnin."
Colonel Marn leads 120 mounted men to ride with the War Party to meet the King. Bjorn and Drindoleth are asked to Fly High Guard the entire time. At 11:00 AM both groups meet but Drindoleth notices a large ambushed being prepared by about 30 foes.
Last edited by What Exit?; 10 Feb 2011 at 09:58 AM.
Ithilneth is surprised and bemused by the Medal of Honor. She is thankful for the arrows.
She prepares for action against the failed ambush and awaits direction.
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