Larin notices a thin wisp of smoke rising up from the castle’s hulking ruins. Perhaps a camp fire, or maybe a fireplace, but if so, the chimney is out of sight.
It is a good indication that the place is occupied.
"Maybe during the summer then," Larin muses.
He points up at a thin trail of smoke rising from beyond the castle walls. "Looks like someone's in," he says.
He frowned as he looked up at the plume of smoke. For some reason that made him feel less comfortable. This area was known for bandits... and whomever there was exposing their location. Something to think on.
"It is very much occupied then else the fire would have died or spread all around." Autumn stated.
"I'm going to see if I can get a feel on the boundaries. Do you mind remaining here while I look?" She quietly asked.
"I dont like us splitting up, especially if they are unfriendly.... but this is your realm tell me what you need me to do Autumn."
He said quietly his hand reaching up and gripping her shoulder to give it a supporting squeeze. He was out of his element and he knew it, just the last time she had wandered out alone it had ended not so well.
"Shout if you need us," Larin says, happy for Autumn to take a look while he remains behind to keep a watch out.
Autumn nodded and gave Herger's had a reassuring squeeze, then looked to Frostbite, "Stay with them" then she headed off around the side.
Autumn moves in close under the ruined keep. She notes that a breach in the walls has been repaired with walls of vertical logs.
The southwestern facing in front of Autumn is a rugged cliff perhaps 50’ high. It looks like the cliff drops in elevation as it curves around to the north. To the east, the cliff meets the lake shore, though it looks like a person could make the traverse. The rough stone provides plenty of hand and footholds.
Autumn kneels next to the breach and takes a long look, seeing how well it was repaired.
The repair work looks adequate from where Autumn stands. It would take a closer look, and a good knowledge of building or engineering to say how strong the woodwork really is.
With a soft sigh, Autumn slips back towards to group, motioned for them to still remain there, and move around to the other side.
It’s a good hike around on the landward side. It takes even longer as Autumn slips like a ghost between trees and brush. Sometimes even having to crawl on her elbows and knees to cross an open stretch of grass land.
The keep stands to the east now; the cliff is barely a cliff now, and the shoulder of the hill blocks all but the rooftop of the keep.
A low stone wall offers a slight obstacle to Autumn’s advancement. It’s only about 3’ high and incloses what might be a cemetery. Several stones stand upright while others lean a angles. Here and there, there are patches of naked loose dirt.
The wall encloses a roughly rectangular area about 60’x80’. There is a gap in the wall on the side opposite where Autumn is.
Pausing in this new area Autumn took a bit of time to look around at he gap in the wall.
Autumn does note that the sun hangs low in the sky. Sneaking about can really eat up a day…
Autumn was now very thankful for the vision of her divine ancestors, and takes the time to return to the group.
Autumn makes it back to the others as the sun sinks below the trees.
"I was starting to worry," Larin says as Autumn finally returns just before sunset. "What did you see?" he asks eagerly.
"My apologies, there wasn't too much but there is a gap on the other side. Though I didn't get a good look as the day is closing and I want to get those of you without dark vision back before it's too late."
"I think we should properly check the other side. There is a gap in the wall there but I didn't have time to actually give it a full look over." Autumn explained.
"Maybe that's a job for tomorrow," Larin suggests, "it's getting late. Though it sounds like that might be an easy way in," he adds, a hopeful note in his voice.
"From what I could see it was full of logs." Autumn said. "There is also a cemetery... But it was separate...." She explained. "I really don't want to just go knocking on the front door, but at this point I don't know if there is a proper way in outside of that. Looks like the walls are still good."
"So, I think our only way is through the front..." Autumn sadly admitted.
"We may just have to bite down and knock on the door even though it was the last thing I wanted to do." She sighed and rubbed the back of her head. "No time like the present... Shall we?"
"If you think that's the only real way in then I suppose we don't have any choice," Larin says. "We should make sure we're properly prepared first though, cast our spells and whatnot."
"Best we find a quiet place to hole up, rest, and get moving in the morning. If they are nice folk, an early morning meeting will just fine...If that keep there is the bandit stronghold...I have a feeling well they wont be the sort to get up with the sun for an honest days hard work, so that gives us a slight advantage in preparedness."
He frowned again though. It was clear While okay with the fact they may be fighting folk in the morning he sort of wished there were another way.
”Like back where we left our horses…” Titian grumbles.
"Agreed. Back to the horses, rest up, and we'll return with the dawn."
You make your way back to where the horses had been left. It is near midnight. The rest of the night passes without disturbance. Morning dawns cool with scattered clouds and the chance for ligh rain showers. Though it isn’t raining at the moment.
"Let's get some breakfast on and then we can have a chat about a plan for getting into the fort," Larin suggests, busying himself with the food and water. "Do we just walk up to the front door and hope they're all too hungover to stop us getting in?"
"Sadly that is the only way we have left to us. I was hoping there was something else but it seems it is the last choice we have." Autumn said with a sigh as the dished out breakfast.
"I'd say we just walk up and knock... and hope we haven't bitten off more than we can chew." Autumn stated as she fed Frostbite. "I'd say Titan go to the front, Herger you remain behind him, Larin you're in the back just in front of me. We'll knock and if we're lucky we could lose them in the rain if we need to... and if it comes down in time."
"Any objections?"
”The front, yes, naturally.” Titian agrees. The knight looks at the sky. ”I don’t think the weather will affect the outcome one way or the other, but if they want to come out from behind their walls, it will be to my advantage. He states confidently.
"try to stay within oh... 30 paces of me, For my healing magic's effects."
He advised the others frowning at the thought of the upcoming conflict
"Okie doke," Larin replies, making sure to stay close enough to Herger, just in case things went sideways. "Ready when you are," he says to the others as they approach the gate, the knuckles of his right hand white against the shaft of his morningstar.
Standing, Autumn made sure to start getting everything read. "Then lets head off. This has gone on for too long. Let us end this." She said.
Riding around the large hill where the keep sits takes a couple of hours. Soon enough though, you arrive at the front gate. The double doors are closed. A man in dark leather armor, and tattooed face leans over the parapet, watching you with a sarcastic smirk. Beside him a moon-faced fellow looks on.
”Ho, ho. What have we here? Come to pay homage to the king, have we?”
"No" Autumn said clearly from her place. "See we are at what people call an impasse. We want our people to be free to live their lives, you're... well you're just the worse at letting that be. So I suggest, maybe, an all or nothing wager. Four of your best, against us. Winner takes all... as the losers will like be dead." She explained.
”Why, yes. That’s a fine idea. Howzabout we meet in the court of the Winter Queen. Two years from next Starday?” The tattooed bandit gives the moon faced one next to him a slap on the shoulder. ”Laugh Ox, I made a funny. “
The moon faced one dutifully gives out a great booming guffaw.
He absolutely bristled at the mocking tone they took with Autumn and rolled his shoulders back glaring up at the man. He ran a hand though his long mane like hair and glanced up.
"Lady offered you a fair fight and a chance. Go be s good lackey and take the terms to him...Boy."
He turned to the others 'ignoring' the man above.
"Be prepared."
”Not a bad idea.” Tattoo face grins. ”Ox, go get the boss. Round up the others on your way. And move it, Tubs. These folks don’t seem the patient kind.”
Larin keeps quiet as the others debate their entry into the keep with the idiots guarding the gates. His hand prickles with a build up of electricity as he stands ready for whatever might come.
Autumn ran her hand over Frostbite's back, a spell laid upon the touch.
"Indeed... I've a feeling they're not actually going to come out." Autumn pointed out.
Moon-face hurries away toward your left, along the platform that must be behind the jagged battlements of the keep. He moves pretty fast for such a large fellow.
Autumn twirled an arrow between her fingers as she waited, though the longer time passed the moved nervous she became.
”I get the feeling that they plan on loosing arrows at us.” Titian comments. ”Cowards, but not complete fools…”
"What do we do if they start shooting at us?" Larin asks nervously. "Do we fall back or rush them?"
"Depends on how many there are. I can pick off archers so long as I'm not dealing with being rushed... Truth is we don't know what they'll hit us with." Autumn sighed.
"If this goes south, scatter. We'll meet back at the camp we've already cleared." She told them softly.
”Are you that good Autumn?” Wonders Titian. ”They have the cover of the battlements. We are in the open.”
From within the keep come the sounds of men preparing for battle.
Tattoo Face laughs. ”The champs’ll be right out to joust wit you chickies in a bit!” He makes a rude gesture toward you.