As Kaplan reads from the restorative scroll, in addition to feeling his lifeforce restored, Ventus feels the fog that's clouded his thoughts for months now fade away.
Moving the heavy 'door' aside, the party is able to peek out into the courtyard. Several small buildings of wood and stone occupy the space. They're obviously worse for wear since the ogres moved in but their purpose is otherwise unknown. To the west an inner wall guards Fort Rannick proper.
Three massive full-blooded ogres stand guard here. They appear to be alert and ready for trouble.
Eli digs through his bag. "I've got some alchemist's fire and some alchemical glue in here. Otherwise, that's about it." he says. "And I can make myself invisible for about ten minutes."
"Gimme that bow and the alchemist's fire," Ventus says, "Beaks and I will do some flybys and get their attention. You guys come up in the courtyard and hit them while they're distracted."
Pirknok nods tiredly. "Shud we go on in ta thuh fort itself, ta try ta find Jaggerwhatsit?"
Manuevering back toward the closer secret entrance, Kaplan calls a fire elemental into being atop the front-most fort storehouse. The room immediately catches fire as the little elemental dances to and fro on the tarred roofing. The ogres on guard in the courtyard bellow in alarm and curse at the tiny arsonist.
Using this time to get into position, Ventus circles around and fires at the ogres with his bow from the front of the fort, drawing them outside. The ogres shout in anger and clumsily hurl javelin the pesky ranger and his feathered mount.
A moment later, the ogres trying to find a way into the caverns under the waterfall emerge and hurl javelins as well.
Having gathered enough attention, Ventus and Beaks take off south dragging the guards with them.
A few minutes later he returns and lands in the courtyard alongside his companions. The ogres can be heard far to the south still.
Pirknok grins at his companions despite his weariness. "Heh. That wuz real good. C'mon, let's go on inside buhfore they come back."
So saying, he draws his sword and heads for the front door, though he keeps his eyes open for anything trap-like along the way.
Kaplan follows the group from behind, his hand near his sword.
Gripping his Longspear in one hand and a bomb in the other, Eli follows the others.
A single set of double doors allows entrance to the central keep of Fort Rannick. The doors are made of oak and have been brutally battered and savaged. Crude repairs have been effected, but the doors still hang somewhat askew.
What might once have been a well-maintained entrance hall is now swathed in horror. Dried blood cakes the stone walls; bits and pieces of armor, weaponry, and flesh litter the floor; and flies cloud the air. Tapestries that once bore the insignia of the Black Arrows have been torn from the walls and now lie on the floor in shreds, coated with filth.
Jessamy follows the others, moving as quietly as she can.
Packing Beaks away, Ventus follows the others carefully.
Ventus opens the door to reveal Fort Rannick's armory. This large room is filled with several heavy wooden racks, all bristling with pikes, longswords, and quivers of barbed arrows.
Two ogres occupy the space, busily trying to squeeze into armor many sizes too small. They stop abruptly when they spot the party and roar in alarm.
Ventus steps in and promptly turns into a whirlwind of violence.
Pirknok steps behind Ventus, setting his katana on the ground and drawing his trusty axe. With a studied grunt he swings around Ventus and tries to hit the ogre.
Ventus lands several powerful blows on the first ogre before it can even raise its weapon. Between his drained vitality and Ventus standing in the way, Pirknok misses.
There was not much that he could do, but Kaplan moved behind Eli and fired off a fire bolt.
;
Jessamy dives forward, her blade driving deep into Ventus' foe before it even realizes she's there.
Eli, face grim, flips his bomb at the Ogres underhand, aiming to catch the two large creatures in the blast and not Adventus.
Kaplain's bolt of conjured flame finishes off the ogre wounded by Ventus and Eli's bomb and Jess's silvery blades swiftly cut down the next. With both giants defeated, the room is suddenly still.
A search of the armory uncovers several suits of standard quality chainmail and half helms but nothing exceptional or valuable.
"Should we check out the rest of the rooms while we're down here? Make sure we don't leave any ogres lurking about?" Jessamy asks.
Pirknok nods, retrieving his sword and stowing his axe away. "Prolly should."
"As long as they don't hear us poking around down here." Eli says. He spends a minute mixing another extract while the others look around.
"I'll keep an ear out in the hall," Ventus offers as the others give the room the once over.
The rooms to the south look like they were Black Arrow quarters previously. Now the contents have been tossed and nothing of value remains.