"Thus, you can douse an incorporeal creature with holy water only if you are adjacent to it. Doing so is a ranged touch attack that does not provoke attacks of opportunity."
Brinewall Castle is a large and intimidating structure. Although only two stories tall (with the exception of one three-story tower), the squat castle looks all the larger for its position atop the bluff west of the village, looming over the surround region with a commanding presence. The castle is built of gray stone, though close inspection reveals numerous different types of stone were used in its construction (as parts of the castle were rebuilt several times).
The caste's curtain wall is 15 feet high but no creatures appear to be guarding the walls as you approach the gatehouse. The gatehouse is a stone structure with a floor of packed dirt and numerous wooden support beams for the stone celing above. Two rusted iron gates allow access through the gatehouse, while to the north, a pair of wooden ladders climb to the roof above.
The gates are closed and locked.
Jennix examines the gate lock for traps, then attempts to unlock it.
Zack follows close behind with his bow drawn in the event that any hostile creatures appear.
The gates seem to be in poor condition and Jennix easily picks the lock and swings them open. Inside, sleeping while sitting against the wall, are two humanoid crows with oily black feathers, glittering eyes, and a sharp beak.
Jennix points to the creatures and shrugs.
Miso looks at where Jennix points, then back at Terflynn, who has studied this sort of thing more than any of them.
Terflynn, a bit taken aback by the fact that these creatures apparently sleep with their eyes open, catches Miso's look.
"These are Dire Corbies of course. They can see in darkness. If they wake, they will likely tear us apart. Or try at very least."
Terflynn draws his bow, but motions for everyone to go around.
"Are you sure we shouldn't just take them out now? If we have to make a hasty retreat they will be in our way." Zack whispers to the group, trying to remain quiet.
Jennix nocks an arrow in his bow before looking wide-eyed at Zachary as the fighter steps on a branch.
Terflynn can tell that their eyes are glittering beneath their lids. Because their lids are closed. Because they're totally sleeping.
The corbies begin to stir at the sound of the moving ranger, their eyes glittering open.
Jennix fires an arrow, but misses as he is startled by the sight of real glittering eyes.
That did not go as planned, Miso laments, before charging the one on the right with his (Stunning) Fist of fury.
Noticing the creatures starting to stir after he steps on a twig, Zack attempts to quickly put down the creatures before they can make a lot of noise.
Terflynn gets a better angle and summons up some arcane magic.
Jennix fires but misses his target. Miso charges in.
Miso's punch seems to hurt the corby and then Zachary finishes both of them off with three quick arrows.
Jennix breathes a sigh of relief and grins at Zachary. Well done! He'll then search the bodies.
"Had to make up for giving us away. Probably better that those things are not behind us anyways." Zack quietly while looking around for any more of these creatures.
"Indeed. Let us proceed more quietly in the future." Terflynn says as he adjusts his quiver and looks around for anything valuable.
"Nothing to see here. Let's move on."
The party does not find anything interesting on the corbies.
Stepping through the doors they were guarding (poorly), the party sees a barren courtyard of hard-packed earth containing clumps of tough-looking weeds, furrows in the ground as if made by taloned feet, and chalky white mounds of dung the size of human heads
For no other reason than I am left handed, I suggest we start left and wrap our way around the courtyard.
"One way is as good as another. Though I myself am ambidextrous." Terflynn mentions casually. "Left is fine with me."
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Zack nods silently in agreement and follows behind the other two with his bow drawn and ready to use if needed.
As the party steps out into the courtyard, the doors to the left open from the inside (marked on the map) and two spiders emerge! Well, one of them looks like a giant spider but the other (FB) walks upright!
"Looks like they already knew we were here. Zack says as he looses a pair of arrows at the upright spider.
I do not know what this abomination is, but it must be removed, as the wind removes the morning fog.
Move action to load crossbow, standard to fire at FB.
Jennix draws back his bow and fires an arrow at the near creature!
"A hunting spider! No web to speak of, but it's still poisonous."
Terflynn rushes behind the members of the party blocking his view and looses his own arrow at the one he does recognize.
,
Zachary is able to land one arrow in the ettercap. Miso is also able to put a bolt through it as it screeches in pain. The bolt appears to have pierced an organ. Jennix and Terflynn likewise put arrows into the ettercap and spider, respectively.
The creatures advance on the party. The ettercap charges Jennix and the spider charges Terflynn.
Jennix calls on his luck to get him out of his pickle as he drops his bow and draws his rapier, stabbing at the ettercap.
Miso uses Acrobatics to try to avoid provoking an attack of opportunity and get on the other side of Jennix.
Whether he avoids the AoO or not, he will strike at the upright spider creature once he is flanking with the Chelaxian.
Terflynn begins feeling weak, so he steps back and draws a shard gel, throwing it at the hunting spider.
,
,
Zack steps away from the melee and fires two more shots at the upright spider.
Jennix stabs his rapier into the ettercap. Miso moves about the ettercap and gives it a good elbow and it crumbles to the ground. Terflynn hits the spider with a vial and finishes it off.
Just as the spider is writhing on the ground, a loud is heard from atop the wall to the north and the party notices for the first time a catapult atop the building. Seconds later a large rock goes flying through the air but it sails overhead and off into the forest beyond.
"Someone carry my pack until I shake off this poison." Terflynn demands.
Upon noticing the catapult, he wonders out loud, "By Desna, are they shooting at us?"
"I'm not sure. If they were I would say we have nothing to worry about with that sort of aim." Zack quips.
Another boulder flies from the catapult atop the wall, again flying over and beyond into the woods, but a bit closer this time.
Jennix begins jogging toward the door to the west. Are we still heading this way or should we attempt to see who is operating the siege engine? He calls over his shoulder.
"I suggest we find cover and worry ourselves about that thing if we should come across some stairs." Terflynn proposes, following Jennix.
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The party runs for cover, heading for the western door where the spider creatures came from. The doors are open and the walls of the wooden stable are gray with age and sag ominously, yet the building seems relatively sound. An old forge sits to the south, while five empty horse stalls stand to the north.
Terflynn will examine the forge, checking for valuables or perhaps signs of interesting history.
The stable seems full of filth but little else of interest.
"Finding nothing useful in here, I propose we head into a tower or perhaps the structure under that catapult."
Miso nods. I agree. If one does not wish to be a target, one should endeavor to make oneself less conspicuous.