When they get close to the Redlake Fort, Bupkis goes on ahead and scouts out the area. He looks for some higher ground, where he might be able to see more of the activity in and around the fort.
The group wanders relaxed through the landscape enjoying the view over the rolling landscape, mentally preparing for the attack/infiltration of the fort. But this planning proves as being too far ahead, as you stumble into a patrol of orcs lead by a giant.
Menrozzar steps up hefting lucerne hammer as his hands warp into red-scaled claws. Everyone notices that the scales seem to faintly appear on his face and other parts of his skin as they do so, his eyes turning gold and shifting to draconic slits. He lifts the hammer high, daring the patrol to come to them.
When the orcs and giant prove to be hostile, Bupkis moves to the side and volleys a crossbow bolt at the giant.
Daseem sees the giant and his eye light up in holy rapture. As he sprints towards this most worthy foe, he growls, "GORUM WITNESS!"
Heedless of the danger he's rushing into, Daseem winds up a huge heroic overhand chop as he sprints, leaping up to meet the giant as he does so! His sword glints hungrily in the light before crashing down hard upon the giant!
Bupkis shoots the bolt right through the giant, who looks in astonishment at the red bleeding dot that leaves at his chest. But the shock only lasts shortly, as Daseem runs up to the giant.
The giant in his surprise manages to get a hit with his crude but effective weapon in, but then goes down as Daseem runs his blade through him.
The orcs stare in terror as the big guy of their patrol is utterly defeated, before the fight really started. Three of them start running, as the last one is frozen in shock.
Bupkis moves towards Daseem, ready to heal him; he suggests to the remaining orc, "You run away now!"
Nice swing laddie. Ivan says glancing to Daseem before turning his attention back to the remaining orc.
and No, ye aught better to stay an' 'ave a chat with us ye should. Don't want us to be chasin' ye round these hills. These boys get angry havin' ta' do that. Ivan threatens as he steps toward the orc.
Now drop ye weapons an' we can have a chat, nice an' civil like.
"You stay where you are when you want to talk." the orc tells and backs away from the sharp blade of Daseem, keeping his falchion at the ready.
Daseem stared numbly at the corpse of the giant while Bupkis heals the damage the things club did to him. A giant! Daseem had expected more and was disappointed, 'Maybe', he thought, 'Glory will be found when fighting more than one giant... Yes! I sense it now, Gorum wills it!'
Bupkis tends to Daseem's wounds, keeping an eye on the remaining orc.
Menrozzar lowers his hammer, the fight over quickly, then moves forward, remaining behind Daseem. Considering, he says, "I give you a choice, orc - life or death. If you tell us everything you know of Redlake Fort, and then leave this area, never returning, we'll allow you to go. If not, you die - either now, or at a later point in time. Your choice."
"What do you want in Redlake Fort?" The orc asks, trying to keep up the facade of a strong orc, but it is clear that he is shaken by the events and the threat.
"That's our business, and none of yours. Now, answer the question, or bleed."
The orc runs.
Bupkis ignores the fleeing orc and checks the body of the fallen giant for shinies.
Daseem watches the fleeing orc with grim satisfaction, "G-good, they'll know we're coming. No h-hiding, no surprises. May Gorum bless the coming battle!"
Menrozzar stares after the orc in consternation, then stares at Daseem in confusion after he speaks. "Why would you want this to be more challenging than it already will be? You do realize that an alert fort is more likely to kill us, right?"
The giant has some coins in a oversized pouch: 39 gp, 19 sp, 60 cp. At his belt hangs a Masterwork Breastplate, and a Masterwork Longspear. The former owner of the armor isn't completely cleaned out of the item yet.
Oil of Purify Food and Drink, Potion of Remove Fear, Scroll of Spider Climb and a Wand of Dancing Lights are also part of the package, that looks like it belonged to the same unlucky soul.
With utter sincerity Daseem replies, "For the greater g-glory of Our Lord in Iron..."
Bah, lad, if'n ye thinking a dwarf is ta' be dealt with easily, ye haven't been payin' attention 'ave ye? That said, always would have been easier ta' kick the door down when they t'weren't expectin' us than when they are. Ivan says scratching his beard.
Bupkis says, "Let's keep going to fort!" When everyone's ready he scouts 60 ft ahead, on the lookout for enemies.
Redlake fort is built from reddish stone and lies next to the creek you follow along the mountains. But only the upper level of the fort can be seen. The lower half is hidden behind a 10 foot high palisade built from thick tree trunks. There is one obvious entrance which looks like it leads to the fort's barbican. The palisade meets with the creek at one point.
Bupkis surveys the fort and reports to his friends, "Guards on barbican — don't let them see you! We study map again."
When the map is produced, he looks at it and points to the western end of the fort, "Sewer opening here, Bupkis thinks. We go around to west, climb over walls at night?"
"Bupkis is right. Best we stay out of sight - we don't want to alert the guards if there are any on the wall."
Daseem could see the guards and he was itching to fight them. Yet deep down he knew Buphis was right and it galled him. He would have to do something extra special to redeem himself in Gorum's eyes.
The gropup decides to take it slow and hides out of sight until the night falls on the land. Which takes some hours and gives the opportunity for everyone to prepare, or dawdle around
Under the cover of darkness, the group sneaks up to the fort. To get to the place where the sewer tunnel is marked on the map, the fort has to be surrounded on the northern side by foot, or the southern side by swimming. The heavily armored men look at each other and take the northern route. Giving the fort a wide berth premature detection is prevented. But once all has snuck up to the palisade it becomes clear, that climbing that will be no walk in the park. And there might lurk all kind of bad surprises behind it.
The little goblin tells the others, "Bupkis has a look first." He creeps up to the palisade, and then uses telekinesis to fly up and look over the top, taking a rope with him.
Ivan looks up the path and shakes his head.
I'm tellin' ye, I ain't meant ta' be sneakin' a'roun', I ain't no light footed elf. I'll be givin' it me best shot, but I ain't gonna make any promises.
Ivan stows his shield on his back and tries to "quietly" climb up the path. With his armor jingling like a merchant's purse after a festival.
Menrozzar waits until Bupkis signals whether or not it's safe. Once he does, Menrozzar also attempts to sneak towards the fort.
Once there, he climbs Bupkis's rope.
As bupkis reaches the height of the palisades he can take a look. A deep trench resembling a dried scab runs around the perimeter of the fort. Several brightly dyed animal-skin tents flap vigorously in the harsh breeze blowing across the ditch’s dusty floor. Within the reach of his darkvision Bupkis can see a few tents.
The big guys have little difficulty climbing over the palisades, but the secret part fails miserably. But so far no one shows up to check on the intruders.
Bupkis is worried when he sees all the tents. But he can't see any signs of activity, so he signals the others and flies down to the ground. He sneaks over to the nearest tent and looks inside; he also looks for signs of the sewer entrance which is supposed to be around here somewhere.
The tent is empty.
The entrance to the sewer is easily visible in the wall of the fort. It's a tunnel with four foot diameter and secured with a grate of rusty steel.
Bupkis whispers, "Sewer grate over here!" He goes over to the grate and tries to get it open.
The grate is not willing to come out to play with Bupkis.
"Big strong person gets grate open?", Bupkis suggests.
Muddy water slowly oozes out of the sewer.
Daseem had a go at the grate but it was much too strong. He gave up with a grunt and walked back to the others, "T-too strong for me. Mebbe if we work together..."
Bupkis comments, "Water moves strangely — should flow down."
”The water is moving strangely?”
Menrozzar looks at the water, trying to see what Bupkis sees.
Amira deducts from Bupkis' description and the area what it should be. "Ewww, stay away from that! It's a gray ooze. It will eat through your metal weapons and armor!"
Amira picks up a stone to throw it at the ooze, but it's too dark for her to see.
Bupkis has heard enough about of oozes to know they're dangerous. He takes out a crossbow bolt, steps back, and launches it at the suspicious liquid.
As Bupkis' bolt shoots into the ooze, it splashes away in all directions. The grate sizzles where it is hit by the acidic stuff.
Seeing the metal gate fizzing, Daseem clutches at his sword, blessed to Our Lord in Iron and most precious to him, shrieking, "Aiiie"
Checking it was still sheathed and relaxing fractionally when it was, he instead drew his crossbow, spanned it and took a pot shot.
Suddenly he noticed something else moving and he cried "Another!"
Menrozzar doesn't spot a second one, but he steps back, drawing his magic longbow and loosing an arrow at the one he does see.