:: Lamashan 31 - Early Afternoon - Fort Ristin::
When everyone enters the room, Charles opens the door to the main hall. This lofty entry hall contains a set of stairs ascending to the north, a double door to west, and a swinging door to the east. The odor of cooking meat wafts from the eastern door. Angled halls exit to the north and south, ending at stout wooden doors. Thick tapestries depicting forest scenes adorn the walls, but each tapestry is badly torn and stained with
blood.
You lose the foot prints quickly in this room, and they mingle with all the other movement further in, but you don't see any korreds or any creatures at all from the door way.
Carthas points to the east. "A kitchen, I suspect. Shall we see if the cook's in?"
"No sense putting it off."
Charles will walk about fifteen feet into the room keeping his eyes peeled for trouble.
someone has been doing some cooking Elyas comments. wonder if that was the korreds we fought, or if there are more creatures in here?
he advances behind Charles, sword drawn but held towards the ground
:: Lamashan 31 - Early Afternoon - Fort Ristin::
As you walk further into the room, you see a mass of cloth and leather... stand up across the hall and start to move toward you. It is shaped somewhat like an ogre and has a large sword.
Most of the group recignizes this as a skin stitch, a construct make of cloth, leather, and the flayed skins of creatures stuffed with straw or other filler. Some of them have swarms embedded in them and most resistant to cold and electricity due to the lack of living flesh in them.
"Well hello big boy. Going to need some help in here!
Charles moves into the room, hopping onto the table, and taking a defensive stance reading to parry an attack.
Carthas moved up beside Charles and braced himself, ready to stab the skin stitch.
Elyas hangs back, trying to remember anything he has read about things like this
:: Lamashan 31 - Early Afternoon - Fort Ristin::
Elyas can't remember anything else overly relevant about the skin stitch, but notes that the materials holding it together seem rather dry.
The creature lumbers over towards Carthas and stops to swing its blade. Carthas' spear rushes forward but skitters sideways off the creature. It is enough to knock the creatures blow aside however as it missed Carthas.
As the skinstitch closes in all of you can hear a high pitched droning coming from it that sounds eerily like a crowd of bees.
Fall back, draw it into the courtyard. we need our allies for this. Elyas calls to the other two.
He moves towards the double doors with the big table between him and the construct, and tries to open the door.
it looks pretty dried out, fire might work well. I don't have any of course...
Carthas grins. "Fire, you say? We can do fire."
Carthas moves away from the creature, risking a strike as he moves around the table next to Elyas. He then pulls out a vial and shakes it up before throwing it at the skinstitch.
Unfortunately, the vial slips as he throws it, and it lands in front of the creature.
:: Lamashan 31 - Early Afternoon - Fort Ristin::
Elyas runs to the door, and heaves it open while advising the others.
Carthas' bomb splashes on the skinstitch and it hisses violently and focuses on him with great intent.
Charles steps over along the table and slashes at the creature.
As Charles blade slices through the creatures torso the high pitched droning intensifies and wasps start to pour out of the skinstitches body.
Jenniffer, Lirosa, and Taidel grab their weapons and start to move to help. Behind them Lorne and Kalleb are look up from their conversation, surprise on their faces.
The skinstitch focuses its whole attention on Carthas, raising its blade and swinging it again. As an after though its fist lunges out at Charles. Both strikes miss and the creatures lets out a droning hiss.
The wasps billow forth from the skinstitch, engulfing Charles. Charles' exposed flesh in instantly punctured by numerous wasps, their venom sinking into his body and making him feel lethargic.
Charles lets out a littl gasp as the insects appear.
"I am going to need some help here! Wasps are a bit small for my blade!"
To make some distance from the swarm Charles rolls away from the swarm attempting to avoid attacks from the skinstitch. Popping to his feet he swigs.
"Maybe some fire?"
Elyas pulls out his last vial of alchemist fire and hurls it at the swarm
he looks out at the courtyard and yells
We need some help over here! bugs and a big zombie thing!
Carthas steps back from the swarm and the skinstitch, then whips up and throws it at the swarm.
:: Lamashan 31 - Early Afternoon - Fort Ristin::
Charles hurls himself from the swarm and across the table, slashing into the skinstitch as he gracefully escapes its stings. The skinstitch looks rather beat up at this point.
Elyas hurls an alchemist fires which sales over the swarm, merely splashing it, while Carthas' bomb slams into the swarm, nearly eradicating it. The skinstitch is also singed as the splash lands on it.
Jenniffer rushes into the room, looking to reinforce Charles, while Taidel and Lirosa fire away at the skinstitch. Taidel slams an arrow into the creature, but it doesn't seem overly concerned.
As the skinstitch hisses and moves about, more wasps pour from its body and the swarm grows larger again as it moves to cover Carthas and Elyas. The stings land but there aren't enough of them for the poison to take hold.
The skinstitch hisses at Charles and swings both its sword and fist at him. The blows rain down around him but Charles is too graceful to allow somethign such as this creature to land a blow on him.
Carthas retreats from within the swarm, mixing up another bomb and then hurling it towards the wasps, making sure the explosion will miss Elyas and Lirosa.
Elyas has nothing that will affect a swarm, and is too far from the monster to hit it. he retreats from the swarm and prepares to charge the skinstitch next round.
for now he goes into total defense
:: Lamashan 31 - Early Afternoon - Fort Ristin::
Elyas falls back, while Carthas blasts the swarm again, obliterating it.
Charles slashes through the skinstitch as Lirosa slams an arrow into it, bringing the beast down.
As the skinstitch falls it seems to deflate, leaving behind a mere outer shell of a creature sewn from dried skins.
that... elyas says, poking the dead husk with his sword was disgusting....
perhaps we should not continue poking around in this place until we are more rested. this place is not nearly as abandoned as it appeared. what do you all think? should we camp in the courtyard, or leave and hope that we do not find it re-fortified in the morning?
"The remaining korreds will be capable of moving through the stone to get to us - there is nowhere truly secure in this keep until they are dealt with. Perhaps a tower will be sufficient protection if we stay. They will almost certainly re-fortify the courtyard if we leave, though, so staying may be our best option."
:: Lamashan 31 - Early Afternoon - Fort Ristin::
It's been weeks... maybe months since you were attacked on the road and fled into the forest. A group of Chernasardo Ranger's picked you up and you helped in a few skirmishes around the forest before they brought you here to Fort Ristin.
Unluckily for you it was the same day the Ironfang Legion attacked the fort. You were in the stables when you heard the whoosh of giant wings and a large blast and splashing sound happened along the northern wall, you ran over to the door and looked out to see some of the ranger's melting and the wall toppling as it sizzled.
Abruptly the gate burst open and hobgoblins poured in through it and over the wall. The courtyard was quickly overrun and you jumped into the loft of the stable, heaving your pack up there as you went.
The fort was occupied for at least a couple of weeks by the hobgoblins, with your supplies nearly at an end, when one night a raucous chorus of singing in sylvan filled the air. The screams of the hobgoblins filled the night as the fey descended on the fort, hanging them from the walls and spilling their blood over all the stones.
With the hobgoblins slain and the fey drinking and partying you've been able to sneak out to steal food occasionally from nearby drunks. Once you were spotted and chased into the stables, but the fey don't seem to want to come near some of the horseshoes by the door.
Right now, a group of adventurers has stormed the fort and pushed back the fey. It seems like your time for escape has come.
As you debate what to do next, Lorne shouts that he heard..... something jump down from the loft into the lower level of the stables.
Carefully going over to investigate, you see half elf with an near empty pack standing in the stables.
The half-elf raises a sword almost as long as she is tall to her shoulders, hilt facing you, blade parallel to the ground. The sword is long slender and graceful. She holds the hilt with both hands, as she slides her left leg forward, the ball of her foot plants... most sellswords, simply square their feet and prepare to cleave up and down, but this fighting style is different.
She speaks slowly and calmly, simply.
Who are you, where did you come from and what is your purpose here?
Elyas holds his sword downward, but still ready as he addresses the newcomer.
I could ask you the same question. are you with the fey? or the rangers?
we are survivors of the hobgoblin raids in this area. our homes were destroyed or captured, and we are searching for allies to help us fight back against the invaders
Carthas rushed forward, expecting more korreds or other fey. Seeing another half-elf, however, caught him off-guard. Still, he kept his spear up, and said, "If you are not friend to the korreds or the Ironfang, you may either go on your way in peace, or join us. We have come to reclaim this fort for the other survivors." His voice is raspy, and has a queer, almost inhuman note to it.
While under the effects of his mutagen, Carthas's skin takes on a somewhat greenish, wooden appearance, making him look more like some kind of plant creature than a half-elf.
Lajara eyes the pair wearily, but relaxes her stance. She looks to the human.
I was with the rangers. They were overrun by the hobgoblins, her disgust and hatred drips as she says the word, and I assume a dragon... I heard wings and saw many of the rangers melt along with the wall. She uses the long sword to point to the section of wall.
The hobgoblins fell to the fey, and I have tried to remain alive long enough to get revenge.
She looks to the half elf man. Looks him up and down...
Barkskin? she begins rhetorically, If you are going to fight, I will join. But I will need food. I am half starved.
Have you cleared the Fort Ristin of its infestation?
Charles, still covered in a good amount of blood, approaches the newcomer with a smile, sword in hand.
"Ahh, another who will wield a blade against our enemies? Glad for some more help with the dirty work."
Carthas doesn't recognize the weapons the woman wields, but he nods. "Partially - to answer both your question about Barkskin and the infestation. There are some Fey remaining - we were seeking a safe place to rest so our spellcasters may recharge their energy."
She raises her sword in a casual salute to the new man to join the conversation.
Come into the stable. The fey don’t like the horseshoes, or what they are made of - whatever- we are safe here. If you have food to share, I will help stand watch so the casters can rest.
you have managed to survive here during not one but two takeovers? well done! hopefully the third takeover will be successful, with your help. we had a hard fight against the orreds when we first arrived, and are not in full fighting shape to deal with whatever else is here.
A rest is in order, then we will finish off the stragglers that don't flee in the meantime. your suggestion of the stables sounds good to me. do you know what other creatures are here that we will encounter?
Suviving was luck, not skill Lajara nods her head towards the horseshoes. I have no idea what may be lurking here. Trying to steal some food from the fey, and retreating here when noticed is all I have done. She sheathes her sword and waves for the newcomers to join her in the stable loft.
Carthas studies the horseshoes a moment before entering the stable with the others.
:: Lamashan 31 - Early Afternoon - Fort Ristin::
As the group moves into the stables, you note that the structure seems sturdy and well made, with the two oxen being thin but sticking to their pile of hay instead of leaving.
Carthas looks over the horseshoes and notes that the top one is made of cold iron instead of regular iron.
Everyone gets settled in out of the weather, and though the fit is tight it is dry.
.
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
You wake in the morning rested, but with the temperatures well below what they had been. The stable is dark, far darker than expected. Taidel gets up and slowly nudges the door open. Looking out into the forts courtyard everything is grey and white. Four or five inches of snow covers everything and more fall from the sky in great flakes. The sky is heavily clouded and outside the courtyard visibility is likely no more than fifty to a hundred feet.
As the group gets ready to start the day, Carthas watches the sky and the clouds for a bit. The cold snap has brought snow with it, and Carthas thinks that tomorrow it will warm, but only enough to turn the snowfall into sleet.
Lajara joins Taidel and Carthas in the doorway, looking out over the new fallen snow. She scans it for any signs of tracks or other recent activity, knowing that the falling snow would quickly cover tracks, squinting through the gray haze the snowfall is creating, but enjoying teh quiet it brings.
She then looks to the clouds, silently taking stock of the situation.
What is the plan? she asks those assembled, eager to get moving and to see who speaks for the group.
You do not see any tracks in the courtyard.
Carthas, now looking like a much more normal half-elf, replies, "Korreds can travel through stone, so if they fled, we may not see any tracks indicating where they fled to. I think we should secure the other towers first, then return to the main keep. We'll have to deal with that redcap, unless it left."
Lajara and Carthas converse quickly and determine that the temperature is going to drop again after tomorrow, bringing more snow with it.
Where fist? Lajara looks out into the white swirling flakes in the general directions she thins the towers are...
Redcap? What do you know of it? What else is lurking?
Carthas says, "Redcaps are acrobatic fey who have regenerative power that lies lies in the cap they wear. They drench the cap in the blood of their foes. They are weak to cold iron, but otherwise resist most damage, and they are threatened by and balk at obvious and public displays of religion. Elyas's holy symbol, for instance, caused it to back away. We told it to leave the keep, but we will see if it listened. It is in that tower, if we wish to start there." He points in the direction of the Redcap's tower.
Elyas nods at the suggestion
we encountered it once already and it backed down when confronted with a holy symbol. we should make sure it actually left thouh. I would hate to be attacked form behind by a crazy little scythe-weilding psycho when were in the middle of something else
Elyas prepares for the day, casting a light spell on his belt to allow others in the stable to see clearly.
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
Prepared for the day, you head out from the stables and over to the northwest tower. You open the door to find an old redcap, different than the one you met yesterday.
"I am Dearga Finlay. Leader of my people here at Fort Ristin. If you have a moment I would like to speak with you about Halk, the First Drinker here, and what your plans here are."
Lajara waits to take her cue from the rest of the party.And simply stands ready to attack, defend or talk as the rest see fit.
Seeing the creature, does she recognize anything additional about redcaps?
Elyas moves in expecting a fight when he sees a redcap, but is taken aback a bit when it speaks to them
Hello Deara. My name is Elyas, my party and I came here to meet with the Rangers that once owned this fort. can you tell me what happened here? who are you, and who is the first drinker?
As Elyas speaks Charles moves beside him, smiling but ready to jump in if needed.
"Dearga, is it? My friend's questions need answering if we're going to discuss anything."
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
Dearga lets out a bit of a tut tut noise at Carthas' brusqueness, and responds to Elyas. "Halk heard of the taking of the fort by the hobgoblins and came to see what he could see. He and his korred's decided that storming the fort would be fun, and they managed to over power the hobgoblins, sneaking in through the broken stones. They killed all they wanted and captured the rest for later." Dearga laughs out loud at the thought of what had happened, a grin on her face. "After taking the fort, and with enough captured and wounded, Halk called for a revel. A Red Rock Revel to be precise, with him in charge as First Drinker! All the fey in the area came to enjoy the revelry and paint the walls with the blood of the fallen and soon to die! It was joyous, but Halk keeps the best for himself and as the prisoners run out he becomes less accepting of those who aren't korreds. Many have left already, but we decided to stay and keep this tower. Our only issue is Halk will turn on us eventually."
Dearga pauses for a moment and pierces Elyas with a stare, "I will help you kill Halk. If you get to the upper level where he resides and signal from the balcony I will fly across from the tower to aid you. In return I will keep this tower!"
Carthas and Elyas believe she is telling the truth about helping kill Halk, but may not be entirely forthcoming.
Were there any of the human rangers left alive when captives were taken, or were they all gone already when you arrived? Elyas asks the fey
While we would appreciate the help in dealing with the First Drinker, what reason would we have to turn the tower over to you when he is dead instead of killing you as well? we have faced tougher threats than a few nomes in disgusting blood hats.
"A better question would be what guarantee do we have you wouldn't betray us to try and kill us?"