Garrath, suspecting the ogre woman can't stand much more, swings his Greatsword again, with two mighty swings, trying to end her ugly life.
Flynn keeps firing,, internally praying this chaos is put down soon. Worrying about his comrades, though his face shows it little.
Electra quickly renews the haste!
Lumbering across the body of the Ogre, Brandark moves deeper into the room to the Ugly woman.
Hey, did your mother have any children that survived
He asks the Ugly woman as he moves up to her.
He then swings his shield around and sets it on his arm, and braces for attacks.
Round Nine edit
Garrath was able to interrupt the ugly female Ogre's Lightning Bolt. It fizzles failing to cause any damage to the party.
Round Ten
Stone moves to the opposite side of the doorway. He calls forth more healing energies to flow upon the party.
Elektra, sensing her Haste was expiring, establishes another over the party.
Garrath swings his Greatsword, but has difficulty with his footing as massive amounts of smelly Ogre blood begins to pool around his feet.
Dorella tries again to cast another spell.
Lucrecia, seeing her prospects dwindling, and Dorella struggling with her spells, says something in the Giant tongue, then takes a step back and says, "Too-da-loo." Lucrecia disappears.
Flynn nearly sticks an arrow into a critical location on the ugly female Ogre.
Brandark moves in to get at Dorella Kreeg, but he too has difficulty with his footing.
Round Eleven
Garrath growls at the ogress, None of that!
Taking advantage of Lucrecia disappearing, Brandark shifts into her spot, and continues to hack at the Ogress.
If not Electra will cast detect magic.
Round Ten
As Dorella, once again, tries to cast a spell, the Shoanti Barbarian disrupts the Ogre Sorceress' incantation. Deep wounds now riddle through the ugly female Ogre's body.
Round Eleven
Stone moves in with his scimitar, but was unable to slice through the ugly female Ogre's magical defenses.
Dorella cries out in an annoying howl of pain and despair. She is unable to concentrate to even attempt at casting another spell.
Brandark ends her misery with brutal hacks that cut deep into the Ogress' flesh. The Matriarch of the Kreegs was dead before she hit the ground. This is the one that gave birth to them all. Her progeny spawned a terrible breed of Ogres. Jaagrath was the first born, and the most powerful. He lies in the Chapel up the hall to the left. Several other of her sons lie dead. But there are several more alive. The scourge of the Kreegs have not yet ended, but you have put a dint into mayhem. You have begun to avenge the Hook Mountain Massacre of Fort Rannick.
It is difficult to call this a victory. Two more Black Arrows are dead by the treacherous actions of Lucrecia. And Lucrecia did not seem upset by the party's success.
Elektra cast Detect Magic.
With the fight over, you can take stock in your surroundings. The room you fought Dorella Kreeg is the commanders quarters. The walls of this room is decorated with finely crafted longswords, stuffed animal heads, and a map of the Hook Mountain environs. A large oak table surrounded by several chairs has been smashed to splinters, and an immense bed has similarly been ruined. An open cabinet that once contained several bottles of wine has been crushed as well, and broken bottles and the faint scent of wine lingers around its ruins.
Elektra will see that Dorella was wearing a headband that radiated magic, a ring that you will quickly identify as a Ring of Protection (+1), also an Amulet of Natural Armor (+1). It looks like she was going for a potion bottle when she died. It was in her hand.
A wand was lying on the floor in broken the debris. Hookmaw's Ogre Hook and Hide Armor radiates magic as well.
Back in the Chapel, Jaagrath's Ogre Hook, and Hide Armor also radiated magic, but his belt radiated magic too. He also had a pair of vials in pouch at his side.
All the Ogres had Sihedron tattoos on their wrist.
Flynn enters the room having been firing from behind. He seems unphased and distant, unbothered by the death. He begins looking around stopping at the wine cabinet. Flynn begins moving some slats of wood prying things apart, pulling out various non-alchoholic objects placing them on a nearby bench or table: a flat wooden coffer, a pair of soft green leather boots that radiate magic, and a tiny jewelry box.
Opening the cofferhe pulls out several sheets of parchment, giving them a quick scan, I'm not from Varisia, Myriana and Whitewillow are stand out names, ring any bells you guy's?
None of the names ring any bells for me.
Brandark starts looking around at the devestation.
I am thinking that we should be cleaning this place up, and taking the time to try to get the black arrows reestablished.
They seemed to do good work here. And we could probably use the break.
Brandark cleans his axe off on the body of the Ogress, and stands by to help clean up and help move things around.
Checking the discovered hints, electra will ponder for a moment what this means, putting her head together with Trickster to conver about it.
Headband
potion Dorella
wand
Ogre Hook Hookmaw
Hidearmor Hookmaw
green boots
Ogre Hook Jaagraths
Hidearmor Jaagraths
Belt Jaagraths
Potion 1 Jaagraths
Potion 2 Jaagraths
Spellcraft: Headband headband of alluring charisma +2
Spellcraft: potion Dorella Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Spellcraft: wand Wand of Acid Arrows (43 charges)
Spellcraft: Ogre Hook Hookmaw +1 Ogre Hook
Spellcraft: Hidearmor Hookmaw +1 Hide Armor
Spellcraft: green boots
Boots of the Mire
Slot feet; Price 3,500 gp; Aura faint abjuration and transmutation; CL 5th; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
These soft leather boots confer several powers upon the wearer.
First, he is granted the power to walk on water in swampy environments, provided the water is no deeper than 5 feet—this effectively lets him move through swampy terrain and mud at no cost to his speed. He leaves no tracks or other sign of his passage as long as he’s in swampy terrain, and never becomes uncomfortable or wet from rain, fog, or other forms of non-freezing precipitation. Finally, the boots grant him a +2 resistance bonus on all Fortitude saves made against poison and disease.
Spellcraft: Ogre Hook Jaagraths +1 human bane ogre hook
Spellcraft: Hidearmor Jaagraths +1 Hide armor
Spellcraft: Belt Jaagraths belt of giant strength +2
Spellcraft: Potion 1 Jaagraths Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Spellcraft: Potion 2 Jaagraths Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
In addition to the magic items you will find the following:
Aquamarine (550 gp)
Aquamarine (500 gp)
Chrysoberyl (100 gp)
Jet (90 gp)
Moonstone (65 gp)
Peridot (60 gp)
Green Spinel (50 gp)
Sardonyx (50 gp)
57pp
494gp
90sp
And finally Eighth Level and then some. You were close when you reached Fort Rannick.
WOOT!
As the party begins to clean up the mess, they are soon joined by Jakardos, Shalelu, and a familiar Gnome, Bastarge.
Jakardos looks at the party, "The remaining Ogres on the walls and in the compound have fled through the tunnels in the mountains. It looked like they were in a hurry too. We figured you were successful. Your friend here..." he points to Bastarge. "...brought some friends. They were concerned about the Ogres too."
But Jakardos goes silent when he sees Vale's body.
if you wish to say your goodbye's i can help, i know what it's like to lose friends in battle. Flynn says to Jakardos with an odd amount of sympathy, There's a lot of work and research to be done, whatever Myriana and Whitewillow are. In addition that woman we fought Lucrecia concerns me.
"Vale was a friend. Good fighter too. I would appreciate your help." Jakardros ponders for a moment then looks at Flynn, "Myrianna and Whitewillow, what are they?" The ranger looks puzzled.
"Whitewillow! That is in the Shimmerglens. It is said to be close to a portal to the First World." Bastarge speak up. "Well met, by the way. You may recall the Shimmerglens. We escorted your party through a portion of it along your journey to Turtleback Ferry."
The party will begin to notice how absolutely soaking wet are Jakardros, Shalelu, and Bastarge.
Very well, i can perform the summoning later on. They were names mentioned in these letters i found hidden in the cabinet over there, figured they might be important.
Jakardros will look over the letters, "These are in Lamatar Bayden's handwriting." He keeps reading. "I had no idea. Commander Bayden would take leave from the fort for two or three days at a time. He would call it his "communion walks." No one questioned it. Most of us took two or three days a month for a bit of rest. But apparently, Commander Bayden had a lover in the Shimmerglens." Jakardros will ponder that some, "Odd place. The night the Fort fell to the Ogres, Commander Bayden was out on one of his "communion walks." I wonder if he is still at this "Whitewillow" place?"
"Unnaturally unrelenting," Shalelu responds to Stone. "I could use a hot bath. But this place stinks."
Bah, it was the Ogres that caused the stink. Give us a couple of days, and that will be gone.
As for the hot bath, All I can do is get water.
Brandark looks a little relieved to have something to do, as he heads out.
Garrath nods to the incoming Black Arrows They died a good death, and the tales of this fight should be told so their story lives on. This should never be forgotten.
Garrath smiles on seeing Shalelu, and shakes some of the gore off of himself, some his own, most from the ogres, I hear vinegar is supposed to remove most smells? Can you conjure a vat of that Brandark, I fear I'll need it. He ponders for a moment and looks at Shalelu, Has anyone walked the perimeter yet? A walk in the rain doesn't sound too bad, if the company is right.
Shalelu smiles, "A walk outside sounds good." Shalelu tries not to throw up.
Vinegar works well for washing floors, and in small amounts good on clothes, not so much people. Removes the smell and grime cause of the acidity, use it all the time. Careful not to get it in cuts though, it stings. Flynn comments, as he continues reading. Wonder if this place has a bath house of sorts, one of the few things i liked about Cheliax, bath house were fairly common. Could jury rig something. Flynn continues muttering
"Unfortunately, most of the supplies have been lost. We used to stock barrels of vinegar for just the purpose you mention. We need to get supplies from Turtleback Ferry. We also need more recruits. And then there is the matter of Commander Bayden. Not to mention, the twenty or so Ogres that fled the compound." Jakardros stops, "The Gnomes are holding the horses, we need to give them the all clear and bring them into the Fort area."
"I will send for the company," Bestarge says. There are twenty Gnomes including himself. "We can not stay here long, but we will try to stay long enough for you to resupply and gets some recruits. We owe Fort Rannick this. They have protected these lands for many years, and the Sanos Forest too. But our numbers are few, and those that remain at our village in the Sanos will be called to defend against the denizens that live in that vast forest and from creatures that have ventured in from the First World"
Bestarge will ponder the situation, "We are still too few to hold the fort should the Ogres regroup and return. We can set some traps for them. That should help."
"I have an idea." Jakardros walks through the rooms. "This was their clan mother," he refers to Dorella. "And this was their chief," referring to Jaagrath. Jakardros takes his sword and cuts off their heads. He then takes two of their javelins and grabs the heads by its hair. He looks at Flynn, "Care to accompany me? I am going to place these heads up at the top of the ridge. You defeated their chieftain and clan mother. They may think twice about returning anytime soon."
On the floor of Commander Bayden's room you will find a map. It is a very detailed map of the Hook Mountain Region.
Yes let us go, it's a good idea. We should bring Vale's body as well, we can perform the spell in private. Some aren't fans of disturbing the dead. Flynn sets the papers down, getting up Do we by chance know where the Commander is? i have some theories if we don't.
"Thank you for your help. According to the letters, he was visiting a location at the heart of the Shimmerglens called Whitewillow. He may still be there. Someone should go and check it out. We need to know what happened to Commander Bayden." He takes a deep breath. "Turtleback Ferry is on the way back. We need supplies and maybe a hand or two. I will begin to work on restoring the fort. I am the only one now familiar with all the rooms and passages."
Electra will wait for the next day and then conjure a few unseen servants to aid in the cleaning. She would ask for some of the gems to work on a new magic item and some more scrolls.
Thinking that we take a couple of days to get settled and then head out.
Brandark takes some time to get the animals into the fort and he assists where necessary.
After Jakardros and Flynn return from setting up the warning post, and tending to Vale's burial, he hears Stone's comments.
"It has been only four days since the fort fell, but that is still a longer period of time than what was typical for Commander Bayden's "communion walks." I fear that something has happened to him," the tough Ranger begins to fidget a bit. "We should rest the night though. You have had a tough day."
Jakardros works with the Gnomes to set up watches for the night. A winter chill begins to mingle with the heavy rains outside. The raw chill can be felt throughout the fort. Jakardros comes back to clean up the kitchen area and get a fire started. "We can camp in here for the night. It is the warmest place in the fort. "
The party spends the rest of the day helping to clean and clear out the dead.
Day Seventy-Three