"We don't want your ale!" Garrivek calls back. "You can keep it if you surrender!"
Aramis waits to see if the fey stand down...
"You won't try to kill us? There's already too much violence at this horrible revel!"
Eventually the violence seems to end and it turns out that the three leprechauns aren't all that happy, having found far too much violence that's detracting from their main interest in drinking. If it weren't for their interest in some of the fine liquor they hear Halk was storing away somewhere, they'd probably have left already, they admit.
Seeing that hostilities are settling down, Arryn remains silent and invisible.
Dregg shakes his head as he comes out of the rainbow colored stupor, "Well, Halk's dead. There are some atomies up in the fort proper yet still enjoying this revel thing you all keep talking about. They'll want a duel, but afterward they'll be pleased enough to share what they've got with you, if you like. A bit safer that way, plus Halk's brother had a lot of booze downstairs. But if you know of any more violent fey 'round this part of the fort? Or maybe traps like what was rigged on those stairs? Happy to share some of the basement booze with you in exchange for what you know."
"You have some of the good stuff? We'll trade for that!" the leprechauns say. "That trap was us. Good one, wasn't it? We didn't want any other fey creeping up, in case they heard us talking about how to get the spirits. But if you have it ... we can maybe help you if you give it to us!"
Garrivek pulls out a bottle of the liquor. "In exchange for help, now, right?"
He hands them the booze.
Isabella bares her teeth when the leprechauns mention the trap was their work. It might be a smile. In bad light.
"Here. I hear your lot are Faerie cobblers. Any truth in it?"
"Oh, sure," they agree. "Give us a little time, and we can make sure about anything."
They also -- over the course of your negotiatons -- are willing to share more details about the fort.
"What do you know about the fort?" Garrivek asks them.
Talking to the leprechauns, it's clear they're not enjoying all the violence that much of the rest of the Red Rock Revel has engaged in, and are only sticking around for the liquor. They've hold up in here, mostly, and don't know much of what's going on elsewhere.
Still, they tell you about the people here that they're aware of, many of whom you've already met and dealt with, including Halk; his strange inventor brother, Billie Bristle; and his younger brother, Linder Largehands, who won't share any of the liquor.
Of the people they tell you about that you haven't encountered, it sounds like there are a few redcaps still remaining, led by one named Dearga Finlay and her dog companion.
Arryn materializes and asks, ”The magic you have to build and create things out of nothing...could it be used to build walls and small huts? If so, would you be open to negotiating your services for our people?”
"Redcaps," Isabella says, her tone oddly pensive. The Half-Elf frowns in deep thought. "Redcaps, hang on a tick... What were they again?"
"Hmmm... good question, Isabella. Let me think..."
Garrivek easily remembers that redcaps embody both capriciousness and sadism. These stumpy, misanthropic fey freaks exist seemingly to indulge in blissful bloodletting and self-indulgent slaughter. Like prune-faced, angry old men, they mollycoddle their own inefficiencies and miseries in gore. Redcaps are most widely recognized for their long woolen caps, which they drench in the blood of their victims.
The leprechauns agree that they could help do that, and are willing to trade their services for liquor. Good liquor, of course, not just any swill.
Garrivek shares what he knows with the others. "They're trouble."
He assures the leprechauns that the liquor is very fine.
"Well, that doesn't sound pleasant," Aramis remarks. "Sounds like we can't leave them here, though. Are we ready to track them down?"
"Arright. Can you make us holy symbols?" Isabella asks the leprechauns.
Dregg stands to the side as the group banters and barters with the leprechauns, sawing his jaw slowly as he observes. He wonders inwardly how fierce these redcaps and the hound that was mentioned might be. Outwardly, it simply looks like he’s particularly displeased with a small section of the floor, as his staring and frowning both deepen.
The leprechauns can certainly make you holy symbols, but they're definitely not willing to travel and help without assurance of more good liquor.
The leprechauns say the third floor of this tower is empty -- which you confirm with a quick trip. Narrow arrow slits in the walls overlook the fort and the surrounding forest. The room is indeed empty aside from disheveled bunks, but scratches marring the floor and the walls hint at a battle waged here long ago.
That leaves you just the last tower, which had a barred door, plus the stables left unexplored.
”If Dregg could chop a hole through the door, I could visualize the bar and lift it,” Arryn says.
Seeing everyone turn and just silently fix their eyes on him, Dregg eventually shrugs and huffs softly. He then strides up to the barred door and tries to blast it open with a single, heavy kick.
It doesn't take you long to get into the tower, where you encounter your first redcap quickly, as she drops a strip of something and charges at you.
Two weapon racks stand in this room, although they contain no weapons; instead, short strips of grayish leather stretch across them. A staircase ascends to the south. The stench of carrion fills this room.
As you look around, you realize this strips are some sort of hideous leather -- likely hobgoblin skin originally!
Above, the wooden floor of the large room is slick with blood. Three mostly flayed hobgoblin corpses are lashed to wooden tables and four dead redcaps lie on the floor. Stairs lead up and down on the south wall, and arrow slits pierce the north and west walls.
The hobgoblins were slowly flayed to death.
A single recap survivor remains in this room -- though that ends quickly as he leaps out at you and is put down. Each of the five redcaps wear Small leather armor and carry a Medium scythe. Each also carries a few dented coins, stolen jewelry, and gold teeth; altogether, these trinkets are worth 54 gp. A bloodstained basket on one table contains a healer’s kit, six potions of cure light wounds, and eight bandages of rapid recovery.
Finally you arrive at the top of the tower, where a few bunks in the room have been pushed together and their mattresses ripped and stacked to make a rudimentary nest next to a table stacked with undercooked venison and half-full cups of wine. Arrow slits in each wall provide a view of the fort and the surrounding forest.
A female redcap rises to her feet, clutching her scythe, while her ugly doglike creature -- which you can recognize as a trollhound -- growls behind her.
"Who are you? Out, get out!" she yells, shaking her scythe menacingly.
”No,” Arryn’s disembodied voice replies as a half full cup (now empty) of wine flies across the room at the redcap queen.
vs Dex denied AC
x 1.5 = 39 points
"Doesn't matter who we are. All you need to know is we're here to take this place back and you're running out of redhoods." Dregg casts a handful of redcaps to the floor then shrugs. "You want to dance I don't mind adding yours to the pile."
HP: 59/59
AC: 16 (12 T / 15 FF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +8/+5/+4
Rage rounds used: 0/10
Spell slots used
Level 1: 0/3
Bless (bead): 0/1
Cure serious wounds, remove blindness/deafness, or remove disease (bead): 0/1
-Ongoing Effects-
Danger Sense: +1 AC, +1 Ref vs traps
Focus: +2 Str
Rage: +2 to hit, +2 damage, +2 Will, -2 AC, +12 temp HP
Accurate stance: +1 to hit
Absolutely disgusted by the redcaps and the horrors they've perpetrated here, Aramis follows Arryn's lead and leaps right into battle! She casts her arms out, sending a trio of magic missiles slamming into the redcap's face!
Garrivek steps forward and swings his dorn-dergar at the evil redcap.
After Arryn flings the wine cup, he materializes just behind and to the left of Dregg.
Unfortunately, as you move to attack, the redcap reacts faster. She and the hound race toward Dregg -- in the lead, as usual. Her scythe cuts deep , blood spraying, while the trollhound nearly rips out his femoral artery, as it pulls him to the ground!
The party leaps into motion after that, though it manages to avoid the cup and Garrivek's dorn-dergar. Aramis' bolts slam into it, however.
Red: 9
Dregg goes down, then bounds back up and brings his sword down in a fast arc for the trollhound.
HP: 32/59 | Temp: 12/12
AC: 14 (10 T / 13 FF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +8/+5/+6
Rage rounds used: 1/10
Spell slots used
Level 1: 0/3
Bless (bead): 0/1
Cure serious wounds, remove blindness/deafness, or remove disease (bead): 0/1
-Ongoing Effects-
Danger Sense: +1 AC, +1 Ref vs traps
Focus: +2 Str
Rage: +2 to hit, +2 damage, +2 Will, -2 AC, +12 temp HP
Power Attack: -2 to hit, +6 damage
Accurate stance: +1 to hit
Aramis: 23
Arryn: 21
Garrivek: 19
Isabella: 16
Dregg: 5
Antagonist and Cirieo: 25
Dregg leaps to his feet, though he takes more grievous wounds as he does , and brings his sword down, nearly decapitating the trollhound.
"Eh, eh!" Isabella cries out, rushing in and sends more of the canine's blood spraying.
"How dare you?!" [the redcap cries out. "Slobber, sic balls!"
Despite her specific command, the troll hound snaps at the half-elf but misses, as the redcap turns her attention to Dregg, dropping the big half-orc bleeding to the ground , before kicking out at Isabella, a blow that nearly shattered her knee .
+10/+12 Demonbane longsword, 1d8+3/+2d6, 19-20/x2
Red: 9
TH: 25
Arryn snatches another wine cup and flings it at the trollhound, intent on halving the threat here and now.
x 1.5 = 24
"Foul, cursed Faerie!" Isabella shrieks, incensed, and her blades become a blur. The demonbane longsword and cold iron shortsword whirl and slash -- and if Isabella can get the trollhound down, she lunges for the redcap!
Garrivek casts cure light wounds on Dregg.
Aramis releases a burst of healing energy onto her companions, being sure to avoid healing her enemies.
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Aramis: 23
Arryn: 21
Garrivek: 19
Isabella: 16
Dregg: 5
Antagonist and Cirieo: 25
Aramis and Garrivek rush to help Dregg, lying in a puddle of blood on the floor, as Isabella and the redcap battle. Arryn slams the goblet through the poor trollhound's skull, killing it and enraging the sinister fey, as it fends off Isabella's long blade. She hisses though as the half-elf's shortsword draws blood and turns her full attention to the ranger, scythe hissing through the air. It slashes Isabella, who then takes a kick from the fey's iron-soled boots as she tries to protect her side.
Red: 16
"DIE YOU POXY FEY DIE!" Isabella screams, incensed beyond all tolerance - and also bleeding quite severely.
Enchanted steel and masterfully-forged cold iron gleam and whirl...
Feeling that Dregg is being healed, Arryn focuses on helping Isabella. ”Isabella, strike, then back up.”
Arryn then delays until after Isabella, gathers power, and combines empower with pushing. If it works, it should leave ten feet of separation forcing the fey to spend a move action closing the gap.
x 1.5 = 37
Aramis channels another burst of verdant healing energy, healing her allies wounds and leaving her enemies wounded.
Garrivek moves up behind Isabella and heals her.
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