"Blackwood here"
"Mister Stevens, is here."
"Who are you talking to?" asked Cudrith.
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A wide field of shattered weapons, barrow mounds, and mass graves
surrounds the city of Absalom, a vast plain known as the Cairnlands.
Rising from the war-torn earth like the grasping arms of the dead
are count less siege castles, towers, and fortresses constructed over the millennia by would-be warlords who tried to take the great city and inevitably failed. Like forgot ten monuments to failed conquerors, the siege castles of Absalom beckon the brave, the fearless, and the
foolish with the promise of adventure and untold treasures, ever ready
to create heroes or to entomb the fallen.
You’ve heard rumors that one of the sealed siege castles has
been laid open by a minor earthquake. Word on the street is
that no one has yet entered the tower, which folks are calling the
“Fallen Fortress.” What better way to start a life of excitement
and adventure than by exploring its long-abandoned, dusty
halls and perhaps claiming its ancient treasures?
dot
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The door to you barracks bust open as you all lay in your bunks resting after a hard day of training. You look up to see Sgt. Smallparts, your training instructor, standing there. Before he can even start to yell, "Attention!" you are already moving to get into position at the end of your bunk.
He then marches to the other end of the room and turns to address you.
"Congratulation! You have now completed your training with me and will soon be assigned to your regular units. In the meantime there is something that the commander needs done and I have volunteered for the task.
"It seems that one of the siege castle out on the plains outside the city needs to be checked out. It was sealed but that little earthquake we had a few days ago has collapsed part of the structure. You job is to check it out and make sure that it does not pose a threat to the city."
You will head out tomorrow morning. Any questions?"
"Who will be leading this little expedition?", replies Blake. "Sir!", He adds hastily seeing Smallparts eyes narrow.
"Sir do we know who built this perticular siege castle, what is to be our response to other interested parties, and how long will we have to complete our threat analysis Sir?", asks Cudrith, almost yelling in his nervousness as he often did when answering his superiors. Then he hastily added "And what is our policy on treasure hunting again?"
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"There are no additional details about the tower. You may handle any problems as you see fit out there. As for "looting", it is only illegal in wartime but remember that you must claim all items found on a form 1297 and present it to the company clerk upon return. Items that may be deemed dangerous to city will be confiscated."
"Sir what if we run into treasure hunters, or looters?" , asks Cadash, his eyes making a passing glace toward Cudrith, Then returning his gaze to the sergeant.
joining
Sir, are we going to be supplied with rations? Or are we paying out of pocket?" Mister asked Sgt Smallparts. Bah, am I really that manly that I am put into a group of all males? Though I suppose I am more manly than that wizard.
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"You will each be issued on standard healing potion and a picnic lunch box for your grand adventure.", Sgt Smallparts says as he leave the barracks.
The next morning you get up and prepare your gear, head to chow, and then pick up you potion and lunch.
The ruined siege castle now being called the Fallen Fortress
rises out of the churned earth of the Cairnlands. No doors or
windows mar the otherwise smooth expanse of the tower’s
walls. The tower is quatrefoil in plan; its eastern wing has
largely collapsed, exposing the interior floors to the open
air. Only the topmost level seems whole, though its eastern
portion hangs precariously over the mountain of rubble left
by the collapse. At ground level, the rubble frames a gaping
hole in the side of the building that provides access to the
tower’s darkened interior.
As you approach the tower you see a pack of wild dogs.
See the map
Cudrith and Cadash are up first.
Drawing his scythe and readying for an enemy charge, Cudrith quietly suggests to Blake “Pvt. Blackwood We should see if Pvt.Gurughal can do anything to get them out of our way. “
"If he has nothing i can use prestidigitation to make running bacon." he thinks as he warily scans the pack before him.
Cadash sighs, and pulls his axe from his waist "What should we do Blackwood?" he scans the pack wearily, then turns to Blackwood "I would prefer if we avoided bloodshed."
Mister draws her hammer, sighing at Cadash. "I do not believe these beasts care much for your compassion."
Mister draws her hammer, sighing at Cadash. "I do not believe these beasts care much for your compassion."
Mister swings down on a wild dog
"Yeah, I don't think this is going to end without blood." Blake says, whilst stepping around the wild dog next to him and stabbing at the creature with his rapier.
"Defend yourselves." He yells at the squad.
“What the hell!"Exclaims Cudrith in as much a sigh as a yell.
Spinning on the upswing of his last strike he drops his scythe on the nearest dogs neck.
"We out number them, and for the most part look terrifying. Even hungry animals Should know better then to attack under those circumstances!”
Cadash blocks the dogs bite, letting out a solid grunt. He tries to swing his axe into the dog while it is open.
Cudrith having felled his foe quickly, quickly spins his scythe to be parallel to the ground and moves in to strike the dog next to mister, aiming for its heart.
Cadash turns his head to address jet "Warrior might not be your vocation jet, i'm thinking seamstress?"
"You know, considering she kicked your ass during training, I don't think I'd be talking to big there Cadash."
"Aye good job, however the rest of us cannot have only meat for brains Cadash."
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After dispatching the wild dogs you stand before the Fortress.
The ruined siege castle now being called the Fallen Fortress
rises out of the churned earth of the Cairnlands. No doors or
windows mar the otherwise smooth expanse of the tower’s
walls. The tower is quatrefoil in plan; its eastern wing has
largely collapsed, exposing the interior floors to the open
air. Only the topmost level seems whole, though its eastern
portion hangs precariously over the mountain of rubble left
by the collapse. At ground level, the rubble frames a gaping
hole in the side of the building that provides access to the
tower’s darkened interior.
How do you proceed?
"Alright, here is the plan. I am going to take the lead and scope the place out, I want you all to follow me, stay about thirty to fifty feet behind me and try not to make to much noise. I'll call out if something comes up." Blake says as he surveys the entrance. "Stay on your guard and let me know if you see anything, those dogs might not be the first things to find this place open. Any questions?"
"Should I take a look at that central pillar and the hole in the wall to see if the building is in imminent danger of collapsing or are we just going to assume that its fine? Also Pvt.Stevens And Pvt.H. should move the dogs out of the way so scavengers aren't just outside the door when we are on our way out."responds Cudrith.
Mister picked up a dog and walked about 15 feet, placing it down. "That's a good plan, both of you. I have no questions myself."
Cadash places his axe back on his belt, then lifts the two remaining dogs over his shoulder carrying them over to the third. He places them down with relative care and heads back to the group. pulling a torch from his backpack he turns to Cudrith "Cudrith do you mind holding the torch? i need both hands free."
"Blake will need the light more then I will unless he is trying to be particularly stealthy but he could probably just run from any trouble he spots up there."points out Cudrith before answering "But if he does feel the need to go lightless I would be happy to do that. Just don’t expect me to do well in close quarters combat because this scythe takes two hands to swing and I can't throw point blank.”
"I wish we did not have kill such poor creatures...still our way is clear. If you want my wisdom the one who has a free hand should carry the torch" Bristle just oinks and stays close to Gurughal
"Alright. Everyone up here." says Blackwood as he climbs the rubble in the first 'room'. He peers through the two door ways as the others clamber up after him. "Cudrith if you want to examine the central pillar, go ahead. Mister can hold the torch for now, but have a back up one ready. Once stealth is no longer an option I'll probably want to have one as well."
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It soon becomes apparent that the collapse of the eastern wing has caved in much of tower’s first level as well. The southern wing is entirelyfilled with rubble, leaving only the northern wing accessible.
The northern wing of the tower seems to have escaped the worst effects of the collapse, but rubble still litters the floor and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hang down the walls like gossamer tapestries. A single archway stands open in the southwest wall.
Blackwood steps into the north wing of the tower. He scans the room, his shadow cast before him in the light of the doorway. With rapier drawn he steps farther into the darkness, scanning in all directions.
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Blackwood enters the north tower door and waits for his eyes to adjust to the darkness.
Not seeing anything out beyond the webs he begins to turn to the others when a mass of spiderwebs shoots out from the darkness and entangles him.
He then hears the claws skittering across the floor as something moves towards him.
Cadash see's Blackwoods plight out of the corner of his eye, assuming a charging stance he roars "Blackwood's in trouble!"
"Damn.", says Blackwood. "I could use some help in here!"
Cudrith shifts to look directly into the room trying to get a look at whatever spit that web.
“I got the torch if you need the free hand.” Cudrith tells Mister.
Mister more or less thrusts the torch towards Cudrith, "That would be great thanks!" Mister yells as she gets her shield ready.
As the spider approaches Blackwood, he stabs at it with his rapier.
"Flank it for me!" Blackwood shouts to his companions.