"I am not liking the sound of this. If the lady arranged her own kidnapping then we could very well be walking into a trap. That is, if someone from this group of ruffians doesn't report back that there are no pursuers." Ruso says while pointing at the wounded man.
The bandits scratches his head as the questions come rapid-fire. "First, the lady didn't arranger her own kidnapping. Rokhar's behind that. The "she" I was referring to his is Rokhar's new friend. I ain't seen her meself, but heard tell she was one o' them winter-touched fey. A flying one. She's been filling Rokhar's head full o'nonsense."
To Wulfgang's question about how many men are at the lodge:"Reckon on a dozen or so, including Rokhar and Ten-Penny. But some are sick, and cain't fight well. Rokhar may have others too, that I ain't knowed about."
"Can Rokhar, Ten-Penny or this woman do any magic?"
The man swallows and nods. "Aye, don't think Ten-Penny knows any magic -- she's more of sneaky sort, but Rokhar is a priest -- a priest of the god of murder or some nonsense -- he's always spoutin' off about Norgorber this and murder that. I don't go in for killin' for no reason but that's his way. Even so, I've seen him do some magic hisself that backs it up. Not sure 'bout this fey, but she ain't no lady, they say, a monster more like. An' the way I hear it, she's got powerful bad magic too."
"Thank you for your information. You may go." Irina sighs. "Shall we head there now? It doesn't sound like the camp is far away. Does anyone need healing?"
Ruso gives a sigh and a shakes his head. "This is a bloody freaking mess and sounds like we will be walking into a another batch of trouble. We should try giving the place a once around before we attempt to get inside."
"Good idea. But let's not take too long, since the cold seems to be getting worse."
"Is anybody familiar with this Norgorber and his clergy? Or fey? What kind of trouble can we expect from them?"
The bandit hurries off after answering as many questions as he can, hoping to get clear before you change your mind about freeing him. The path continues on, and you know that it will soon lead to this lodge that was discussed. The sun is about half-gone behind the ridge of hills here in the Border Wood, lengthening shadows and dropping temperatures a bit more.
"Religion isn't my strong suit, but let me think about it." She taps her lip and looks to the sky. She looks surprised, and tells the others what she remembers "Oh that one. Norgorber is the god of murder, deception, and thievery. Assassins, poisoners, and other killers worship but so do simple thieves and other greedy parishioners. His symbol is a one-eyed mask, and his animal is a spider."
"Lets get moving." Ruso starts moving up the path and scouting ahead.
As you continue forward, the ground rises steeply. Struggling up the slope in the snow, and against the bitter wind, you climb about 100ft into the hills before the snowy trail levels off. In a clearing among the trees, a large wooden lodge overlooks a ravine which is spanned by a long rope bridge. Smoke rises from the lodge's two snow-covered chimneys, and a large woodpile is stacked against the outer wall. A small outbuilding stands east of the lodge, and a stone well nearly blanketed with snow is barely recognizable to the north. Several tracks lead southwest towards a detached stable.
The lodge appears to be constructed of heavy timber and stone and the outer doors are of strong wood. A few lamps can be seen through a few panes of frosty glass that fill several of the windows.
The back porch of the lodge is visible from your position, and while no one is currently present, numerous horse and human tracks criss-cross the snow near the porch.
"Stealth would be the best approach, if we can manage it."
Jack arms his bow and cautiously approaches.
Ruso moves quickly and cautiously through the snow trying to make little to no sound for the wind to carry.
Irina tries to move silently, and look around for places for the group to hide as they study the building.
Skyne follows Jack, crossbow loaded and ready.
As the stealthier members of the party approach, Peltra and Wulfgang hold back a bit waiting to see what gets sorted out. With Jack and Skyne headed for the snow-covered well, Ruso moves down the path. His sharp eye sees something amiss in spite of the snowfall, a cord is stretched across from the porch to the well, attached at the porch end is a loaded crossbow ready to fire at the poor soul who trips the line. Ruso holds up a hand and stops the others just in time to keep the trap from triggering. As he looks, several iron pots and pans are also attached to the rope, which would create quite a jangling noise should the trap trigger.
Avoiding or disabling the trap lets you get close to the lodge undetected, there does not seem to be any more sentries or guards outside in the weather, besides those you already bested.
Irina gives Ruso a thankful look, and waits to see what the others will do.
Ruso quickly and skillfully moves up to the rigged trap and plies his well practiced skill at it. Using the tools he carries with him he carefully loosens the knots that keep the rope taught, pulls the bolt from the crossbow, and releases the drawn string of the crossbow.
With deft skill, despite the numbing cold, Ruso is able to take apart the apparatus that makes the trap dangerous, making it safe for all the others to approach the cabin.
"Well done," Jack whispers, as he starts to creep closer.
Irina follows Jack as he moves forward.
"Keep a sharp eye out for further traps as well as for any lookouts." Ruso whispers. Ruso then continues to move to scout the area around the lodge.
The heroes move up and around the cabin but nothing changes in their view and no more traps are spotted. Irina approaches the small outbuilding (H2) close enough to tell from the aroma that it is the outdoor privy. The door currently stands open, and the privy is unoccupied.
Irina lets the other's know there's no one in the privy. She continues to follow Jack's lead.
Jack listens at the door to try and figure out if anyone is in there.
Ruso moves to the door and visibly signals Jack to step aside for just a moment so that the door can be checked for traps.
The rear door is not trapped, nor does it appear to be locked.
Ruso steps out of the way and indicates to everyone that the door is safe and unlocked. He then draws his rapier in preparation to follow those accustomed to fighting inside.
Skyne moves in line with the door, and readies his crossbow.
Irina stays toward the back of the group waiting for the door to open.
As Jack listens at the door, the rest of the heroes form up, ready to storm inside.
Seeing no one else moving to open the door Ruso takes a deep breath and then carefully and as quietly as possible opens the door into the lodge.
As Jack listens at the door and others line up for the pending assault, the northman quickly turns to the others, crying. "They know we are here! They are about to attack! Take cover or prepare to fight!"
Ruso's hand drops as he was reaching to open the lodge doors as Jack tells them what he has heard.
Ruso quickly revises his plan and instead climbs onto the roof of the lodge so that he is perched above the door.
"Somebody keep an eye around the other side of the house!" Skyne shouts, then rushes down the path.
Standard Cast grease
James draws his sword and looks for everyone to be ready. Then he bursts in the door.
Irina casts mage armor on herself, and moves out of direct line of the steps.
Outside the Lodge - pre-combat actions
Before the raiders burst out of the lodge, the group tries to prepare as best they can. Ruso rushes around, leaps atop the woodpile and tries to pull himself to the roof of the lodge, which is 20' high here. He does not succeed in climbing all that way, and ends up dropping back to the top of the woodpile.
Securing the flank, Skyne moves to the south and casts a spell that adds a layer of slippery, buttery grease atop the snow on the path from the front of the lodge.
Seeing that all are readying for the fight, Jack draws his sword and tries the door, but the portal is barred from the inside and he cannot force the door open even half an inch. Shouts and cries are heard by all near the door as he attempts to get in.
Irina moves out of line of sight of the front doors.
Peltra casts Bless on the party, providing some divine inspiration for the coming fight.
Outside the Lodge - Round 1
24 Ruso
18 Wulfgang
18 Blue Raider
16 Black Raider
15 Peltra
14 Orange Raider
13 Skyne
11 Irina
9 Red Raider
4 Green Raider
3 Jack
3 Purple Raider
2 Yellow Raider
Ruso prepares to make a leaping attack at the first bandit to emerge from the lodge.
Outside the Lodge - Round 1 - continued
Ruso, atop the woodpile near the door, tenses his legs and readies his rapier for a leaping, stabbing attack on the first bandit to exit the lodge.
Wulfgang waits patiently for the door to open planning to rush forward and cleave foes who appear when it does.
From inside the lodge, a pair of raiders work together to remove the heavy bar that was holding the door fast, and then kick the doors open, revealing the first few feet of the lodge inside, where half a dozen or so foes await.
Standing back from the doorway, Peltra waits to see if any of the foes make it out, delaying her action until the fight comes to her.
"Drive that one off the porch," cries one of the raiders, and Orange, bow in hand, fires at Jack at close range, but the area flies just wide, embedding itself deeply in the open door.