Using his last fervor, Colvyn cast a spell to increase his protection. He walks into the room and tries to firing an arrow the thing. "Mommy's dead, now it is your turn."
Badly injured, the abomination thrashes about. Guiness hunkers down and blocks its vine attacks. It opens its maw wide and a spiny red tongue reaches out and tries to wrap around Kargas. He manages to pull himself free, but not before the spines have cut a series of minor wounds.
|||| STATUS ||||
Colvyn (1 Str dmg)
Kellek (11 dmg) x2
Flo (19 dmg)
Guiness (22 dmg, 3 Dex dmg)
Kargas (19 dmg)
??? Plant Abomination (88 dmg)
Group Buffs: Bless
Noticing the effect of the flames from Dragonfist, Colvyn decides to try something new. He focus for a second and mutter a single word. His weapon burst in red flames that also envelope the arrow that his nocked. With a smile, he sends two more arrows.
Flo funnels a flurry of butterlfies over Kargas. Even while ethereal, the insects do their best to avoid any errant spores in the air before settling on Kargas. "Turn it into firewood!"
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Kellek sends a blast of lighting through a narrow opening between the party members standing before him and into the monster's flank.
Combat Over!
As the creature falls, you notice what appears to be a slightly ajar closet door on the northern wall. You step around the smoldering remains and open it up to reveal a small chamber with a dirt floor and a shallow pit. At the bottom of the pit sits a large chest made of fine lacquered beech. When you recover it, you find that the container is crudely tied shut with hempen rope, its original lock having been melted into a slagged mass long ago.
A small velvet pouch contains an agate studded gold ring (worth 50 gp), a silver necklace sporting a large emerald (worth 350 gp), a ruby inlaid red dragon-scale cape clasp (worth 600 gp), and a silver pendant of a hawk with aquamarine eyes (worth 100 gp).
In a second pouch you find:
A pair of small leather gloves studded with pearls
An assortment of coins (210 gp, 452 sp, 108 cp)
Filling the rest of the chest you find:
A suit of fine studded leather with the symbol of the Black Arrows embroidered onto the back.
A composite longbow with black engravings
A masterwork longsword
A masterwork suit of chainmail
A battle axe and handaxe that appear to be a matching pair
Two composite longbows
A leather vest
A beautiful brass-hilted rapier
A brass ring set with a small opal
"There you are!" Kargas exclaims to the chest has he hauls it out of the pit. "Alright we found the loot, then's burn this hellhole to the ground and salt the ashes."
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Peering down into the chest before Kargas snatches it up, Guiness comments, "Looks like some of the Black Arrow Ranger's possessions are mixed in there. I agree--let's get out of here before the smell becomes a permanent part of our own personal aroma." Wrinkling his nose, the dwarven warrior lends a hand carrying the chest (if needed) and starts heading out of the macabre building.
Colvyn silently follow Guiness up and outside the house. Once there, he starts looking for accelerate to burn the entire thing down. If only getting rid of all those images in my mind could be as easy.
It takes a few hours to gather the necessary kindling from further away than the nearby swamps, but working together you're able to assemble enough easily burnable material to hopefully overcome the damp timbers of the dwelling. You light your bonfire and the flames spread rapidly, at first lapping futilely against the structure's walls, but eventually running up the sides and into the internal rooms. As night begins to fall, the flames rise high in the sky. Black, greasy smoke billows over the treetops, obscuring the mountains in the distance.
Not long after the blaze has started in earnest, the three Black Arrows hobble in from their hiding spot at the edge of the clearing. Even at a glance you can tell that they're moving more easily, the rest having done wonders for their vigor. Vale takes a seat cross legged and watches the flames, impassive. Kaven puts his hands on his hips and laughs before sending a few choice swears into the night sky.
Jakardros simply looks satisfied. "Good riddance to some of the foulest creatures to walk the Kreegwood."
Kellek gives the house another once over before Colvyn applies the flame, searching for whatever occult material he might find--particularly written material.
Flo stares on in silence as well. So much evil in such a small place and now we're keeping something from just moving in and replacing them. Safe to say the people of Turtleback are better of for this!
She hangs around, watching the flames consume the house, at a distance where the heat is warming but not excessive.
Kargas spits in the direction of the burning farmhouse and grunts in agreement with Jakardros. "Good riddance indeed, and a good start. How many more of these bastards are at that fort of yours?"
Kellek doesn't detect any magical auras among the burning building.
The three Black Arrows pick up their gear from the chest that you brought out of the farmstead. They don armors, check and sheath weapons, and otherwise get themselves ready. Jakardros takes the particularly fine magical longbow, Vale the pair of axes, and Kaven the rapier. From the way they test their weapons, you get the sense that all three are fairly accomplished fighters.
As he restrings his bow, Jakardros answers Kargas' question "I'm afraid none of these mongrels will be at the Fort. No, the force that took it are full blooded ogres. Though simple-minded, they're far stronger than any of these ogrekin. And led my someone with at least some tactical sense, I'd hazard." He raises a hand to his face and rubs at his slightly wild beard. "Are you sure you want to help us with this? I don't quite know who you all are, but you'd be risking your lives to take the Fort back. And we have precious little to offer you in exchange for that risk."
Kaven pops his thumbs through the loops on his belt. "'Ey Jak, if they're wantin' to 'elp, why scare 'em, eh? We ain't goin' to do it ourselfs."
Jakardros gives Kaven a stern look "They have the right to know what they're up against. And to leave us to our fight, our responsibility."
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"We'll join you in this," Flo says. "This stain reaches further than the Fort, unfortunately, and we're here to put a stop to it all."
"The way I see it, we should do what we can at range before closing in with them. Maybe even spy a little, if we can," she suggests. A whole tribe of those Kreeg Ogres... And on the inside of a fort. This will be tough, but if they're mostly just a bunch of brutes, we should be able to crack them by playing to our own strengths. "Remember," she says, looking at her friends. "We've reason to believe 'the Mistress's' sister might be there too."
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Agreeing, Guiness adds, "Indeed, Lady of the River, we will destroy this evil together. Perhaps tonight we rest and plan." Looking to Jakardros, Guiness asks, "What do you know of the fort's layout? Any secret or hidden entrances, or failing that, weaknesses in its design that may provide a stealthier way in? Also, do you suspect any of your companions were taken captive and may yet be alive?"
Kargas nods firmly in agreement with Flo. "Can't leave a fort full of ogres just sitting around, they'll cause trouble. And we can't leave you to nearly certain doom right after rescuing you. It's bad form."
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Jakardros looks about to try to convince you to turn back, but after a long look into your determined faces in the light of the burning farmhouse, he ends up nodding instead. "Alright." His looks off to the north east, above the treeline. "The Fort's fifteen miles that way, as the crow flies, though the approach is only easy from the river. There's a switchback trail that rises up the side of the mountain until reaching the level of the Fort. All in all, maybe half a day of determined marching on foot."
He follow's Guiness' questions with "If there's any strength we have here, its that the three of us know the Fort from every angle." He borrows a piece of parchment from one of you and takes a charcoal nub and draws out a map of the Fort and its surrounds.
"The Fort's been built into the side of the cliff, the mountain rising higher to the west, northwest and north. To the east and south, there's a large area we kept clear for good sight lines, and then some woods as the land grows steeper and eventually transitions back to cliffs towards the Skull river."
"The Fort has fairly defensible position and we worked to make it even better. My predecessors deepened a natural stream that existed in the area and built the Fort's walls behind it." He points to a moat on the map. "The walls beyond are about 15ft high, with gates to the south and east."
"Inside the courtyard are our outbuildings - stable, cook house, the new barracks, and the old guard post. To the northwest is the Fort proper. All the walls and the turrets of the Fort have places where the Kreegs could have set archers or lookouts. Their leaders are probably somewhere deep in the Fort."
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He passes around the map, letting you study it, and pauses for a moment to let that information sink in before continuing. "I can think of three ways in that the ogres likely won't be expecting. To the north of the Fort, in the mountains, is an eagle aerie. A small family of giant eagles have been nesting up there for years, and we'd established some diplomatic relations with them. Enough so that they came to our aid once or twice. Unfortunately, I saw two of them slain, hanging from the walls when we attempted our attack." He sighs "Still, if you can fly or climb up to the aerie, there's a tunnel from the aerie down to the courtyard, here." He points out the tunnel to the north end of the map.
"Second, the water for the moat is fed by a waterfall from the west and flows off to the east. There is the sluice gate for the Fort that has been disguised somewhat just for decency's sake. We send sewage out that way to be carried downstream, but it could serve as another way in. You can likely swim up to it, and it'll bring you into the courtyard as well."
"Third, just behind the waterfall is a network of caves that existed since before the Fort was built. They're infested with shocker lizards, but I know for a fact that there's a way through them that connects to the cellars of the Fort proper. It was to be used as an escape path once, but it'll do as well for an assault. Of all these options, I'd guess its least likely the ogres know about this one, but its also likely to be the most dangerous to traverse."
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Having rescued the Black Arrows and overcome the ogrekin and their grotesque matriarch, you all turn your attention to the larger task ahead - retaking the Fort. The cloudy sky above offers the promise of more rain ahead, but you know you're ready to face it.
Jakardros looks about to try to convince you to turn back, but after a long look into your determined faces in the light of the burning farmhouse, he ends up nodding instead. "Alright." His looks off to the north east, above the treeline. "The Fort's fifteen miles that way, as the crow flies, though the approach is only easy from the river. There's a switchback trail that rises up the side of the mountain until reaching the level of the Fort. All in all, maybe half a day of determined marching on foot."
He follow's Guiness' questions with "If there's any strength we have here, its that the three of us know the Fort from every angle." He borrows a piece of parchment from one of you and takes a charcoal nub and draws out a map of the Fort and its surrounds.
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"Hmm, an exposed flight or climb, a swim through sewage, or a simple tunnel from which we can strike from below," says Guiness, reclining with a good Dwarven Stout in the blazing firelight of the burning building.
Smiling, he adds, "Well, I would lose my 'dwarf' card if I didn't suggest the tunnel route, and I am not worried about shocker lizards, though it could deplete our resources. The other two routes are not appealing to me given the exposed nature our approach from above or the prospect of swimming through sewage, but with magic either one could work--I leave that to those more skilled in such matters."
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"You have cards? Why? What happens if you lose one?"
"Avian allies would be beneficial though," Flo points out. "I don't normally enjoy this sort of tactic, but splitting up might be our best bet. One group causing one hell of a ruckus from above, another charging up from below..." She pauses to consider the destruction before them and how Ogres might fair.
"With a map and some scouting though, I could also get us in with a short range teleportation. I only have one a day, but appearing in the right location at the right time could give us a huge advantage. Maybe even a blend of both: a distraction out front to pull forces away from where we assume leadership to be, then teleport in and take them out."
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"I volunteer for the 'below' team if it comes to that, but I am also fine if we have magic to take us to the eagle's aerie and all come down with allies," suggests Guiness as they eat and rest by the fire.
"In any case, we have a march ahead of us in the morning, and I still feel a bit stiff from that spider bite, so I'm going to turn in early," he adds, finding a comfortable rock to use as a pillow and bedding down for the night. "Wake me when it's my turn to watch," he finishes.
"What exactly do the eagle get us, other than being additional targets for the ogres? I say say we prep an ambush in the woods, hit the fort and kill a few but mostly just make some noise and get 'em to chase us. Then we lure them into our trap and finish the job."
As you discuss your options, a cold drizzle begins to rain down upon your group, prompting scowls from the three Black Arrows. After you reposition to an area with some cover against the rain, Jakardros comments "Hmm, we didn't encounter any ogre scouts when we returned and discovered the state of the Fort. Perhaps they hadn't set any. After all, ogre's aren't known for being sneaky, so we would have spotted any if they'd posted them. Of course, it could be different now."
At Flo's suggestions, he says "If you think a two-pronged assault will work best, the three of us could help support the ground team." Kaven interrupts with "Ey, I'd join the team up top, ye? Climbin' or flyin' up would suit me fine. And a dash of sneakin' is up my alley too."
Kellek makes for himself his horribly bitter, hot, black drink over the fire. He thinks over his spells, and remains mostly silent during the discussion.
"Flying over the fort while raining death and destruction on the ogres sound like more fun than crawling around some dark caves." Colvyn turns to the surviving members of the Black Arrows. "Did you notice if any of them were using ranged weapon worth mentioning?"
Jakardros nods "Most had javelins. They're not particularly accurate with them, at least not typically, but they throw them with great strength." He frowns, recalling the memories of his ill fated assault. "A few must've had longbows as well. The giant eagles they slew had been pierced by half a dozen arrows each."
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The night outside in the elements proves cold and wet. A driving rain begins in the middle of the night, breaking through the cover of your copse of trees and forcing you to relocate somewhere drier. You awaken in the morning cold and stiff, but somewhat recovered from the previous day's exertions.
The hike up toward Fort Rannick consumes much of the rest of the cloudy day. Jakardros leads the group, with Vale scouting ahead to catch any more ogrekin or any far ranging ogre patrols. He returns on a regular basis, only offering a negative shake of the head to indicate that nothing had showed its face. Jakardros leads you back to the river and up along the old trail toward the Fort. The trail eventually branches in two, with what appears to be an old packed dirt road continuing up the river, while another path begins making switchbacks up the mountain. Jakardros indicates the path along the river and mentions "We'll be heading up, but this way heads to Skull's Crossing."
Kaven pipes in with "Monster of a dam, it is. Leerin' skulls an all."
Taking the switchbacks, you swiftly gain elevation, rising from the river valley below to a series of mountain plateaus. The woods grow sparser, growing in clumps interspersed with rocky meadows. The decreased tree cover makes it easier to keep lookout around your group, and easier for your group to be spotted.
You don't encounter any ogre scouts or patrols along the way, and while the sun sits low on the horizon, you spot the Fort itself rising off in the distance. Vale leads the group of you to a nearby wooded rise where you can observe the Fort from a distance without being easily watched in return. At this great distance, you can only barely make out dark shapes atop the walls, moving every so often, as well as dark smudges seemingly hanging off the walls. Jakardros swears before saying "They left them to rot."
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"Jakardros, where would you say a good place to try and draw out the ogres would be? And what might lure them to attack recklessly?" asks Guiness, trying to visualize how they might draw out the fort's defenders.
"Without the aid of magic, my pace is slow and steady, so I would be best suited as part of the ambush team, not the luring team," he adds, gesturing towards his short legs.
"I can help with the luring team," Flo offers gesturing to her medium-sized legs with a wink to Guiness. "Kargas mentioned this before, but asking Colvyn to scout would be wise before we get this ball rolling. We can plan and set some traps while he does?"
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"I figure you and I can get started on our ambush point, Guiness. Jakardros, could you or one of your boys help us in finding a likely spot? Colvyn's pretty sneaky so we should let him do his thing without us bumbling around and ruining things for him."
As you survey the landscape, Jakardros answers Guiness' question "That's hard to say. The terrain around here favors the Fort's defenders, giving them clear lines of sight from the walls out to anyone who might be approaching. If you make enough noise and commotion to draw some ogres out, it's likely you'll be exposed to counterattacks. As for what might lure them out..." He rubs at his stubble "They're usually not the most disciplined and they're attracted to opportunities for violence. If they see someone wounded or weak, they might come out to finish them off. Especially if its an animal, as I can't assume they're enjoying the Fort's stores of dried vegetables and grain."
Guiness judges that the nearest copse of trees to the Fort might be a good place to set up an ambush while out of sight from the Fort's defenders. Kargas concludes that the trees within could serve as a good source of material for any traps. As for steep slopes, the southeastern approach you're coming from doesn't have any, but the Fort is surrounded by steep slopes to the south west and north east. Potentially, you could climb up the western rise and lure ogres down to the south along the cliff face and then roll something down.
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"I can set up in the copse of trees to the southwest of the road and closest to the southern gate. That should allow you to set rolling traps on the western slope, Kargas, though I will need a 'safe' spot to stand free from the traps," volunteers Guiness.
"As far as a lure, the ogres don't know about us yet, but the Black Arrows already attacked them once, so perhaps our three rangers shooting from a distance and some clever illusion magic could make a tempting target? Then the rest of us could use our skills with traps, magic, and weapons to slaughter those who sally forth from the fort," he suggests.
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Jakardros nods "Considering how soundly they beat us the last time, I doubt they're expecting any kind of attack now. So the first trick or first strike is likely to be the most effective. Once they know what they're up against, it'll be a different story."
"Good thinking Guiness," Flo says with a nod. "A 'counterattack' makes a lot of sense, given who they took the Fort from. I'll go with them, I think some magic will lend a level of seriousness to the assault. No offense to our Rangers, but if they beat you before, I wouldn't send much to fend off a counterattack unless there was a noticeable improvement in the turnout."
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Kellek remains at camp and makes more of his hot and bitter black drink to sip. He goes over his newly researched spells, writing the final versions of them in his copious journal. He hopes to have one of them active later this evening when the scouts return.
Once he has finished his brew he returns to penning new scroll.
Drawing his adamantine longsword, Kargas gets to work slicing dozens of branches into 4-foot sharpened stakes, which he affixes at an angle in the dirt to three sides of a rough box. Within the box he digs a dozen holes no more than 3ft deep with more stakes at the bottom and lining the sides. He then carefully covers the mini-pits with criss-crossing sticks with the sod from the hole laid over the top to conceal it.
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The three Black Arrows exchange looks and then Jakardros nods to Flo. "We all have bows, so we can grab their attention that way. If you have some defensive magic to protect us against any ogres that fire down at us in response, that'd be appreciated. If they don't think they can take us at range thanks to magic, I think they'll be more inclined to take the bait and charge out."
While the rest of you take your time preparing, Kargas works on the kill-zone. Digging numerous 3-ft deep holes, sharpening stakes, and concealing the whole place takes considerable time.
"I can't protect you from their fire in a conspicuous way, but I can make a show of healing your injuries," Flo offers. "I'd assume Ogres think they can hurt more up close than by throwing some javelins, so making the effort futile should get them angry!"
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While the others work on preparing the trap, Colvyn looks for sign of any ogres that might have passed nearby in the last few days. Once convinced that no patrols will come and disturb the preparations, he walks over to the older Black Arrow. Taking this place is quite remarquable feat for ogres. Did they have any help from a more brainy creature?"
Colvyn doesn't find any sign of ogres passing along the southern approach to the Fort, at least not anything fresh. His speculation is answered by Jakardros "Aye. For all their ferocity and strength, it would have taken a lot for them to get into the Fort. You'll see the gates aren't damaged, which means they must've had some way in or over that the rest of the Black Arrows weren't ready for. Not sure what."
He nods to Flo, offering "It'll have to do."
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