"Don't worry about me, Forsten. I'd be more worried about these Owlbears." Anglon said as he unleashed on the large half-breed in front of him.
The horror perched over the ruins, lashing out with tearing mandibles, mutilating the owlbear below it.
The two controlled Crypt Things converged on the Owlbear furthest away, one looping around the rickety wall, the other warping in from outside the walls to appear on the other side of the creature.
Grey drifted down near the glowing balls of light. He understood their nature and woud not be happy about fighting alongside the undead, even if it was arguably against greater evils.
"Thank you for your assistance." he said and released them from service. They pulsed a short array of colors and vanished back to where they had come from.
Grey himself looked down from above, gathered a ball of enropic cold in his hands and launched it downward at the owlbear the crypt things were engaging.
Simon's fire rushes over an Owlbear, burning it into frenzy while the Grey Horror attacks it. The webs around it ignite!
After this savage attack the Owlbear reels, falls and dies.
But while fire is felling one Owlbear, cold attacks the others.
The Owlbear on the stair is impaled by icy spears, thrust into the ground just as Anglon and Forsten attack, destroying it.
Meanwhile a flying Grey strikes the last Owlbear with a ball of icy snow while the Crpyt things attack.
Crpyt thing 1 is webbed; will need a save... did I miss that? What is the DC on the snowball staggered effect?
Valerianna arcs over the battlefield.
Forsten straightens as the runelord's combined efforts fell the last owlbear that stands free of the various impediments conjured by the runelords, though he still holds his polearm ready.
"I think the Grey Servants should be able to manage those. He seems to have obtained some new ones..." he observes, breathing heavily, but otherwise calm. "I do not wish to be swarmed by spiders, though if Denat would care to remove the webbing we should be able to sort them out quickly enough. Their brawn means little when guided by such simple emotions."
Simon lets the flames go out. "This seems to be well in hand. I believe Grey's servants can clean up."
He steps back a few feet to watch. (Backup 15 feet)
Ronald flies back to hover near Simon.
"Indeed. This seems to have progressed well."
Anglon steps back to enjoy the show. "This should be good. Anyone injured?"
"it would appear we over prepared for these vagabonds. All the better I suppose? Are any left alive to spread the tale of what happened here today?"
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"I love it when a plan comes together."
Denat waves his hand, casually dismissing his web.
And so it was that the Stag Lord's army that had for years ruled the area with a lax, anarchic, but terrifying hand was destroyed.
The Lieutenants were killed beyond even Lycanthropy's ability to cure. The archers that combined the main unit riddled with shafts from above and then heaped upon with further insult. The Stag Lord himself literally rent limb from limb. The Owlbear family that had been half-domesticated trapped, killed and butchered and their corpses partially flensed by the unworldly spiders summoned by Denat.
Not only had the Runelords taken not a single casualty, they had actually recruited two of the guardians who watched over the keep.
As this is set slightly after the module I have tried to 'mature' the inhabitants that are presented therein, which means one inhabitant has died of old age.
Four of the Owlbear corpses would be animatable pretty much straight away, as Owlbear Zombies or Owlbear Skeletons.
The remainder of the Owlbears are going to need some serious taxidermy before anything can be done.
I think it would be possible to use their mythic stats as justification for a Mythic template - would need to research IC and OOC how that might be done.
There are also about 17 human corpses in various states of destruction; about 6 can be raised immediately.
Taxidermy would be something you could knock over during a downtime year.
As he dies and (unseen) his mythic energy leaves the Stag Lord's equipment starts to glow to your Arcane Sight.
Seems like it should be possible to take some sort of trophy back to Kurshu in order to symbolically help cement that this is now Lissalan territory.
"Well, now. It would appear our man the Stag Lord had some magical gear. Any wagers on what it is?"
Anglon looks around for a possible trophy to return to Kurshu as a symbol that this is now Lissalan territory.
Maybe the Stag Lord's helm? One of the lieutenants' necklaces? Perhaps an owlbear pelt? he thought to himself as he searched for something suitable.
As the webs disappear Forsten moves forwards to help the Grey Servants finish off the remaining owlbear. He doesn't relax until he has moved amongst all of the bodies and verified that they are all in fact, deceased. He gives a soft sigh as the feel of Lissala's blessing begin to fade from him, but makes no other concession besides a brief pause.
Allowing himself to relax now the danger has passed Forsten puts up his weapon, and makes use of his enhanced size to drag the bodies from the building for Grey's inspection, doing his best to put the right pieces together where possible. With the dead cleared out of the way he begins a slow inspection of the fort. Ronald's identification of the Stag Lord's equipment as magical elicits a question of his own from the stoic man.
"As I was not present for the previous expedition to this place, are we certain that it was the Stag Lord that was responsible for the effect that was experienced? Some care should be taken with anything that may be connected to that presence."
"I guess Legion will take care of the mundane gear there was here Grey ?"
Letting the others study the Stag Lord's equipment, Denat begins to carefully search the fort, looking for what could have been a treasury.
Simon surveys the scene with revolver in hand, walking among the corpses and occasionally kicking one with a boot. One of the men groans, not quite dead but close. Simon helps the man along the way of firing a shot into his chest. The man slumps back into the mud. Simon looks to the other rune lords who looked to him when the shot rang out. He shrugs nonchalantly and continues his work.
Eventually Simon comes to the area where Legion has places all the gear neatly and assists with the identifying as needed.
There is surprisingly little gear on the Stag Lord.
Four potions of Cure Moderate Wounds
+2 Leather armor
+1 composite longbow (+4 str)
+1 amulet of natural armour
Stag's Helm - a custom item, this is a striking helm crafted to resemble the skull of a mighty elk.
A ring that appears to be made from a lock of hair encased in silver. It's magical properties are difficult to pinpoint, but Anglon realises it is what he seeks.
There are also multiple weapons, armour etc on the lycanthropes and bandit soldiers. Notably there are several potions; 6 cure light wounds, 1 bull's strength, 1 cat's grace and five enlarge person.
Denat: underneath the ground floor you find a basement level containing stores of stolen goods and a single desiccated corpse; broken and badly set bones suggest he was some sort of prisoner.
Between the soldier's gear, the treasury and the coins and items on the dead soldiers you find 12000gp worth of goods and coin.
"Are we going to do anything with this fort or just let it rot?" Simon asks inquisitively.
"I believe the position is worth holding strategically. Perhaps we could establish our own outpost here to guard our southern border." Forsten suggests, though the way he looks at the current structure suggests that it will need to be leveled first.
"I believe the position is worth holding strategically. Perhaps we could establish our own outpost here to guard our southern border." Forsten suggests, though the way he looks at the current structure suggests that it will need to be leveled first.
"Maybe we leave a small contingent here, but otherwise concentrate on the city? "
"Seems like a great place for a massive kobold breeding farm. Er...I mean city area."
"Seems like a great place for a massive kobold breeding farm. Er...I mean city area."
"Out of the way. Not overly useful to anyone. Fortified." **thinks to himself a moment** "Sounds like a good idea to me."
"Certainly we should not divert our attention until Threshold is more established, but the value of the site should not be underestimated."
"Like I said: kobold grow fast. And I believe they can swim and operate boats, yes? Seems an optimal situation to afford them some growing space, and when we can expand enough to include them.in the greater community thwy will have a place of honor and strength already established. "
Legion wastes no time beginning to sort and organize the bodies and their gear. Bodies were quickly melted of their flesh by a wand wielded by Grey and loaded up on Horror, making them look like strange skeletal puppets being dragged along by invisible strings. Once they were all piled, Legion pulled large tarps over them, securing them and keeping them out of sight.
The equipment was bundled by type and also loaded onto Horror on top of the tarps.
Grey himself took a number of samples of Lycanthrope blood.
As legion continued the labor, Grey joined the conversation. "An sound idea. Putting the Kobolds in charge of the security of the waterways could be very useful. They would likely need to be well trained, or have a group dedicated to overseeing them. I'm sure either or both could be arranged."
"It may prove suitable for kobolds, yes, but it may prosper the kingdom more as a southern trading post. Increased traffic and trade, coupled with a strong military presence in the area, will bring gold into the kingdom's coffers while driving off bandits and other malcontents as well."
Anglon picks up the ring. "Yes. This will do nicely."
"If we build a trading post from this fort I could stay here and keep an eye on the kobolds. I may be a wizard but I'm not a bad merchant."
"Indeed. I would suggest a two-fold effort. The Sootscale tribe is well situated in the forest, with ample resources and a decent supply of man...kobold-power. Let us instruct them in the construction of river craft and basic navigation skills, and begin an emigration down to this more fortified and centrally located area. It may take a little bit of time, but with the right staffing and supplies, this place could prove quite adept at control for trade, especially since there is nothing resembling a road in this land."
Switching to Thassilonian for a moment: "Besides, having a pool of kobolds to breed and husband, we may be able to select for particular traits. As I understand it, they often adapt to their surroundings quickly, not to mention the prevalence of sorcerous talent in the species."
"Indeed. I would suggest a two-fold effort. The Sootscale tribe is well situated in the forest, with ample resources and a decent supply of man...kobold-power. Let us instruct them in the construction of river craft and basic navigation skills, and begin an emigration down to this more fortified and centrally located area. It may take a little bit of time, but with the right staffing and supplies, this place could prove quite adept at control for trade, especially since there is nothing resembling a road in this land."
Switching to Thassilonian for a moment: "Besides, having a pool of kobolds to breed and husband, we may be able to select for particular traits. As I understand it, they often adapt to their surroundings quickly, not to mention the prevalence of sorcerous talent in the species."
"So a trading post that's subsidized by kobolds? Naturally we'll keep an eye on it and make sure things are run properly adjusting as necessary. All in favor Say Aye. Aye. "
"Aye."
"Aye."
"A trading post? Aye. One manned and staffed and run by kobolds? Nay. The creatures may be of use, but I highly doubt it's a mercantile one. Not only do they not seem clever enough to run a shrewd business, but what neighboring nation would deign trust them? They seem suitable for little else apart from labor or war."
"A trading post? Aye. One manned and staffed and run by kobolds? Nay. The creatures may be of use, but I highly doubt it's a mercantile one. Not only do they not seem clever enough to run a shrewd business, but what neighboring nation would deign trust them? They seem suitable for little else apart from labor or war."
"We'll use other humanoids to manage the kobolds and act as the face. Kobolds will simply support the work and security forces. "
"We will have to find friendly looking humanoids who will accept to work with kobolds..."
"We will have to find friendly looking humanoids who will accept to work with kobolds..."
"I'm sure that can be arranged. "
Grey, as usual, abstained from voting. Instead he kept a record of the impromptu council meeting.
On the discussions of Grand Diplomat, Ronald Dranstus, Runelord of Humility with the Alchemist Bokken
Runelord of Humility approaches the rundown - if large - hut of the crazed Alchemist Bokken.
The plants in the are for quite some distance are those valued in alchemy - it seems unlikely they would grow in such profusion and numbers by themselves. That suggests this Alchemist has been haphazardly cultivating a pharmacological 'farm' for decades, at least.
Additionally certain nearby hills have displayed signs of at least trace amounts of rarer reagents in their soils.
This is an excellent place for an Alchemist.
The Alchemist boils out of his house buzzing like a housefly
"Busy! Busy! Leave me alone! My House!"
however upon seeing the baskets of Fangberries he calms down and seems to become more reasonable.
"For me?" he asks, suspiciously.
"Indeed, indeed. You asked for alchemical ingredients retrieved, and here we are to deliver them. This collection is quite impressive. A little farm of useful ingredients here for your use. Please allow me to introduce my master, Runelord Ronald Dranstus, one of the rulers of Threshold."
"Greetings, Alchemist Bokken. My vassal Burt has spoken of you, and advised us of your situation here out in the wilderness. Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Ronald Dranstus, Runelord of Humility, Servant of Lisalla, and one of the rulers of Threshold. We would like to extend the hand of friendship and generosity to you, as neighbors ought to do. Please, accept these fangberries as a token of our esteem, and look upon future interactions with us and our kingdom as favorable and profitable for all."
Ronald bows and presents the berries (carried by the minions) as magnanimously as possible, emphasizing his glowing rune-sigil and beautiful clothing in subtle fashion.
"Now, honored Alchemist, please tell me what you know of this land. We are new to it, and would like to see that all are treated with justice, respect, and honesty. Are there further bandits, beyond those allied with the Stag Lord? Any dangerous monsters or threats to peaceful folk? Besides gathering berries, are there any other tasks you would ask of my people, to better aid you in your work?"
(Mythic Power 6/7 remaining) diplomacy
Bokken the Alchemist seems to dance forward and back a little. Finally he dances forward and snatches at the baskets, then dashes back to his cottage.
Once there he hangs nervously in his doorway, and upon seeing that the visitors are behaving themselves seems to calm down a little.
"I don't want neighbours, y' understan'. No disrespect. Don' like people. Moved out 'ere to be away from people. Brother's fault. Do my tradin' wit' Oleg till those new people come and pissed off the Bandits."
"E'ryone trades wi' Bokken. I trade wi' em 'all. Merchants, hunters, farmers, bandits, kobolds, trolls, all of 'em. Trade wi' you, but keep away from me land."
"Won' pay taxes. My land." he warns.