Valonzo, who spent the entirety of the "combat" flat on his wings, says a low "Very impressive indeed." and glides forward with the party.
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, you encounter no other encounters on the way to the fortress and you are able to reach it unimpeded. A smooth-surfaced high wall runs through an apparently perfect circle around the castle proper. You can see no doors or gates on ground level, although two doors are visible in the wall, some distance above the ground. These doors are spaced about 60 degrees from each other along the circular wall. The top of the wall is protected by a steep overhang that is crowned by a studded parapet. No signs of life are visible either outside or on top of the wall, nor within the courtyard beyond.
"Seems a little too quiet. Let's move to that top wall and get a closer look. Quietly."
Tima moves ahead with all the stealth he can muster.
Doppel remains at a distance, watching for a signal. Stealth was not his strong suite, nor did he use to wish it in any way. Where it he, the front doors would have served a much better entrance.
Of course the two tactics were mutually exclusive, hence his temporary restraint.
"Agreed. Let's go and take a look."
"Right behind you, Tima."
Tima gives the castle a big one-eyed glare.
Cathryn hangs back with Doppel, keeping her distance.
Valonzo approaches into a range his Arcane Sight, etc. can detect any pesky abjurations or other defenses.
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The whole of the complex seems to be deserted. The only entrances to the walls are the doors, inter-spaced every 60 degrees along it's length, at about 30 feet above the ground (the wall itself is 50 feet high). The wall is some 30 feet wide and the top forms a walkway and parapet from which defenders could resist a siege.
The courtyard within the wall is a moonscape of blasted dirt, barren of even a blade of grass or withered bush of thorns. The castle itself rises, more like a skeleton than a solid edifice, high into the air from the center of this courtyard. Its black stone walls are streaked with red, as if countless gallons of blood have been spilled across them.
Each of the four towers flanking the castle has a slender and unprotected stairway climbing from the tower to the main castle, where it ends in a door. Doorways also lead from the stairways into the small towers.
There is a parapet surrounding the base of the castles high tower. This is simply a platform of smooth stone; there are no visible doors leading into the castle from the parapet. Below this parapet is another platform. This one supports the bases of the many buttresses that curve upward to support the midsection of the castle. This platform also does not show any signs of doors into the
castle.
Speaking in hushed tones, Rowan will say "Be careful. There are some creatures on the towers, called Perytons. They have the ability to manipulate people's shadows, and they will probably alert others to our presence. Valonzo, can you cover our appearance with a veil so we can proceed please?"
While Rowan is talking, he will point out the Perytons to the members of the group.
"Any of you have something that would let me see invisible things from further out? This is going to be a pain."
Cathryn stands there looking about, somewhat frustrated with being unable to find them.
"We should rid this place of those creatures."
"Shades of night, shadows from the nether-realms, drinkers of essence and of light, let us appear this way in everyone's sight." Valonzo casts a silent veil spell, making everyone in the party appear to all senses to be shadows. "I don't think they have spotted us yet. If they do now, we'll appear as shadows to their senses."
"We should make our way to the castle proper as soon as possible. Stick together and we should be okay."
"Let's go."
Cathryn shrugs, clearly a little displeased but accepting of the matters.
"I Suppose Tis for the best then, Let's get along then."
She gives one last look in the direction the creatures are apparently in before focusing on more important current tasks.
Doppel joins the returns to the rest of the group as the move onwards.
Cha'Tima, seeing that these creatures can also see him, goes into combat mode.
His spirit eye flares purple and his limbs speed up as he locks onto each Peryton, firing arrows into them with unparalleled swiftness.
Amarilis closes her eyes for a moment, knowing she could not trust them to find their attackers.
Her sharp ears are able to detect the location of the creature, just in time for her to charge in its direction.
"Gotcha!"
Fly
Mythic Heroism
Greater Rage
Charge
Power Attack
AC 28
HP 355 (+60 Rage, +20 Heroism)
Fort +28, Refl +23, Will +23; +10 vs spells and SLA
immune to shaken and frightened
DR 6/-
Speed Fly 60 ft.
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In a flash, Cha'Tima looses six arrows, dropping two of the creatures in their tracks, and badly wounding a third. In the same instant, Amarilis charges another, bringing it low before it can move.
The remaining peryton, seeing it's fellows fall, gives a hideous, ear-splitting screech and charges at Warlord, its horns slashing only empty air.
Cathryn searches the area around to figure out where the nearby creature that just shrieked is at.
Cathryn moves towards the location of the creature.
Mythic Heorism
Golden General's Attitude
Mass Fly
Rowan will step back and unleash a flurry of slingstones on the peryton while shouting out encouragement and instructions to the group.
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Warlord's attacks strike with unerring accuracy, eliminating the threat before it can so much as react. The way into the palace now stands unopposed. Entries can be seen on each of the four smaller towers. Each is connected by a stairway to the main tower, which puts each of the smaller towers about 90 feet below the level of the corresponding doors on the main tower. The stairways to the outside towers climb upward to the main tower at a 45-degree angle. A quick survey of the area indicates a pair of great bronze double doors at ground level entering from the south.
Doppel makes for the double doors on the south, apparently intent on storming the castle directly now that the sentries had been disposed of.
Figuring there's no way to stop him anyway, Tima shrugs and follows, checking the doors for threats.
Cathryn begins to talk "Maybe we shouldn't...
Realizing Doppel and Tima have started to move already. She grumbles to herself a little before following after them.
"Really? We are just going to go in through the front? Now look, I consider myself an honorable fighter but there's a difference between honor and, well..."
She cuts herself off.
Doppel responds with a grunt and a few pointed words:
"Take yourself, then, and skulk through the halls to your hearts content. Leave the glory for me."
Amarilis sighs and follows.
"Now I remember why I decided not to work with him again... too much power for too little brains... it is like a goblin holding Elmister's staff..."
Cathryn begins to talk "Maybe we shouldn't...
Realizing Doppel and Tima have started to move already. She grumbles to herself a little before following after them.
"Really? We are just going to go in through the front? Now look, I consider myself an honorable fighter but there's a difference between honor and, well..."
She cuts herself off.
"If you think about it, this probably isn't any more or less dangerous. Only guarding the front door is a rookie mistake. It's very possible that those defenses are even MORE dangerous, since it's expected that invaders would hace a natural aversion to the front entrance."
"It seems that Doppel and Tima have an idea. Let's run with it and see where it takes us."
"Doors are trapped. Something electrical. Magic, I can't fix it."
"Anybody have a way to remove it, or should we try to set it off from a distance?"
"I could phase through the door and see if there's a shut-off on the opposite side, or try to Dispel it. I can only do the dispelling thing a few times though."
"I can Dispel Magic at will with my sword. Might be best to stand back though in case something happens when we try."
"On it. Come on, Doppel."
Tima backs off, and fades into the Ethereal again.
"Best blast protection I know of, don't even be on the same plane of existence as the trouble."
Cathryn will wait for everyone to back up, before backing up herself to about 300 feet . She then holds Sacred Avenger out, using it to cast Mythic Greater Dispel Magic, targeted at the door.
"Someone want to check the door? I'm no good at actually picking up on magical auras."