Dahros charges off, leading the way.
After clearing out the Sculptor's rooms, you followed his exit route, ending up outside the caves in the main yard where you fought the orcs and stone horse. Looking around, you saw no sign of the fled orc. At least, not until you started to leave. On the main path out of the place, you saw Noala standing there with a smirk on her face and the orc alchemist tied up at her feet.
"Saw this one running and I thought we'd like to have him stay for a bit. Maybe answer a question or two. I take it he fled from in there?" She nodded towards the cave system you had just left.
Ykka wearily nods her head, "that he did. Squired out the back after siccing a giant ooze on us! Did he see where he came out?"
"I have no idea where he came from. He just bolted straight into one of the snares I had set. But, I bet if we ask him nicely enough, he'll tell us. Wont you, orc?"
Noala shook her burned and twisted hand in front of the orc's face and he paled.
"I'll talk. What do you want to know? The secret exit comes out behind a boulder over that way, but it's one way. It only opens from the inside."
"What exactly are you doing here? Who put you up to this? Why????"
The orc looked nervous. "Vilree. She has been bankrolling me. Letting me do what I want to try and make her the mutant animals she wants. See? I'm being cooperative. Don't kill me, please."
"Who is Vilree? Why is she bankrolling you? What was your task? Cooperation sounds a lot more talkative than you are."
Ykka tries to recall anything useful about a Vilree. She then moves over to stand before the orc, eyes narrowed and wielding her rapier, "the Sculptor, eh? We read about you capturing beasts and humans to experiment on! You're despicable! Tell us about the viridian vapor! And when are you expected at Spite's Cradle?"
"Vilree is some crazy half-elven female that wants to destroy the village. Some slight from her childhood days. She'll do anything. She's mad, I tell you! She hangs out in this cave fortress called Spite's Cradle. It's deep in the mountains. Look, I can draw you a map. I used to pick up materials from an old stump in the woods and take them to her. Is this cooperative enough?" The orc said the last with a bit of a whine.
"Oh, right, the viridian vapor. That was something Vilree cooked up. Nasty stuff. Combination plague and flesh-eating acid in one. I didn't like what it did to that human that she made us test it on. I told her I wouldn't be a part of whatever she wanted to do with that."
"Where is Spite's cradle and what should we be cautious of when we go there? I can promise you that if only some of us return because of a lack of adequate information that you will be the first person we come back to have a chat with."
The orc looked at Rick like the man was crazy. In a slow, loud voice, he said again,
Ykka hold her rapier a little closer to the orc's face, "draw us a map then." She turns to Noala, "do you have an opinion on what we should do with the Sculptor?"
Dahros listens while others talk maps and shout at each other. "Can we go now? There is entirely too much talking. Draw the map and let us be on our way."
Providing the orc with parchment and charcoal, he quickly sketched out a map showing the location of Spite's Cradle in relationship both to the area you were at now - noted as The Pen - and a clearing in the woods with an old stump. A familiar stump. A stump you were just at a few days ago.
Noala spoke "This tale greatly disturbs me. I agree that there is no way this one laboratory can be responsible for all the blights scattered about the forest, and from your story it seems like this Bort person may have been knowingly or unknowingly supplying this Vilree person with the ingredients she needed to make these horrible concoctions. It sounds to me if you want to get to the bottom of your friend's murder and stop the danger to the area, then you need to go to Spite's Cradle and confront this Vilree person."
"That's exactly what we want to do. Thanks, Noala."
Turning to the group, he says "Alright, let's get on to Spite's Cradle. I think we have a solid lead on the pudding murderer now."
"I'll take this miscreant back to town. I imagine the sheriff will want to place him in holding, and ask him some questions. By what you said about that journal, he's responsible for the murder of at least one person with that viridian stuff, and maybe an accomplice in Bort's murder as well."
"Justice for Plaguestone and Bort! Now let's get a move on before I think of more questions for the orc."
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"Before we leave, what other alchemical atrocities have you created in there? You said you did not like what that viridian vapor did to a human you tested it on. Is that blob thing we fought the result of that test?!?!? Is there more of this vapor hidden in your lab. If so it must be properly destroyed before we let you go."
"Umm, no. That blood ooze was a different experiment. Nasty in its own, way, but not that nasty. I never had any more of the viridian vapor here than Vilree gave me for that one experiment. I think she knew I'd be inclined to destroy it if she left it with me."
Rick starts walking off, clearly encouraging the group to wrap it up.
Ykka eyes the map and thanks Noala for taking the orc back, "are you planning to catch up to us?" She joins Rick.
"I think not. You lot are far more adept at this direct warfare than I, and my place is these woods, not the mountains beyond. I will take this one in for justice, then continue to patrol the woods looking for more signs of corruption. Between the corrupted glades and the animal mutations, keeping the forest and village safe is going to be a full time job. Good luck to you all!"
-------------------
Gauging from the map, you have about a 15-mile journey to get to the location of Spite's Cradle. You estimate that to be about 7 or 8 hours of walking. Since it is mid-day already, you have the choice to push on and get near the place tonight, making camp nearby and hoping to go undetected, or camp somewhere between here and there, setting out in the morning for the reconnaissance and assault.
Ykka follows the others as they locate a place to camp a couple hours away from Spite's Cradle, "we should rest so we're fresh tomorrow. Who wants first watch?"
The night passed uneventfully, and early the next morning you set out for the last leg of your trip to the place known as Spite's Cradle. The directions from the orc laboratory lead to the foothills far west of Etran’s Folly. Here, nestled in the shadow of the Five Kings Mountains, there are countless small valleys and crevasses, but the directions lead to one particular valley: a place called “Spite’s Cradle.”
Up ahead, a wooden palisade spans the valley; a gigantic double door set into its center. Beyond this wall, a guard tower is barely visible, although it’s difficult to tell whether it is occupied.
Lacking the ability to tell if it's occupied or not, Dahros leads the group towards the double doors.
Ykka takes a look around too, holding back whike Dahros runs up.
Rick follows Dahros from a few feet back.
Without thought for subterfuge, Dahros leads the others right up to the wall and the doors set in there. A clanging alarm starts up from the guard tower as an unseen figure begins hitting what sounds like the kind of steel triangles used by farms to call the workers in for meals. Surprise is definitely off the table now.
From the watchtower, an arrow sped out, striking the ground in front of Dahros. It was impossible to tell whether it was a poor shot, or merely a warning.
Ykka stops as the arrow buries itself at Dahros's feet. "Hello! We have news for the mistress!" She speaks softly to the others, "We need to try and get in to get to Vilree. Anyone see a way if we can't walk through those gates?"
Rick mumbles to Ykka, "We're bringing news from the Alchemist? Of what?"
Ykka mutters back, "I don't know! Think of something."
"How about, 'We come to smash your faces in for killing Bort?'" Dahros suggests.
No one responds to your ridiculous statement. On the other hand, no one shoots you either.
Ykka continues addressing the archer, "Are you going to invite us in?"
From the watchtower, an unseen voice called back, "Not likely!" and then the air was full of arrows. Dahros took one in the shoulder, and Ykka was hit in the leg. Skittles was clipped in the arm, but d'Log and Rick came out unscathed.
Dahros is hit for 8 damage
Ykka is hit for 11 damage
Skittles is hit for 6 damage
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Whispering d'Log tells his group woah, that wooden thing is shooting arrows at us. Guess I should have been paying better attention.
d'Log raises his voice to call out
We come with urgent news from the sculptor. His creation works and wants to take the next steps. He said to look for
He looks back to his group and smiles with that adorable toothy goblin face.
Vilree the elf, he said it was urgent and paid us half the coin and said you'd give us the other half upon arrival.
d'Log shoulders his backpack
some of that paper with those lines. He said to reed it, but it ain't no plant.
d'Log shrugs
Dahros grunts in pain, pulling the arrow out as he runs forward with Skittles towards covert while d'Log tries to negotiate.
Ykka stumbles along behind them, waving her bow above her head to ward off any more arrows.
Rick sure as shit isn't standing still in an open field waiting to get shot. He follows along hurriedly.
You rush to the gates, trying to get them between you and the arrows while you regroup. This wasn't going quite as well as it had in Dahros' mind.
Ykka begins playing a new song and everyone feels a little more protected.
You inspire your allies to protect themselves more effectively. You and all allies in the area gain a +1 status bonus to AC and saving throws, as well as resistance equal to half the spell’s level to physical damage.
"Dahros, can you break down the gate? Or should we regroup and try this approach differently... perhaps at night?"
Dahros throws his shoulder into the door, frowning "I think we need to pull out and regroup, come up with a new plan. We're going to take some serious licks if stay here like this. Retreat!"
Ykka keeps playing as she runs away with the others.
Rick makes like Brave Sir Robin.
You run away, fleeing form the flying arrows, which somehow manage to strike all around you, but not actually hitting anyone. Orcish cries of "Don't come back!" follow you around the bend in the trail, but there is no pursuit.
The fortress you know as Spite's Cradle is now well and truly alert to your attempted entry.