Turning and smiling at Albin's comment, Ivar nods his head. "I do not doubt it."
Once inside the courtyard he quickly notices the footprints were focused to the southeast and northwest corner. Commenting, "Whoever is or vas here traveled on foot."
Nodding in agreement with Nempura's assessment, Ivar adds, "Even vit out 'cover dey vill be ok. Ve can bring dem in der courtyard und shut de gate. Dat vill keep dem from bolting off into der voods." He gestures towards he building on his right. "Ve just need to make sure no vone in one building, steals dem vile ve are in der other."
While they inspect the northeast corner, Ivar asks the others. "Vhat do you tink of der idea, det after ve bring der animals into der courtyard to ask Albin und Findal to vatch dem to make sure no attempts to flee vit our animals?"
"That seems reasonable."
"Yeah, let's do it while this rain lasts. If we move about outside under clear skies with the moon out, someone may see us."
Albin smiles at Nepura’s questions; “Yes, there is much more to this complex. The stones you see here that make up the walls is the same stone that the halls below are carved from.” pointing to the two story structure; “I have been in the first level of that structure. It goes deeper, and it contains the undisturbed hidden vault that that dagger.” He points to who currently has the silver dagger; “came from.”
As dilapidated as the doors looked from afar, they are in working order. With a quick glance, it appears that someone has taken the time to fix the hinges. In the courtyard and looking over the area that might have once been the stable area you see that there is not a lot of protection from the elements there. The wind is cut down and shutting the gates will keep wildlife out, but the rain still will fall on the group.
Ivar brings up the idea having Albin and Findal guard the wagon and horses as if they aren’t standing there with the group; “As long as the rain doesn’t pick up too much, the canvas top should keep us dry.” Findal pipes in; “I’ll have my magics and Albin has his blade. Though I do wish we had a way to communicate with one another while you’re off exploring.”
"I know this situation isn't ideal. If we can find a room where we can bring the horses and all of us into it, we can leave the cart. If we can use that room as a stable, even if it isn't designed as one, we'll do so and hopefully be safer. Just give us a bit of time to scout about and then we'll return before long. Hopefully, we find someplace safe to bed down for the night for all of us. Don't do anything heroic."
Once the cart is parked and their two companions are set to protect the wagon, she'll gesture to the tower for the others to join her. Quietly, she will approach the door and observe for traps and other hazards. Her bow is in her hand.
As the party continues their discussion about what to do next, Albin leads his horse, Pepper, away from the party towards the caravan that is just finishing the load up. He begins talking to the driver of the third caravan, when an old gnome man exits through his sliding door behind the driver. The three of them strike up a conversation.
Smiling and nodding as Arren says the idea seemed reasonable, Seamus listens as Nempura, Albin and Findak discuss the idea. Looking towards the two story structure. When the conversation seemed to wain, Ivar wondered if the larger building had a basement. Pointed towards the larger structure he asked Albin, "Did you enter der building proper?"
Having decided to leave the animals in the courtyard, Ivar approached the keeps double doors. Closing them and using the nearby board to block them shut, returning to the wagon. Walking the horses backwards he moved the wagon between the wall and the south side of the western building. Then unhitching the horses, he put the leather harness in the wooden box on the side of the wagon. Letting the horses go free in the enclosed court yard. Pointing at the other animals as he walked towards the building Nempura was inspecting, "You all may vant to remove der saddles and bridals und put dem under der vagon. Der saddles vill get moldy in der rain und der bridles will gag der horses if de get too much grass in der mouths."
Wiping the rain from his brow with his arm, he grasped his bardiche in both hands. As the others gathered near he nodded to Nempura, "Ready ven you are."
"We'll do that when we are ready to bring them inside. We may need to make a hasty exit," she answers regarding the saddles. Being in the rain more than they've been for a few more minutes won't hurt them; especially if they can find somewhere dry to stay.
The party approaches the tower door – A closed iron-bound door pierces the tower’s wall. The door’s sturdy wood bears signs of assault-it is pitted and splintered and scorch marks mar its bottom portion.
You also notice a few more things. From the front rampart wall, you see another shut door that goes into what you can assume is the tower’s second floor.
On the ground you see broken stone that has blood on them. You realize that you could peace them together and they would be large 50-pound chunks of stone that have been dropped from above.
One final thing Nempura notices as she draws near to the door is muffled conversation happening behind the door. You aren’t exactly sure what is being said through the door and the rain, but you believe that you can hear two different voices. Because of the muffled phrasing, you assume that they are speaking common.
When Robin returns, Merion has the bird sit on his shoulder, but warns him to fly away if there is any danger.
He has his rapier drawn and is trying to look like he knows what he's doing, glancing over to Ewan periodically as he moves along at Nempura's shoulder.
As they approach the door, he looks to the bard for guidance, whispering I don't think anyone's here. Just to be safe... He makes a complex gesture with his hand and adds under his breath Tejumere, concentrating on the tower, then shifting focus to the broken stones.
Merion cast Detect Magic and scans the area around the tower and the broken stones. Outside of any magic radiating off of those in the party, you detect no magic. If there was magic here at one time, it is long gone.
"Wrong Merion. I hear voices through there...," she whispers. Concerning rushing in, she gets more serious. "We have to be quick. You all know what those brigands look like, I don't. I need you to identify them as fast as I open this door. If they are the wanted criminals, don't hesitate to attack. If not, we can parlay."
With that, when ready, she will open the door for their melee group. Arren can get the other door of the tower (if it's a double door).
Dependent on what they see and the confirmation of Ivar and the others, she will attack.
Nempura approaches the single door that leads into the tower and gives the door a firm kick to quickly open the doors for Ivar and party to rush in. But her foot is quickly stopped as the door doesn’t budge. You hear the raddle of a bar that crosses the back of the door.
In this moment, those who are close by, you can hear the muffled conversation on the other side stop followed by an audibly loud thud coming from within. Even those who are at the back of the pack can hear this.
"Wait." Helgar whispered, trying to keep her voice brave. "Let me pray first. Nempura, let me touch your bow..."
She traced runes across it's surface, causing the weapon to shimmer and transform into that which it could have been. The true potential of the weapon came out, leaving it with the exact perfect weight and balance, as if though it had been made by a master craftsman.
Nempura doesn't waste time and quickly runs back to the stairwell they passed leading up to the second level . She will ready her bow there for anyone who would come out.
"Try this upper door," she requests of her party.
Casting ghost sound.
A whispering wind sighs across the courtyard, but it doesn't disturb the grass. The sound of 8(ish) armored individuals fills the area, weapons scraping. Yells, shouts, orders, but nothing quite understandable. More the impression of a small army, rather than a true auditory illusion of one.
"I'm afraid you've been surrounded. Please come out quietly, and we won't hurt you. We'd like to talk, but we will use force if we have to."
Robin, fly up and see if people run out of the building.
Merion examines the doorway, looking to see if there is enough of a gap to raise the bar from this side. He is also listening to see if that thud was the people in the room leaving from the other side.
If there is, he will stick a dagger into the gap and try to pry the bar up. If not, he'll back up and say to Arren, I think they ran away. Let's look for another exit on the other side.
Watching Nempura seem to hold her breath as Helgar prayed over her bow, Ivar focused on the door, ready for Nempura to kick it open. Instead of the door swinging open and the chaos of combat being release on the inhabitants the door refused to open. Instead as Nempura's foot thudded against the door, the soft sound of the occupants doing something was heard.
Chaos of another sort exploded around him. Nempura bolted for the steps and the second-floor door. Merion's bird took flight as Merion drew his dagger, simultaneously Arren spoke softly and drew a a bit of wool from her pocket. As the sound of more soldiers filled the air, Merion tried to jamb his dagger through the door and Arren spoke to the occupants. Ivar looked at Ewan the Everlasting. "You've got dis, ya."
Grasping his bardiche in both hands, he followed Nempura up the narrow stony stairs. Moving past the bard, he nears the tower, hoping to find a door to open.
Nempura approaches the single door that leads into the tower and gives the door a firm kick to quickly open the doors for Ivar and party to rush in....
You all look over the structure as things are happening. Because it is raining and dark outside, you can notice a few things. First, you notice the arrow slit windows. You see torches moving around from within. Second, you see that the stone walls are solid construction but the uneven surface does provide spots that look like they could be used as handholds and footholds.
Findal moves into the driver’s seat of the wagon, gaining cover from the rain but also is “out of sight, out of mind” from those who might be within the tower. Albin draws his blade, but also works to round up the horses in case there is a need to quickly flee. Ewan draws his rapier and moves to backup Merion as he examines the door more, but also be a bladed presence as Arren cast her spell.
Merion can’t really tell what he is hearing within. He has been around fortified structures enough to know that the walls and doors are thick and can distort what you can hear.
Merion/Ewan/Arren/Helgar hear a shout from the door; “You don’t sound like no goblins. Who be out there and what is your business? You might have us surrounded, but we have the higher ground.”
Initiative: Round 2
The Party
The Other Guys
Hustling after Nempura up the narrow stony stairs. Moving past the bard, he nears the tower. Shifting his bardiche into his left hand, he reaches out to the reinforces door, and attempts to turn the latch.
Merion falls back from the door and says softly to Arren and Ewan They're still behind the door here. If it sounds like Ivar and Nempura made it down there, I'm going to try and raise the bar on the door. Unless you have a better idea?
He rolls his hand in a circle about his chest, muttering Skydas.
Then he looks around for Helgar, then quietly approaches the door from the side, looking back at the others for some sort of guidance.
Nempura would laugh if after having the bottom door barred, the top door is unlocked. She looks up to the tower and sees the handholds. Her mind surges back to the valiant climbing of the ropes on the ship. Could she master it again?
Ivar tries the handle to the door on the second floor. It opens… it reveals a plain unassuming chamber that has eight bunk beds within. You also see four men rushing around that seem surprised as the door opens; “Get them!” one of the men shouts from the back.
Nempura looks up at the arrow slits, she thinks that she could possibly squeeze through them but that was before this door opened easily.
Initiative: Round 2
The Party
The Other Guys
Helgar approached the door with Ivar, hammer and shield at the ready. As the door opened she took a defensive stance and yelled ”Brigands! Surrender now and nobody has to get hurt.”
Merion is listening for sounds of conflict--does he hear what's going on upstairs? And does Robin see anyone leaving the building on the other side?
"Goblins? No my friends. We are people, travelers if you will, seeking fame and fortune. We have no quarrel with you, lest you bring it on yourself. Shall we discuss this like civilized folk, or shall we keep posturing until one of us breaks this stalemate?"
No perception rolls needed. Those who are on the ground floor can easily see to the top of the rampart and the door opens and the shout from within.
Ewan move closer to the door on the ground floor and takes a total defense stance next to Merion, “We can’t all fit up there, but we can’t leave this door unattended and have them surround us. I can stay here for a presence if you want to join those up top.” he says looking at Merion/Helgar/Arren
Within the second story of this tower you see the two closes to you are clad in studded leather armor and have drawn their morning stars. Both attack out at Ivar. Both attacks miss with one hitting the doorframe with his mace.
There is an older man standing in the middle of the room, clad in dirty studded leather armor, this disheveled human has a distinctly unsavory look about him. He aims a crossbow at Ivar and lets the bolt fly, and it critically strikes Ivar square in the chest. The man in the corner also levels his crossbow towards Ivar but the bolt flies wide. The two of them reload.
Those on the ground floor see a bolt sink into the mud besides them as they see someone has taken ground in the arrow slit above their door.
Initiative: Round 3
The Party
The Other Guys
Nempura doesn't hesitate once they swing at Ivar. She lets loose an arrow into the one visible to her.
Again, she shoots at him.
Hearing the man in the back yell 'get them' Ivar grasps his bardiche in both hands. Thrusting the weapon at the man moving up on the right, who hadn't been as careful as the man on the left. Having focused on the men in the doorways flailing maces, Ivar failed to watch the man in the back with he crossbow. Paying the price as a quarrel hit him; piercing his breastplate and burying itself in his upper chest near his shoulder. Beginning to rage, he Steps back focusing on the man with the mace in the doorway and chops at him with the bardiche.
Calling to those below, "Be ware! Four armed brigands, two vit Maces two vit Crossbows."
Rushing to Ivar’s side, Helgar chanted the words of reforging, to close the gaping wound left by the crossbow bolt. While she couldn’t heal it completely, she at least fixed the worst of it.
They're shooting at us! Maybe we can take them from this side. Merion winces looking at the bolt, and reaches in with a dagger to try and work the bar up off the bracket on the other side of the door.
If that works, he'll push the door open. If not, he'll say I can't get it! Should I go help the others?
Ivar’s first attack doesn’t cause the man to fall, but it was a grievous wound. His second attack on the same guy causes him to fall and you can notice that he is no longer breathing.
Nempura loosens a few arrows, both of which fly wide.
Merion tries to disable the bar lock, but is unable to do so.
Ivar, Nempura, and Helgar then notices the door slam shut and the sound of something sliding behind the door. You could easily assume that it is the door bar.
With a loud crash, two stones smash into the ground besides Ivar and Merion. Looking up into the cloudy sky, rain falling into your eyes, to see two torches from above being held by two figures on the roof and a third figure between them. A female voice speaks out from above.
“Now that I have your attention… why don't you stop… whatever it is that you think you are doing. Look around you.” she pauses; “By now I have archers in every window, the doors are reinforced and IF you get through them my men are ready.” taking a quick glance you do notice the reflection of light shining off of bolt heads that are aiming from the arrow slits.
“I will give you three options. First, continue your attack and I will unleash the full force of my company and you will be filled with bolts and crushed with boulders before you break down my doors. Second, run away. Go back to where you came from and tell who ever it is that sent you, that I will not be stopped. Your third option is to form a brief alliance.” she pauses; “Go and clear out the house and the depths below, keep whatever you’d like and leave the structure for me. Those are your options…”
You are unable to see her, but you assume from the way she is speaking that this is Firean Maiethil
Initiative: Round 4
The Party
The Other Guys
Smiling a wolfish grin Ivar watches the man in the doorway drop. Seeing the body being dragged out of the way, he reacts too slowly to thrust his weapon in the doorjamb. Enraged, he ignores the speaker, planting his feet wide, he lifts the bardiche high and starts chopping at the very strong door.
Interactive Map
Overview Map of Shadowed Keep
With Ivar’s attack on the door the woman at the top says; “Have it your way”
Initiative: Round 4
The Party
The Other Guys
Nempura readies a shot for (purple) since (green) can't see her from where he stands. If someone pops up into that arrow slot, she will loose.
Arren stays at the door, covering if the enemies come out the bottom of the tower. She readies an action to cast ray of enfeeblement on anyone who comes out, and draws her crossbow, letting it hang loosely in her other hand.
Having reached Ivar, Helgar went about repairing his wounds. ”Gods, we’re really doing this. So what’s the plan? We can’t just charge in or they’ll fill us with bolts.”
Nempura will switch spots with Helgar so that she could heal Ivar, seeing that she was holding a spell.
"We rush in, focused on dodging, not attacking. Get right up next to them, then they will have to reload or drop their weapons as we close in."
For those on the rampart, you hear sinking thunk of Ivar’s attack against the door. He pulls his bardiche free, but you see that he was able to cut into the door. You also hear from within; “reinforce the door!” the voice sounds like the man who called out Get them! earlier.
Nempura doesn’t see a person in the arrow slits, but she sees that reflection of light off the bolt head sticking through. Loosening her arrow, it hits off of the stone that makes up the small defensive windows.
Findal jumps down from the wagon and begins moving forward; “If we are going to last in this stand, we need to do something about what is coming from above.” Gripping his walking cane, Findal mutters a few arcane words that cause his cane to glow. A fog begins to appear covering the third floor and the roof of this tower; “It won’t last long, make it quick!” you can see that the wind with the rain is causing the fog to slowly blow away.
Albin moved down 30 feet and draws his bow and loosens an arrow at one of the arrow slit windows. But breaks at it hits the stone.
Ewan moves up and begins to aid Merion; “Let’s try to break through!” His rapier appears to do damage, but it looks as if it will take him longer than the time allows.
In almost unison, you hear the clicking sound of the releasing of cross bows, they fly through the fog and even from the two windows on the 2nd floor that can see you. Bolts sink into the mud around the feet of those on the first floor and shatter as they hit the stone of the rampart of those on it. Two bolts do fly from the windows on the second floor, each one returning fire on Nempur and Albin. The shot on Nempura misses, but the shot on Albin hits
Also from above two more stones fly through the fog landing around where the doors are. One misses Ivar and breaks apart, the second falls and strikes Merion on the shoulder.
Initiative: Round 5
The Party
The Other Guys
Screaming in rage, Ivar ignores the rocks and crossbow quarrels, jerking the blade loose from the door, he chops with the bardiche again.
"Thanks, Findal, but you and Albin stay with the wagon. We'll handle this," she chides as she sees Albin get injured again. It's almost as if he doesn't wish to enjoy his retirement with how foolish he keeps charging into battle despite her having been trying to protect him since meeting him.
"You all, be prepared to dodge."
Merion looks over at Ewan. I don't like being shot at where I can't get at them. He looks around for any sort of cover from the projectiles firing from above. Should we at least make for the stairs?
Falling back that way, he whispers to Ewan and Arren, I can make it look like we've left, or have a dragon, or something. Maybe we can lure them out?
"Aye. This is a choke point we are in, and they have the ranged advantage. We either need another way in, lure them out, or siege them out. They can't stay inside forever."
"We'll get them out!" she gestures to Ivar in response to Helgar. "Be ready to charge in."
Ivar’s second attack leaves the door’s iron bands beginning to break free from the wood. You can see the torchlight from within through the breaking door.
Nempura hunkers down in full defense
Albin moves up on the ground floor and fires an arrow at the window slit but misses, Findal double moves up close besides Albin.
Initiative: Round 5
The Party
The Other Guys
Focused on the door, Ivar barely notices that there were fewer rocks or arrows. Jerking the blade loose from the door again, he lifts the bardiche high and continues chopping.
Helgar followed behind, doing her best to keep the group’s best Warrior on his feet.