Lyraesel races across the distance, slashing low to hamstring one of the lizards
Turn order: winsome, Aiko, Aidrian, lyraesal, Kelda, Zaraleva, Lizard men, Byron
Zaraleva sends a bolt through the door, that catches the one in the back. They both turn and hiss from the behind of the table. Adrian seizes the moment and despite feeling any moment he may retch he runs in and lands a flying kick hearing a loud crunch.
Luraesal then races in and like a predator catches the creature mid air and stabs it with the sickle quickly killing it with a gasping breath. Dropping its corpse the last one growls angrily still looking to fight.
Kelda comes running in and goes behind the creature slashing at it, but it’s ready now and deflects the blade with its razor sharp claws.
left to go this round- Winsome, Aiko, Lizard men, Byron
Winsome shoots another arcane bolt at the nearest enemy.
Aiko moves swiftly through the door, somehow breathing through her mouth to avoid the horrid stench. She lashes out with her naginata at the remaining troglodyte.
WHOOSH
Winsome’s arcane bolt is to singed the creature as he angles a shot through the door while Aiko moves up and slashes it, caught off guard by her quick movements.
The quick cut is heard as it cleaves the air harmonically before the troglodyte even realizes it’s dead it’s decapitated.
With that you see no more enemies in the room, there’s no immediate sounds of anything changing elsewhere in the castle, the thick stone walls muffling the sound of the fight. Looking about you see the table has old documents still on it, ruined decorative armor, and a shed on one of the walls holds more paper materials on it.
Looking around you do not find anything of value monetarily but you find documents and maps of the town. Some of it is legible and still in tact. From the documents, maps, and troop lists that date back to the night Brinewall was attacked what little can be discerned using them is that the guards believed that the citizens of the village below were rioting, and that several of the buildings had caught on fire. They were preparing to mount an expedition to investigate and bring order, but there is no indication of their success or failure.
The fight ended rather quickly, which was good for them. But it didn't seem that there was much of anything of use for them. The least he could do was peer through the papers to see what they say.
"Just papers, maps.." Lyraesel says, handing over the documents she finds to one of the others with minimal interest.
"These papers seem to indicate riots started in town. I wonder what set the people off. Since there is no notes after that. Maybe the people in the castle got caught by whatever set off the people in the town as well." Byron says as he reads through the papers.
"Townsfolk sieging a castle? Seems unlikely."
- Zaraleva, expert in nothing.
"They didn't seige the castle. It looks like those in the castle went out to stop whatever was happening in town. After that the writing stops." Byron says as he sets the paper he was looking at down and then says, "The maps are probably worth taking when we leave. It might be helpful as we navigate further north.
Aiko looks over the notes and says, "Bad intel. They thought it was a riot but... I bet it was the creatures that live here now."
"Hmm...invasion." Lyraesel mutters, ready to move on.
"That does remind me," Adrian grimaced. "We still don't know what these people want with the castle as well as what it may have to do with Ameiko. They're putting out a lot of effort just to take over a single castle."
"It might have nothing directly to do with Ameiko. I do not think we have seen anything indicating they are targeting her yet. If you had the power to take over a castle and control an area then why wouldn't you? Whatever they did to help disable the defenders might be affecting her as well. Although, I am not sure why it would not also affect the rest of us." Byron says.
Opening the door door to the north you see within several ruined beds lie in various states of disrepair in this room, their moldy mattresses piled into a filthy heap against the northern wall. Inside the room you see two creatures sleeping on the set of mattresses to the North and have not seemingly woken up yet.
Lyraesel creeps closer, weapon in hand as she studies the sleeping figures, looking to her companions for a signal, confirming whether to take out the sleepers quietly or not.
A sneaking maneuver wasn't desirable, but there wasn't much of a choice in that regard. He decides to stay back and give Lyraesel the nod to take out the sleeping folks.
Zaraleva doesn't like the killing of the sleeping creatures, but it would have come to combat anyway and then their inevitable deaths, so she holds perfectly still and says a silent prayer for their souls.
With a nod, the druid swiftly and silently brings Ironfang tearing across one of the sleepers' throat.
Byron will move to the other and try to kill it at the same time.
You both are able to sneak up and get close to both of them. Lyraesal you recognize these creatures as Troglodytes, tribal creatures who once were mighty but now scratch out a rough life no longer able to match their ancient ancestors. Their stench coming from pheromones they emit.
Without much of a sound they both are dead before they even have a chance to open their eyes. Their blood begins to pool as you are now alone in the room, and you all are free to do what you want.
"Move on?" Lyraesel asks, wiping the blood from her weapon off on one of the mattresses.
Search the room first and then up the stairs?
Z starts poking around, holding her breath as much as possible.
"I guess so." Adrian is bothered by the sneak attack, but sighs those complaints away as he searches the place for anything interesting.
Byron searches around for any more signs of what happened in the castle.
Z will also listen at the door to the throne room, expecting that to be where the evil overlord is encamped.
Searching the room you find that there is a secret door here, but other than that the room itself hold little in the way of information. You do find within the mattresses a gown with inlaid peals worth some 450 gold, due to its relatively clean and I damaged condition.
Zaraleva listening at the secret door you hear sounds beyond but it’s impossible to discern what they are.
Noticing Zaraleva paying attention to the door, Lyraesel moves to listen as well, before crouching to sniff at the bottom of the door, trying to catch a scent of what might lie beyond.
Adrian slowly walked his way towards Lyraesel to whisper in her ear. "Is there someone on the other side?"
Byron checks for traps on the secret door.
You find no traps, as for listening it’s hard to say it sounds like almost laughing. However your sense of smell is good enough to pick up a couple scents, of a similar scent to the fire corbies you faced earlier but a second scent nicer and more tamed to you. It’s hard to say but you’d recognize that’s it’s not foul like the others.
Byron will try and quietly open the door.
As you open the door you see a large chamber, inside rotting faded banners hang from the walls of this long hall, depicting a stylized castle sitting on a seaside cliff. Thick stone pillars support the ceiling, while at the far end of the hall near you, sits an old wooden throne, its back carved to resemble the towers of a castle wrapped in the coils of a serpentine dragon. On it sits a wild eyed Tian man with a bristly goatee, deep red skin, and a prodigious nose. He idly toys with a strange weapon—a combination sickle and weighted chain. 4 dire corbies not far from him in squawk and prance around seemingly imitating something paying you no mind. As you look on bryon you see the man turn and smile,
“Oh hello please be seated, my masterpiece is at an end but I’m sure we can provide another show.”
Adrian cautiously follows the slayer.
Byron will enter and say, "I did not realize that there was entertainment going on in the castle. Are you in charge of the castle?"
Winsome stays back (as long as he is not alone), watching Byron and Adrian anxiously through the door.
“Yes this is my domain. Now be seated or you’ll join the show!” he says in a shrill gleeful voice
One of the dire corbies looks over and you hear a voice echo from it yet it doesn’t speak, “Ravens in humans, look at the confusion!”
He looks expectantly at you eying the door and those behind you.
Byron shrugs and moves to have a seat, "Can you do a show on what happened to those who resided in this castle?"
Before sitting he looks at the seat to make sure nothing looks amiss.
Adrian unfortunately trips upon himself and hits the wall. He awkwardly froze in the futile hope that no one from the other wide heard that. It wasn't long for those hopes to be dashed.
Adrian shrugged as he felt more relaxed. "Alright, I was never subtle anyways. Will you at least tell us what your group's doing in this castle?"
Assuming you all come in, there are no chairs so your all forced to sit on the floor. You however are let to sit near the throne as the fire corbies go about prancing and squeaking, every couple of minutes a voice comes from the location of the corbies but it doesn’t come from them.
As the dire corbies start he smiles and starts answering your questions. “I could do a play of that but I don’t think you’d like the result. It is a bloody tale. As for the castle it is mine, claimed through the sword as apart of my service to the frozen shadows.”
He tilts his head and stares at you “I would ask you the same question. Why and how are you here?”
Having quietly entered, Lyraesel shares a glance with the others at the mention of the Frozen Shadows. Clearly the odd red man was an enemy, ian ally of the ones trying to kill Ameiko.
She remains silent, a coiled spring ready to strike when the need arises.
"We are just passing through and fate has led to our crossing paths. Who are these Frozen Shadows? You must have provided quite a service to be granted an entire castle." Byron says as he tries to keep the man talking.
The monk wasn't never going to get a good lie out of himself, so instead he sat down, not bothering to hide his discontent. "We have business to attend to here... and I guess I can say the same to you as well," he growled.
Zaraleva casts Detect Magic before entering the room. She looks at the man on the throne for the first round and the corbies on the second round.
Zaraleva, you detect magic on Kikonu, it's a blaring, almost seeringly strong magic coming off of something on him but it's hidden on his person. There is a second much less powerfull item, in his hand. A sort of chain and blade type of item. The corbies have nothing on them. [ooc] Gave you a little more since it's over two rounds I' say about 3.
"Ah many would like to know but knowledge like that doesn't come free. As for the castle, conquest often earns one many things of great value. The previous owners fell by help from me and many others, like sheep to a butcher."
He tilts his head and looks at Adrian, "What do you know of my business? I rule my kingdom of fellow strange and wonderful people. What business do you have here?"
The Monk remained just as annoyed as ever with the whole situation. "If I'm being frank, I've been having a hard time piecing together this whole trip to begin with. But every one of us would continue on for a dear friend of ours." And for some a bit more than that, he thought.
"I also know there may be some people after them, apparently to the point where others put great care to hide them until now. Now, I'm afraid of a lot of things. Yet that won't get in the way for those I care about."
He leaned forward as he placed his hands together. "Now I think we're owed an explanation as to what's going on."
Lyraesel's eyes narrow, recognizing that they are clearly in the presence of an apex predator.
Zaraleva whispers to Adrian and Byron, "Good. Keep him talking."
She keeps detecting on the leader, if a fight doesn't start. (School?)