"I think we should try checking out Guardian's Way," Zainab replied. "She seemed like she was in a hurry to get there. If we back track to anywhere else, she might leave by then."
Olaf levers himself off the wall he was leaning against and frowns, ”Yes, catching her does seem like a priority, but that castle might have more portals to let creatures in, so that might be time sensitive as well.” thinking on it, he ventures ”Im ok with either path but I’m inclined to make sure the keep is cleared first, leave nothing at our back, so to speak.”
Looking to the others, trying to decide how he should weigh his vote, then remember the dangers the undead posed and how they nearly killed all of them, he sets his eyes with determination, "I think Voz is the greater threat right now. If we have to, we can reclear the castle of those monkey men and other monsters, but Voz's Undead plans could spell far greater doom," Looking to Zainab, "I think heading to Guardian's Way is the right idea,"
"Right. Let's pack up then, and head that way. It sounds like anyone in town can give us directions." Trista puts word to deed and starts securing her belongings for a hike into the forest.
”Olaf shrugs and prepares to go.” during preparations he takes the arcane scrolls and keeps them handy, just in case.
"And thank the gods for that," Zainab replied to Trista as she got ready to set off towards Guardian's Way.
Directions to Guardian's Way ae easy enough to get from anyone friendly in town, and unless you have other things to do in Breachill, you start off on the 6 mile walk to the old redoubt. The walk is uneventful, and you soon pass the landmarks you were told to watch for, closing in on the place.
The thick forest gives way to a meadow, where three sturdy outposts have been built in the trees. A fourth building stands on the ground in meadow's center. The meadow seems to have been man-cleared, but some time ago as small scrubby trees, bushes, and other small vegetation is growing back what was probably once cleared for field of fire.
Behind the structures, blocking egress from 3 directions, is a vine covered rocky cliff which rises up fifty feet to a barren bluff above.
Your first view of the structures is from something like 300' away, and there is no real cover between the edge of the woods and the buildings.
Walking through the meadow, Zainab spots the structure nearby. "It doesn't look like we can sneak our way through. Our best bet it to make our way in," she assessed.
Looking at the others, listening to Zainab's assessment, "Any hope of sneaking will have to come from being quiet in our approach, hope no one looks out at us. Other than that, be prepared to have to run for cover,"
He clenches his fists, looking determined at the ruins, "I am ready to find some answers already,"
Olaf chuckles softly, "Sneaking is a thing I do not do, but if someone wants to take a look quietly, I'll be ready to rush in."
"I'm reasonably quiet, but I'd hate to be caught out alone." Trista looks at the rough buildings. "They have excellent line of fire on us if we try to sneak in and are detected. Perhaps we should approach openly and parlay with them?"
"Maybe we go with walking like normal people in a sort of sneaky fashion, hope no one confronts us and if we get caught, then we try and parlay?
"Hmm... we may as well. Maybe Voz doesn't know we figured things out." With a shrug, Zainab joined the others in making their way towards the structure.
"Doesn't look like much cover, I think we just make a break for that first building and go from there, everyone ready to run?"
Olaf nods and hefts his shield, ready to go with the group and probably fight.
As you set out across the cleared ground, you can get a better look at the central platform. It appears to have a lower platform set about 20' off the ground. A rope ladder gives access to the upper platform which is another 10' above. The branches of the central tree hang low, obscuring the contents of both platforms. Rope ladders hang down from the lower platform to the ground as well. The side platforms seem to be single structure about 10' off the ground.
Once in the clearing, with not attempt at stealth, you suddenly hear the clang of an alarm bell ringing three times, and a female voice calls out. "You there! You're trespassing! Turn around now, and all will be well. Keep advancing if you want to take fire!"
Holding his arms up in mock surrender, "Woah hey, we mean you no harm, we're looking to find some shelter. We just got a little lost and there's whole pack of wolves back there hot on our tail, we don't mean to be trespassing, we are just looking for some shelter for a brief moment,"
There is a long pause, while the speaker considers what you said. "Stay where you are, then while I check with the boss." You hear talking softly with someone else, and then she rings the bell once long and one short ring, clearly a signal of some kind.
A few moments later, a voice calls out from the cabin on the ground. "Well what is it? I'm busy here, you know!" Words pass between the sentinel and the "boss" and soon a hobgoblin woman in a hooded cape wearing an eye patch over her left eye, and carrying a drawn rapier appears at the base of the central platform.
She calls out in a heavy northern accent. "I don't see or hear any volves. I feel like you are ly-ink to me, and that you do NOT vant to do, many have died for less, ja? Now be on your vay before I have my men fill you wit' arrows. An' don't come back!"
She shoos you away with a dismissive gesture, and heads back towards the cabin.
Looking around at the others, not really sure if he should keep going, sweat starting to form on his brow, stepping forward as he talks to the Hobgoblin, "Wait, I apologize for lying, I think I may know you though, I've heard stories of a rather, powerful and beautiful Hobgoblin bandit leader, you seem to fit the description. I'm not sure if you've heard of me, somewhat of an up and coming sorcerer. Names Fentus."
Talking not being his forte, Olaf stands back ready for action.
That wasn't exactly going to plan unfortunately, and she looked nervous while it was going on. She admired Fentus' audacity and decided to back it up with some talking of her own.
"We may have come off on the wrong foot right now, but we can make this right. We can at least talk things through... and it doesn't have to involve flirting either."
Fentus calls out to the hobgoblin leader trying to flatter or impress her into taking a different tack. Before she can respond, Zainab also calls out perhaps in a less bold way. The hobgoblin stops on her heel, and turns, ignoring Zainab, and focusing on Fentus.
"Flattery doesn't vork on me, pink skin. But eef ju are vhat ju say ju are, then perhaps ju can show me zee length off jour magical prowess. Maybe I haf need for a capable ally in zee Bloody Blades. Maybe you'll show me vhat you can magick, before I haf my men turn ju into zee pincushion, ya?"
Wide-eying the rest of the group, whispering "you guys ever hear of the Bloody Blades? I certainly haven't"
Turning back to, our new host, "Yes, I would love to show you some of my magic, I am sure I have several spells that would be of use to you, I almost forgot to introduce my companions," pointing to Zainab, "This is Zainab," stepping over to Olaf, pantomiming big muscles, flexing, "This is Olaf, I think of him as our muscle," finally stepping over to Trista, "And this quiet one here is Trista, she is a little bookish but knows a whole lot about a whole lot, very handy to have around,"
Whispering again, "Not trying to spill all our secrets in the introductions, lets just get in close and see what's what,"
Stepping forward a bit, "Do you need any help setting this area up? How long have you guys been here for?"
"I heard that this site was a memorial. Is that why you settled here?"
Zainab couldn't think of what else may help them, but she could at least tell to play along for now. "Yeah, if you need any assistance, we'll be happy to help," she smiled.
Olaf moves with the group, shield not quite raised but ready to go if needed.
Fetnus sometimes surprises himself, and this time is no exception. The mercenary leader continues to offer a warm welcome. "Very nice to meet all off ju. I am Dmiri Yolsheva, leader off ze Bloody Blades. Zis ees our hideout, at least for now, ja?" She motions for all of you to come closer, and if you do, she leads you under the central tree-fort, which you see has at least three well-armed fighters atop it. They stare down at your group with untrustworthy eyes, but Dmiri takes no notice.
"Come inside, ja?" she says pointing at the small cabin. She answers Trista's question. "No, ve found zis place abandoned, and it seemt easy to defend, so we took up living here. No one disturbed us until just recently, ja? And then, it vorked out vell for us too. Now you are here. Vhy are ju really here, eh?"
She holds the door oepn for you to enter the small cabin, if you agree.
"Oh, have you been disturbed lately? We're actually seeking a fugitive that we think may have passed this way." Trista doesn't see the point in lying to her, since she has welcomed them in.
Stepping inside as well, following Trista's lead, "She wouldn't pose much threat to you, I'm sure. Have you seen anyone else come around this way recently?"
Olaf smiles and grunts in the right places to seem friendly enough, but remains ready to kill everyone in sight.
Likely no different than most of the other mercenaries.
Dmiri chuckles mostly to herself, but is a bit disarming. "Vell, ju see, zhat poses a bit off deefficulty for me, ja? Zee Bloody Blades haf already taken payment from another party to protect zhem. It woudl not do for our bant to break faith, would it? Unless another group vas, perhaps, payink more?"
She blinks her eyes, belying innocence, when she is playing both sides of this game.
Zainab maintained her cheery attitude to at least keep up appearances. "I think we can reach an agreement both of us can be happy with," Zainab replies cordially.
Zainab has a little training in the courtly graces, and the right things to say and do in polite company, but nothing in her upbringing or religious training taught her how to haggle with mercenary bandit hobgoblins. She is unsure where to start the negotiations even.
Raising his eyebrows in surprise, looking around for a place to sit, "Ahh, I see, of course I would never ask you to break faith, unless it was that your other client has been dealing in bad faith with you this whole time," Looking at the others before continuing, "Please, tell me what do you know of your client, I wonder if they are the same as the one we are looking for? If they are, I might have some important information for you that could save you your lives,"
She in fact did not know much of what to do. So instead, she sat back and let Fentus do the talking, who seemed to have a better handle of things anyways.
Olaf keeps a keen eye on the mercenary group as his companions talk, eventually squinting a bit at their kit, and recalling a few bit of information.
At a break in the conversation he leans to the group and mutters, lowly "Beware I've heard of the Bloody Blades before. They are a regional small-time mercenary band known for taking part in highway-robbery and other disreputable endeavors. I think there are rewards for their capture, dead or alive, back in Isger's capital Elidir."
"She paid us for protection, not deescretion," says Dmiri with an evil little smile. "Our employer is a half-elv woman, ja? Her name vas Loz or Roz or somethink like it, not eemportant. Ve can say dat much but ve vill not tell ju vhere she ees now. Not vithout coins on zee table!"
It seems clear you could buy this information if wish, but not sure of the price or accuracy.
Nodding, along with Dmiri, "Dmiri, Boss, I worry you've been deceived, this Voz, is a terrible necromancer and has planned to raise an undead army, I doubt she will stop with you. If anything, and I'm afraid to say it, she may raise you first only to get her money back. Then she has her money and her minions, no offense." Looking at Trista and the others, "We are a little light on money right now, but have a few magical items we could probably trade with you, that is, if you don't want to help us catch Voz before she raises more undead and comes for us all,"
Olaf winces a bit both at the notion of paying this lot, and of mentioning that they had spare magic items just laying around.
More likely than not they just try to rob us.. he thinks as he eyes the mercenaries, but stays silent, backing their diplomatic play.
It seems like whatever Fentus is selling, Dmiri, at least for now, is buying. She scowls when Fentus explains how Voz is likely to double-cross the Broken Blades.
"Ju really tink she vould do dis to me? To us? I haf half a mindt to run my blade through her black heart right now, ja? Vhat do you haf to trade vith us, eh? Ve may take zee deal and let zee chips fallink vhewer zhey may."
She is open to offers to sell out Voz, so choose wisely.
Taking out the doubling rings and the bracers of missile defense, "I have two fine items here, both I think would benefit you in your unique situation. This set of rings here are known as Doubling Rings. They aid greatly in your martial prowess and they also magically allow your sword blows to hit what feels like twice as hard. You will be dispatching any and all enemies twice as fast wearing these." Setting the two rings down together on the table in front of her.
"This second item, known as Bracers of Missile Deflection. Sounds pretty amazing, I know. Imagine never having to worry about a pesky assassin shooting you from the trees, these babies, made from fine mithril help ensure that any arrow or bolt helps get deflected before ever touching you," He then sets the Bracer's down on the table next to the Doubling Rings.
"As I said, boss, we are a little light on gold, but I'm sure these two fine items would benefit not only you greatly, but your operation as a whole."
Looking to the boss, then to Olaf standing nearby, then the others.