Jakardros, in addition to having several fur cloaks, can provide the party with a general route to the top of the Hook. Horses will have a difficulty with the extremely steep incline to the top of the Hook.
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Jarkardros will ask the party if they had any luck finding Commander Bayden in the Shimmerglens. The party will then relay what happened at Turtleback Ferry and then the events at the Skull Crossing dam. Jakardros will seem very concerned for Turtleback Ferry. "Can you go and check on the town? Turtleback Ferry is vital to the continued survival of this fort."
Jarkardros comes out to meet the caravan, "Thank goodness! We are in need of relief."
Jakardros will look at Brandark, "The hunting is good in these parts. We should be able to maintain a stock of food. But other things, like stocks of arrows, will need to be resupplied. Though I have already started making more arrows, my skill is limited. It could be weeks before we can expect a resupply. We need reinforcements. Can you stay here until we receive reinforcements? We need every available person."
"Our supplies are limited. The Kreegs destroyed most of it." Jakardros repsonds to Stone's inquiry.
"The Gnomes and I will guard the Fort. Go quickly. I fear the worst." The stoic Ranger shows uncharacteristic concern.
After Jakardros and Flynn return from setting up the warning post, and tending to Vale's burial, he hears Stone's comments. "It has been only four days since the fort fell, but that is still a longer period of time than what was typical for Commander Bayden's "communion walks." I fear that something has happened to him," the tough Ranger begins to fidget a bit. "We should rest the night though. You have had a tough day." Jakardros works with the Gnomes to set up watches for the night. A winter chill begins to mingle with the heavy rains outside. The raw chill can be felt throughout the fort. Jakardros comes back to clean up the kitchen area and get a fire started. "We can camp in here for the night. It is the warmest place in the fort. " The party spends the rest of the day helping to clean and clear out the dead. Day Seventy-Three
"Thank you for your help. According to the letters, he was visiting a location at the heart of the Shimmerglens called Whitewillow. He may still be there. Someone should go and check it out. We need to know what happened to Commander Bayden." He takes a deep breath. "Turtleback Ferry is on the way back. We need supplies and maybe a hand or two. I will begin to work on restoring the fort. I am the only one now familiar with all the rooms and passages."
"I have an idea." Jakardros walks through the rooms. "This was their clan mother," he refers to Dorella. "And this was their chief," referring to Jaagrath. Jakardros takes his sword and cuts off their heads. He then takes two of their javelins and grabs the heads by its hair. He looks at Flynn, "Care to accompany me? I am going to place these heads up at the top of the ridge. You defeated their chieftain and clan mother. They may think twice about returning anytime soon."
"Unfortunately, most of the supplies have been lost. We used to stock barrels of vinegar for just the purpose you mention. We need to get supplies from Turtleback Ferry. We also need more recruits. And then there is the matter of Commander Bayden. Not to mention, the twenty or so Ogres that fled the compound." Jakardros stops, "The Gnomes are holding the horses, we need to give them the all clear and bring them into the Fort area."
Jakardros will look over the letters, "These are in Lamatar Bayden's handwriting." He keeps reading. "I had no idea. Commander Bayden would take leave from the fort for two or three days at a time. He would call it his "communion walks." No one questioned it. Most of us took two or three days a month for a bit of rest. But apparently, Commander Bayden had a lover in the Shimmerglens." Jakardros will ponder that some, "Odd place. The night the Fort fell to the Ogres, Commander Bayden was out on one of his "communion walks." I wonder if he is still at this "Whitewillow" place?"
"Vale was a friend. Good fighter too. I would appreciate your help." Jakardros ponders for a moment then looks at Flynn, "Myrianna and Whitewillow, what are they?" The ranger looks puzzled.
As the party begins to clean up the mess, they are soon joined by Jakardos, Shalelu, and a familiar Gnome, Bastarge. Jakardos looks at the party, "The remaining Ogres on the walls and in the compound have fled through the tunnels in the mountains. It looked like they were in a hurry too. We figured you were successful. Your friend here..." he points to Bastarge. "...brought some friends. They were concerned about the Ogres too." But Jakardos goes silent when he sees Vale's body.
"It is not wise to be by yourself. I will guard with you," Jakardos looks at Shalelu. "Vale and Kaven lead the party to the waterfall. The rain and overcast skies should help. Go when the sky if fully dark. " It is obvious that Jakardos is used to leading.
Jakardros leads the party through a series of animal trails toward Fort Rannick. By mid-day, the Black Arrow stops at a point not far from the Fort, and toward the south side. "We would have to cross an open field, then wade through the pond to get to the waterfall. There are Ogres in the towers on watch. Any ideas?" Jakardros looks at the party.
"Great! So, what's the plan?
GM Screen:
Day Seventy Exhausted the party gets a good night's sleep, even through a persistent rain. Jakardos looks at the party, "Thank you for our rescue. Indeed you did good work. A great blight on the land has been removed. But there is another even greater. The Kreegs are a family of Ogres that have become powerful and aggressive. They recently took Fort Rannick from us. They had to have help." Jakardos almost breaks down with grief when thinking of the loss of the Fort, and more importantly his comrades. But Jakardos regains his composure. He rummages through his recovered backpack, "Good. They are still there." He pulls out a leather case. Inside are charcoal sticks and sheets of vellum. He does a quick draft of Fort Rannick.
"The Kreegs are more formidable than the Grauls. But they are not the brightest of sorts. I think we can retake the Fort. But we need a plan. Are you with me?"
Jakardos looks at Elektra and the party, "You know this tattoo? Later he says more about the now sunken gambling establishment, "I never frequented the Paradise. But, many of the Black Arrows visited the barge during leave. It is rare to have such a distraction away from the city. Too bad it burned and sank. But it makes no difference now. Turtleback Ferry and the whole region will now be at the mercy of the Kreegs."
Jakardos will be appreciative of clothing. The clothes are big on the more average sized human, "The Kreegs are a brutal family of Ogres that have terrorized this region for decades. We have been keeping them in check. But they knew when to hit us." When Flynn makes the comment about the name Mammy. "I have never seen her. But from what is rumored she is the half-Ogre abomination that has incestuously created this family of horrors. She is so large that she can't leave the house. Since you haven't been in the house, she is likely still alive in that place. She needs to be destroyed." "By the way, this is Vale Temeros," Jakardos points to the larger dark-skinned human. "And this is Kaven Windstrike," he points to the shorter handsome man. "What is that tattoo? I did not know you had a tattoo." Kaven unconsciously tries to cover the tattoo, "Do you know that gambling barge back at Turtleback Ferry? This was given to their special customers. I was able to get in without paying the cover. Drinks were on the house too."
Jakardos composes himself, then looks at Garrath, "Retaking the Fort, and killing all the Kreegs along the way, would be good. What size company did you bring? Dealing with these worthless Grauls would be justice too. They have been killing the hunters and trappers in the region. They all need to be executed." He makes this last sentence loud enough for Shorty and the sobbing Handsome to hear. "Is Mammy dead?"
When it is certain that the spiders are dead, Stone brings forth healing energy. The three men come around. Garrath too takes advantage of the healing. In their skivvies, and with difficulty, they stand looking at Stone. "Thanks. We are alive, " A dark skinned human males says. Stone leads the group along the catwalk and down the stairs. Brandark was able to hold back the big cat. But when the big cat eyes a lighter skinned human with only one good eye, the other eye being horribly scarred, it breaks free and runs to the man. "Kibb!" the man exclaims receiving the excited Firepelt. Shalelu hears the voice and turns toward the one-eyed man. "Jakardros!" She exclaims. "Shalelu! What are you doing here?" Jakardros says somewhat mystified. "When I heard that contact with Fort Rannick had been lost, I feared the worse. I am glad you are alive," Shalelu explains. "I can't believe you came looking. I mean after," the man hesitates. "You know, your mother." Jakardros looks down. Shalelu begins to cry, then runs to embrace the man. The man receives the embrace and also begins to cry, "Shalelu, the Fort is lost. I wasn't there to defend it. They are all dead. We three are all that is left. We tried to retake it, but the Kreegs were too many. Too many. Then the Grauls took us as we retreated to the forest. It is my fault," the one-eyed man looks down. There is a brief silence.
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