WOTR NPC Irabeth Tirabade's page

Irabeth spoke next. "Wintersun Hall is the only structure still standing from the family estate. His clan has cleared the land on all sides of it and used the timbers of the felled trees to make their farmsteads in the area. The hall itself is a squat structure with a peaked roof. The hall itself was built with defense in mind. There are no windows, and only small vents for air flow and smoke exist near the roof line. The only entrance into the bunkerlike hall is a pair of heavy wooden doors, likely barred from the inside. I believe your best chance of entering undetected will require magic. If you have your own magic to approach and pass through the heavy walls or doors of the main entrance, use that. If you require any scrolls to aid you, Aravashnial can arrange them. Gods be with you."

The heroes returned to base in Drezen to report their discoveries and to find out if there were any new missions. I'm assuming the group shares intelligence found at the former shrine to Baphomet about the Inner Sanctum and Arueshalae. Anarya can say what if anything about her relation to the divine she wants to share.

Irabeth reported that stories of raids by a blind, six-legged dragon or a group of barbarians led by what had been described as a bellowing half-demon were growing more common. The barbarians seemed to be based in a place called Wintersun Hall, while the dragon sounded like it was a dangerous local predator called a woundwyrm.

"Locate this Wintersun Hall," Irabeth said, "And if you discover anything about the woundwyrm, deal with it too. I'll have scouts check out the Greengates forest for signs of demon worshipers or their minions in the area. They are also checking out a mostly collapsed castle sitting within a copse of petrified trees far to the north west. There are reports of strange creatures in that area which may mean it is a base of some sort. Hopefully, by the time you take care of these raids, we'll have more information. Rest as much as you need to, but your ability to deal with large threats with a small number of people makes you vital to our learning what the demons are planning and to try to push back and foil whatever they are scheming."

The next adventure will give Ellena a chance to gain a mythic level.
Everone should level up after that.

Irabeth was willing to turn the command of the army over to Anarya. "While you are not a warrior, your wisdom and compassion and dedication to the cause all will inspire the troops much better than I could. I'm available for consulation should you have any questions, although it's Iomdedae's truth that I've never led an army before."

Tauni will have to stay by Anarya's side to translate when people speak to Anarya.

Irabeth considered the advice and said, "We will ambush them and hit them hard. Aravashnial will advise us on minimizing their magic. Iomedae be with us."

The Knights will attempt an ambush, use the Spellbreaker tactic, and use an aggressive strategy to begin.

Irabeth orders the army to prepare for battle, then calls the command unit to discuss tactcs. The command unit consists of PCs plus NPCs. Horgus does not participate in the discussion of tactics, but remains a safe distance from the front lines.

"I'll make the final decision but if anyone wants to suggest a tactic, please do so," Irabeth states diplomatically.

After the meeting with the queen, Irabeth and Anevia located you and Irabeth said, "I understand the queen has honored you with a mission. I have been briefed on the mission and would like to volunteer to join your forces for the ... mission." She spoke cautiously, concerned not to reveal anything specific in case the conversation was being overheard.

By this time, everyone in the group knew that Irabeth was a respected leader and her presence would undoubtedly make a fine battlefield commander.

Irabeth seemed pleased at the offer of help in cleansing the sacred areas of desecration and seeing to the last rights of the remains of crusaders inside the garrison and of the two bodies left outside the front doors that the Vermleks used. This task would take a few hours, but it would be possible to complete the tasks while it was still light, particularly if many help out.

Ellena and Tauni felt a little like they did when they were younger and they volunteered to do some bit of housekeeping without being told by a parent or guardian. They felt approval, as if from an unseen parent.

Irabeth recovered soon after the battle with the demons, her wounds being nonlethal. She stood and looked with awe as the glow that infused all six of the group gradually faded. She knelt and said a prayer of thanks to Iomedae. She then went to check on the mongrel folk rangers. Shortly thereafter, she returned to report.

"The light that the wardstone emitted as it was destroyed penetrated throughout the garrison, killing some demonic flies and a shir demon who were hiding in the rooms off the landing to the second level. A Peryton was in another room but the rangers have dispatched it. There are signs that not just the demons in the garrison were affected but all within the city. I've sent some rangers to discover the situation in the larger city but already we can hear human voices shouting in celebration."

Once the group is ready to move from the room, Irabeth says, "You will want to get back to The Defender's Heart to rest and recover and report to our leaders. I will stay with my rangers and we will see to the remains of those we have discovered and to the cleaning of the defiled shrines, the scrying pool, to see to the repair of the helmets the demons damaged."

...

"Sir Irabeth," Anarya said, rising once she was finished helping Tauni to her feet. "The wardstone is close. We can push forward, but there may still be threats from other rooms in the garrison. Can you and your soldiers protect our flank?"

The paladin gave a nod and allowed herself a hopeful smile, "Iomedae bless you all, we're on it!"

The mongrel folk threaded through the group and took up positions near the doors that might contain enemies. When one looked down the hall leading south from the west end of the landing, he grunted and ducked out of the way of a crossbow bolt, then sent an arrow flying back. His attack was quickly joined by another mongrel folk archer.

After a flurry of ineffective exchanges of arrows and crossbow bolts, Wenduag dropped her bow and drew her machete and charged down the hall. The conflict ended with the tiefling rogue giving up a grunt of pain and all was quiet again. Wenduag took a moment to make sure the rogue was dead, wiped her machete on his robe, and returned, picking up her bow and nodding to all that the problem was dealt with.

One of the rangers looked over the pile of papers on the table in the war room to the northeast of the landing. She called out to Irabeth who stepped in and after looking at some of the documents returned and said, "We are fortunate. The room contains many documents on reports of our troop movements throughout Mendev and not a few indications of our defenses and tactics. Depriving the enemy of these reports will be a great blow to their tactical planning."

Irabeth advanced up the stairs, cleared away the caltrops, and placed them in a bag, which she left on the floor for someone to take. As she worked she looked around at the carnage on the landing.

"How is everyone?" she asked. "Let us know how we can help."

I thought I had posted the results of the disable device roll and the contents of the room, but apparently it did not survive the goblins in the machine.

Raine studied the faintly glowing line around the secret door and could tell the door had been well hidden and designed to be very difficult to open. She had had enough experience with magic traps, however, to recognize something in the design that would respond to an appropriate triggering action or pass phrase. She could see no way to open the door without knowing this phrase, but then, a dim blue light, the same color as that which outlined the door flickered at a hole so tiny, only her smallest wire pin could penetrate it. The pin released something and the door swung open revealing a small room between the temple room's western wall and the tower's outer wall.

This small chamber was free of dust. A holy symbol of Iomedae hung unmolested on the wall above a weapon rack filled with swords, crossbows, and spears. Three wooden dummies wore pristine suits of armor. A shelf held several leather quivers, each stamped with a golden sun. Two silver shields hung from pegs on the wall.

To save time, I'm going to assume you can use detect magic and spellcraft to identify the magic items and that the fighters can identify the masterwork items. Claim what you think you will use and you can come back and get the rest if when you finish the quest to destroy the wardstone.

The weapon rack contains three cold iron longswords, two cold iron shortswords, two heavy crossbows, a composite longbow (+2 Str), a masterwork cold iron heavy mace, two cold iron longspears, 50 cold iron crossbow bolts, 100 cold iron arrows, a +1 longsword, 5 +1 holy arrows, and an arrow of evil outsider slaying.
The armor dummies hold two sets of masterwork chainmail and a +1 breastplate emblazoned with Iomedae’s holy symbol.
The two heavy steel shields are both marked with the holy symbol of Iomedae. One is a masterwork shield, and the other is a +1 blinding shield.

Irabeth whistled softly when she saw the weapons and armor. "I've heard of such hidden armories, to be used in the event of an enemy attack that required crusaders to force entry and possibly rearm themselves."

Once the PCs claim what they wish, Irabeth will distribute what items the mongrel folk might need. When PCs are ready to move into the next room, position your figures or post where your figure should be placed and the mission will continue.

After Anarya's channeling of positive life energy, Raine's wound healed completely and Karas was left with a few tender spots 2 lethal.

Irabeth read the note. After a moment, she leaned against a wall, struggling to comprehend the news. As a soldier first, deep in enemy territory, she tucked the note carefully in a pouch and when Anarya held forth her magical longsword, she took it and examined it, not wanting to believe the good fortune coming at such a dark time.

She looked at everyone and said, "There is a story or two to tell so you can understand what this is doing here and to whom it was intended, but there are more enemies about and so I'll keep it for now, unless one of you needs a sword."

Someone should read the note that was in the sword case.

The longsword is a +1 evil outsider bane longsword.

Irabeth was watching the fight from the hall to the south, keeping an eye out for anyone trying to join the fray from the door on the west side of that hall. With a couple of mongrel folk for back-up, she looked in the temple room and asked, "Is everyone okay?"

Quick reminder: Raine heard something grunt or snuffle from the other side of the door on the west side of the hall and someone notice a faint outline of a door on the west side of the temple room, just behind the altar.

Irabeth looked into the garrison from outside. She did not say anything, just observed that everyone was alive.

Once people moved out of the foyer, she signaled and her squad of mongrelfolk quietly moved into the building and took up positions in the meeting room, bows ready to provide back-up fire or cover.

Irabeth looked into the garrison from outside. She did not say anything, just observed that everyone was alive.

Once people move out of the foyer, she signals and her squad of mongrelfolk quietly move into the building and take up positions in the meeting room, bows ready to provide back-up fire or cover.

Irabeth listened to Raine's description of the Gray Garrison with interest, taking notes and asking questions as appropriate. She eventually left, but suggested you let her know when ready to proceed. She indicated you can attack day or night, scrolls can be provided for spells that might help in the attack. When everything was ready, she would set the diversion attacks in motion.

"Your mission is a secret. As far as anyone knows, you are just participating in these attacks like everyone else, trying to take the fight to the demons instead of letting them set the time and place to fight. Keep it that way. There may still be spies for the Cult of the Ivory Labyrinth among us. They might report to the other side if they get wind of your mission."

The mood changed in the Defender's Heart. People moved with a purpose. Faces were grim, but some seemed happy to have something to work toward.

"Ma'am," Raine said again to Irabeth, with a soldier-like nod. She gave another nod to Karas, the brief flash of a half-smile.

"Well... if the attacks work to draw out a bunch of 'em, we might have a chance. But it's a hell of a place to storm if they're on guard against us: a few men could hold it well, so we'll need to strike decisive and fast, and quietly for as long as we can.

"Ma'am, can we spare any resources for being able to get in unseen? These six soldiers coming with us, what's their skills? The bigger the group, the bigger the odds we're spotted as we make our way there, unless they're quiet types."

"Crusaders are already being briefed on their missions. When you are ready, they will fan out through the city and await our signal. A pyrotechnic display will start the attacks and they will hit everywhere, including the Gray Garrison. But those attacking the garrison will fall back and join another fight elsewhere. Our hope is that this will draw resources from the garrison. Once our spotters have identified the dispersal of resources from the garrison, you'll have your own signal, a message spell sent to you in hiding near the garrison. Demons are not known for their battle cunning, so we are confident they will put resources where the threats are strongest and assume we have no interest in what we are not attacking.

"As for stealthiness of the ...," she paused, "mongrelfolk--I hate that term but I don't know what they would prefer to be called. I think you will find them adequate if not superior. If you prefer to work in darkness, we can stage things so your approach can come at night. They live in darkness and have no need of light sources to see. They must be quiet to survive in the underground, where sound is a better signal of danger than sight. I expect some of you will make more noise than any of them when you approach the garrison.

"Think about whether you want me to accompany you or not. I can coordinate the ... folk from under the city and we can watch your back. That way you can focus on moving toward the top of the tower, if that's where you expect to find the wardstone and not feel you have to clear out all enemies on each floor before moving up to the next.

"I think I can scrounge up a battering ram you can carry with you if you choose to enter by the front door. I'll see if I can find a silence spell on a scroll if you want to keep the thing quiet. If you need ropes, grappling hooks, or climbing gear, it can be arranged."

The AP has provisions for managing the assault in stages, assuming the PCs might need to withdraw to recover. In the interest of keeping things moving, I think you can probably do it in one trip, particularly with the mongrelfolk watching your back and helping out if you are facing a difficult fight. Prepare for things to advance to the Gray Garrison, unless you have further questions for Irabeth or Quednys.

Irabeth nodded when Raine apologized, giving her an appraising look before saying, "Do not think that I would ever endanger anyone, whether of royal blood or the lowest of halfbreeds like myself by sending him or her unprepared into danger. You are the best of what we have left and you have worked together several weeks, with great success. I have confidence you can do this. So what questions do you have?"

Irabeth thanks the group for their willingness to carry on the good fight. Then she inhales and begins her mission pitch.

“As horrific as recent events have been, we’ve come to realize that they are, in fact, merely a prelude. The razing of the Kite, the destruction of our wardstone, Terendelev’s murder, and the assault on the city were nothing more than opening gambits. The Worldwound is on the march in a more concentrated assault than we’ve seen since the fall of Drezen. It’s fair to say the Lord of the Locust Host is finally making his move. The end of this hundred-year-war is upon us, and it falls to us to ensure victory.

"Also, thanks to your diplomatic efforts with the residents of Neatholm, a group of their most capable fighters has made its way to us. They have expressed a desire to aid you and I'm happy to let up to six of them accompany you to aid in the battles you will surely have to fight."

Finally, she stops talking and awaits volunteers.

Irabeth regarded Avelina with a serious look that betrayed a struggle in her mind. "Thank you, your majesty," she began, exhibiting traditional courtesy to relatives of the queen. "If this works, the queen very well might be quite upset with me for allowing her niece to go on such a dangerous mission. But from what Aravashnial has told me, you are quite capable and as you are an adult, I believe you are the one who must make decisions about what risks you will take. I pray that I have the good fortune of explaining to the queen just how your presence on this mission turned the tide, Iomedae willing, of course."

Then she turned to Karas, "Karas, what say you? If you chose to stay behind to be a guardian to your newly discovered relative, everyone would understand and no one would think the less of you. You could be given the charge of safely conducting her to her father in Nirmathas. However, from what Anevia has told me about you, I suspect you will prefer to forge a path to gain your revenge for Terendelev's murder. Which will it be?"

Once everyone had recovered from their ordeals, Irabeth approached them with a grim, worried expression. "I need to speak with you all about a matter of utmost importance. Please meet me in the map room as soon as possible."

When everyone arrived in what used to be a small banquet hall off the main floor of what used to be the dining room, which was now covered with maps and papers essential for the continuing resistance effort, they found Irabeth conversing with a rather grizzled old man. People had met him already, for he was Quednys Orlun, an aged and angular human wizard with an eagle’s talon tattoo on his cheek. Founder and head librarian of Blackwing, Quednys was at the Cathedral when the attack began, and was instrumental in saving several citizens from certain death. He suffered a nearly fatal wound in doing so, but survived after he was brought to Defender’s Heart and healed.

Since then, Quednys had helped keep order in the inn. He believed that Blackwing was completely destroyed, and was haunted by this fact. Therefore, when he got word from a band of heroes just surfaced from the catacombs under Kenabres that Blackwing had survivors in it, he was overjoyed and helped organize a rescue party.

Once everyone was in place, Irabeth began the meeting. "I ... We all are in your debt. You've helped return my wife to me, helped rescue many citizens from the dangers of the city, and rescued the only child of Terendelev. You've done so much that it pains me to have to ask you to risk more for what may be our only hope of saving Kenabres. Are you willing to consider a very dangerous mission, from which some of you might not return?" She looks grim and waits to hear every person present speak her or his heart.

Irabeth declined to take Franti's letter, saying, "That kind of communication will have to wait until our army arrives and the roads become safe for couriers. Believe me, when it becomes possible to send messages to Ustalav and Last Wall and Andoran, we will be sending pleas for help. Meanwhile, I suggest you give your letter to Kimroth Otai. He can see to its delivery."

She started to walk away but turned back, pondering something, and then said, "Anevia is quite taken with you. She said you did wonders for her morale as she struggled with all ...," she gestured vaguely to the city beyond the inn, "this. Thank you. She said every brigade should have a jester like you to keep people smiling and reminding us all of the good things we are fighting for."

Irabeth listened intently, taking the measure of each of the introduced people with a penetrating gaze. "Thank the Inheritor! I've been so worried. I am the current leader of the Eagle's Watch and in charge of the resistance and cleansing of the city. We obviously have much to discuss. Take food, drink, and clean up as you wish. Let our clerics heal you if you need it. When you are ready, we will meet in the briefing room." With that she swept Anevia off her feet and carried her away, trailing a host of curious and concerned people.