Much discussion and planning before assaulting the
castle was made. The plan had flaws but was workable. Unfortunately, the plan included warning the
castle of trouble by lighting fires outside and only two characters were able
to get over the barrier. Galen and Thondami tried to get the drop on the
bandits but the elven mage in the tower was having none of it. Thondami tried a
Silence spell but the elf wasn’t sounding an alarm anymore, he went back into
the castle.
Outside, Ilyander and Eleseraskulked about
but made no attempt to climb the barrier. They decided to wait at the shrine to
Marthammor.
Slowly, Thondami followed the elf. As a
mist, Galen explored the third level of the castle but found no one. On the
second level, he found the brigand leader, Malvira and one of her men, Bald
Balonry. As Galen coalesced, the brigands knew something was amiss and readied
themselves for battle. As Galen fought the two bandits, Malvira called for more
of her minions and two showed up, a resting thief, Yarik, and the mage from the
tower with Thondami hot on the mage’s heels. In a tense but short hallway
battle, the Bald Balonry fell to Galen. With a hefty backstroke, Yarik was
nearly killed but surrendered. Malvira proceeded down the stairs while the mage
vanished completely.
As Galen ran down after her, Thondami
electrocuted the prisoner to near death then tied him up and brought him down
after Galen and Malvira. Galen left the stairs on the first floor thinking the
leader was headed to the main entrance for escape but she actually went down
another level to get her trump card, Lord Harkon Justheart. As Galen explored
the great hall, Thondami and Malvira met in the stairwell. Seeing this as an
opportunity, Yarik quickly shed his bonds and drew a hidden dagger. Surrounded,
Thondami prepared for a beating but Malvira only demanded that he let her and Lord
Harkon pass. Thondami refused, so Yarik threw a tanglefoot bag at his feet,
rooting him to the spot. Laughing as she passed, with a dagger to Harkon’s
neck, Malvira ordered Yarik to open the main doors. Galen hearing the door
being opened quickly ran over and attacked Malvira. Not felling her, Malvira
cut the lord’s throat, slaying him instantly. She then ran for the door.
Outside, Ilyander and Elesera watched the
leader exit the castle and killed her just five steps outside on the
drawbridge. A total accounting showed the party killed three of the brigands (Yarik
was slain by Galen as Malvira fled.) Meaning Octavio and the elf mage escaped.
With the current issue resolved, the party
decide to wait for the rest of the brigands to return before leaving, in case
they are called upon to defend the castle. A service for Lord Harkon Justheart
was held with Thondami officiating.
Next, the Windswept Guardians must find a
stone to flesh method of helping Artemis. Choices include, a male medusa,
basilisk saliva, or a powerful mage. It’s said there are basilisk dens in the
Serpent Hills and to the south they may ask Artemis’ guild leader, Nimozaran
the Green, about it. Both Ilyander and Thondami know that a mage will require
payment and possibly a service as well.
