Brakkus speaks up hesitantly. "I sense something. A feeling, old and powerful enchanments, centred on this fort. I think we must stay and investigate further, this could have a bearing on our quest"

Adelbert does not respond directly to Adonis' question but says "It's funny, but I have been having a strange dream of late.  It seems to be about the forest through which we have just come, where an ancient oak tree stands alone...  Somehow it had a brother tree in a forest to the south but it no longer talks to it."

Meanwhile his companions position themselves to watch the remaining comatose crafties, and one of them, a rangy weathered man, takes out his pipe and starts smoking it.

At this some of the crafties at the fort, jabber at him in their language, and point at Adonis.

Thomas watches and listens as this scene plays itself out. The creatures start pointing in their direction and Thomas says, "I think they are taking a keen interest in you sir Campbell."

He looks at the weapon the knight is carrying curiously. The strange colour denoted that it was not a typical blade. He keeps a weather eye on the fort area.

Adelbert's pipe-smoking companion replies "Sir Adonis, de crafties would like to have a ritual burial of deir dead, and de ask you if ya'll allow it.".

His other companion, dressed in a monk's habit, shortened to the knee, crouches in prayer.

Some of the crafties at the entrance to the fort appear to have lost interest, and gone inside it.  But the sickly sweet smell remains just as strong.

Eldor was getting more and more concerned waiting in the pass he wanted to get out as soon as possible as he had a strange feeling about the area.

"Sir Adonis I ask again that we make haste and leave this place I am attuned to the land and feel there is a wrongness here. The fort has become one with the land as have the creatures that inhabit it. We should move on and with as much speed as we can "

"The stories speak that one should not seek the crafties by night, they are far more dangerous then.  If we wish to find entrance to thier fort we should make sure to do it at daybreak to give us enough time."

Brakkus is dismayed by Eldor's suggestion. "Fey secrets of his power lie, where ancient thieves do rot" he quotes. "Perhaps what we are seeking lies beneath this fort. We must surely spend the time to check"

Eldor looked over at Bakkus when he spoke with a sad look on his face " It depends on how you look at that phrase. Fey secrets of his powers lie.... could mean secrets of the fey's power is a lie not where it lays. Where ancient thieves do rot.... well it could also mean that when we find this place it will all be a lie too."

He then smiled " then again we could be looking for a location in or around the fort .... now if my human history serves me right theives were laid to rot in porpers graves outside the walls of cities, castles and the like. Perhaps we are looking not for something in the fort but a grave of a thief laying near the wall on the outside."

"I agree it is unclear. Which is why I say we must examine every possibility. We have the upper hand with the crafties, I am sure we can negotiate for a small group to enter the keep. We may not have another chance" Brakkus replies.

Sir Thomas eyes the keep while the other men discuss what they wish to do. Thomas fidgets a bit, being this close to the fate is never a good thing. Theives are buried outside the walls, it only makes sense but he adds no comment at this time.

Their business was to bring warning and not to be looking for magics in ancient graves.

It is mid-morning while the group debates its next move.

[Lets have a decision gents, from the discussion here are your options:
 - Direct assault on the fort: possible but a tall order given the numbers and the debilitating smell
 - Sending a group in to snoop might well work, if negotiated through Addo's lanky friend
 - Searching the hilltop might provoke the crafties or might not.  It is about half-a-mile by 400 yards across, not that big
 - Continuing east into the valley should be easy at the moment with th crafties cowed.  And Addo's group have just come from there]

 "We have the time for talk but not the measuring of old enchantments good Brakkus." Adonis replies as he listens to the womanly talk of dreams and visions that would never trouble a good Albish Knight such as himself (not least because it would take a pretty thoroughly determined vision to plough its way through his thick skull), before he shakes his head calls over to the translator "I have no objection if they'll have none to my speaking a prayer for them myself."

 That done he turns to Eldor and the others, "Time enough has been spent here I fear - know you men that we come bearing warning of fell treachery and rebellion festering in the west, and as the hours pass the chance to avert surprise and slaughter fades. I will be honoured to join our strength to yours and investigate what passes here when our mission is done, but for now will you aid us in carrying our missive to the Jarl?"

Kjaelos reminds you that he only recently escaped the clutches of Ettryck and would surely suffer a nasty fate should they succeed in their attempt to take power over the Southlands.  So he is all for rushing east with Adonis.

Then, he steps over to Addo's party and dresses the deep wounds his monkish companion has suffered.

Rael took the chance while everyone debated one thing or another to slip to the back for a few minutes.

Thomas nods in the affirmative with Adonis. "Let us be about it then." HE shoulders the great blade but keeps a wary eye on the crafties.

Brakkus looks crestfallen, but does not advance his cause any further.

Eldor nods with relief and makes ready to leave with the others.

Under the diffident gaze of the crafties, you begin a careful descent of the eastern stairwell.  They make no attempt to stop you.
[Each make a 2d10 climbing roll, lower is better, and describe the results with suitable dramatism]

Adelbert's group explains that halfway down, the steps end, and there is a steep but not entirely vertical, cliffside.  After that, you must pass through the old forest which Addo dreamed about.

When Bjorn realises that the mission to warn Ely is on course, he clasps Adonis' hand and says "It seems ye are a man o' yer word Adonis so I'll leave yous to it.  For mysel', I might help these folk explore the fort - after all, I am no friend o' Jarl Siegfried.  But when I prove him to be the fraud that he is, 'twere nice that the Jarldom is still in one piece..."

He then walks over to introduce himself to Adelbert.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Sun 09 Jan 2011.

Thomas begins his descent with the group onward. Once the great blade is strapped to his back. He makes the climb down fairly well, with his hand only slipping once sending a small shower of sand and pebbles skittering down the side.

16:40, Today: Thomas Keith rolled 7 using 2d10. Climbing Roll.

Rael appears back from the bushes he was scavenging before.

Without a word he set to follow Thomas down the slope. It must have been his weakness or the fact he was mind was wandering  but soon after he began the decent he managed to loss his footing as the dirt under his boot crumbled. Rael flail his arms as he slide down trying to catch himself before he would crash at the bottom.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:03, Mon 10 Jan 2011.

With suprising agility for his wounds, Karl stepped lightly down the makeshift path.  The use of his staff in certain locations seemed to provide him better leverage than the others.

22:30, Today: Karl Borensson rolled 4 using 2d10. Climbing.

Brakkus is half way down the stairs before he comes to a halt. "It's no use! I feel strongly that my place is with our comrades scouting the fort where my insight may be crucial. I must leave you for now but I feel sure we will meet again. Good luck and good hunting¨my friends"

With that he trudges back up to join Bjorn and the others.

 Adonis descends fairly smoothly after offering his fare-wells to those men who choose to stay, travelling with reasonable grace despite his heavy armour until Brakkus changes his mind and the Albish knight offers him a gruff, "God be with you then, and do as you must." then attempts to step wide around the other man in order to prevent him having to do so... A slight mis-step follows where the smooth, worn leather of his boots provides inadequate purchase to prevent a tumble and the knight descends rather more rapidly than he might have hoped, arms flailing to scrape along the cliff-face until he hits the 'step' below the one on which he was standing and comes within inches of toppling outwards before he catches his balance and stands there panting for a few moments, flushed and obviously unsettled in a way mere battle had not managed to achieve.

Eldor took one last look at the fort and the people they were leaving behind then followed the rest down the steps.

Keeping his eyes on his surroundings and looking for any possible ambushes he miss placed a foot and slipped.

20:17, Today: Eldor Leaf-fall rolled 16 using 2d10. climb roll.

Before you leave, Adelbert's monkish companion takes Adonis aside and briefly summarises what they learned about the valley to the east:
- the forest you are about to enter seems dry and almost dead and seems to have a similar effect on the human soul, such that men who enter it are at great risk of losing their sense of purpose
 - beyond the forest is another cliff, steeper but not so high.  If you can find the point where Addo's group descended, the rope they used should still be hanging there
 - after that cliff, you will pass through a high moor where some strange children live - they appear to be herders but no cattle could ever be seen - and they appear to have no parents - the children do not appear unfriendly but their Visic is hard to understand
 - continuing east you will pass a high hill which gives a good view around - going straight south there is a pass out of the downs into some rough ground
 - further east again you reach a pleasant glen with some caves to the north.   At least one of these caves has something living in it, perhaps not human.  At night the valley seems to be home to many strange beasts, which are not violent.
 - past this you should reach the high eastern edge of the downs, which according to Bjorn has a hidden pass that takes you out into the farmland surrounding Castle Ely.

Your progress down the cliff is almost comedic, with the burly figure of Adonis bouncing down the steps like a discarded cooking pot, and the normally agile Rael and Eldor each looking almost equally clumsy.    The knight's armour saves from anything worse than a red fact, but Rael twists his ankle and Eldor catches a nasty scrape on his leg.

Brakkus says his goodbyes and puffs his way back up the cliff to join Addo's party.
[Brakkus please continue posting here: link to a message in this game ]

The rest of you are now just inside the old forest which draws close around the edge of the cliff.   There is a faint track of sorts, heading east.