Ignatz shrugs. "Hy killed Irontooth, and hyu didn' last ten seconds vit just me. Hy tink ge ken handle dese reavers," he says, eyes gleaming with antici...

pation. "Ve just gotta sneak so ve dont gotta fight all o' dem at vonce."

Saskan had been quiet long enough and though his uncle Malph had only earned contempt, he took a different tactic with the spy, "You'll be crying muffled screams for death as we drag you bound and gagged with us into the heart of your allies, showing you off as the traitor that you are."

He looked around, knowing that what he said might make some of his friends stomach turn and then added, "Or you can tell my friends and I what we want to know and we can make another arrangement."

OOC: Sorry all, I was looking for the right way in and this seemed to be a good one :)
20:36, Today: Saskan rolled 25 using 1d20+10.  Intimidate.

Saskans words got to her.
Unlike before he saw fear in her eyes, and perhaps the realization that he meant it, convincingly.
Her facade dropped and she eyed down, and spoke like a broken soul.
"I....I...."
She nodded at Saskan. She would comply.

Lord Padraig and Rond nodded at eachother.

Saskan was happy she was finally ready to talk, "Ok, let's start easy, are there any hidden entrances to the keep? And are your allies holed up anywhere else that we haven't already destroyed?"

Malphurious watched on, proud of his nephew.

She shrugged.
"Sealed off. The sergeant of his armies claimed it was needed to ensure something remained withint...Don't ask me what. There are voices within the walls...It's not a place I wish to return to.."
She shrugged at his followup question.
"Brigands roam but return to the keep and it's outskirts, where the heads remain.
In town, Bairwin led the abductions and any further rituals with the dark mistress herself, and he adorned me with some powers in her sight. We took ten so far and they remain with the elite guards - the bloodreavers at the keep. The rest I do not know...perhaps on their way.
Bairwin is irrate. He spoke of a mirror missing, from a burial ground south of here. Said it was key for the dark lord to have..."

The mention of a mirror in a burial ground felt familiar, but he pressed on and said, "And what of Karl, where is he?"

The elf eyed him curiously.
"You mean Karalel? At the keep, in his throne room, overseeing matters with the dark blessings of Shar...he will not leave, the place is a bloody fortress and twisted in dark magic and hidden voices of those passed and haunting. Brave yourself if you wish to face him, for you stand little chance!"

Malphurious pulled Rond aside.  He whispered, "What keep could she be talking about?  Is there another keep besides the one at Winterhaven nearby?  Maybe one long since abandoned?"

Ignatz drains his flagon and stands up suddenly. It took a few moments for Ninaren's words to process apparently, because he exclaims, "If dey gotz hostagez at dis Keep, dot'z vhere ve gotta go!"

OOC: We should definitely go to this second burial site first, if only to try and hit L3 before we tackle the Keep, but Ignatz will have to be convinced IC not to just immediately rush to confront the BBEG

Warfryn whispered in Malphurious's ear.

"D'you reckon that's the mirror we gots from the dragon's grave?

Rond answered sharply.
"Only Keegan's keep, also known as the Keep on the shadowfell..No other keep no."

OOC:
There is a graveyard nearby, being the only unvisited place to check, if you so desire.

"Allright then."
"I would like to visit the graveyard, to learn if the vile ritual has been conducted there."
"Other than that we really need to check on Bairwin now."

Malphurious nodded to Warfyn, "Likely.  We must keep it safe for now."

Malphurious regarded the wizard, but agreed with the newcomer, "Securing Bairwin before he makes an escape should take priority, but it is likely he has fled Winterhaven.  But if is some sort of conjurer, perhaps he is at the graveyard.  Let's check his shop, around town, and then the graveyard.  Once we've eliminated the possibility he's within the town, we can plan our approach on Keegan's Keep."

[Bairwin’s Grand Shoppe]

Since they had an agreement, even though they all had doubts that they would still find Bairwin, the group left the barracks again, leaving Ninaran's fate i nthe hands of the captain... for now at least.
Passing the inner gate they went straight for Bairwin's shop.
"Master Bairwin, are you there ?"

[Bairwin’s Grand Shoppe]

You enter an empty shop. Not a word. On the ground there are heavy marks in the wooden floor, blood leading to a backroom, and two legs from a small gnome partially hidden by a draped carpet. There is silence below, but your hear flickering fire, perhaps of a small candle or torch below, echoing through what seems to be a staircase heading down.

[Bairwin’s Grand Shoppe]

"That looks ominous," Malphurious whispered to the others as they approached the stairwell leading down.  "Let's not underestimate our foe, for he seems to be a wizard of some skill.  But by Bahamut, he must account for his crimes against the people of Winterhaven," he said leading the way towards the descending stairs.

Warfryn waited until Malphurious had started to descend the ladder and then motioned Ignatz to go next.  He himself slotted in behind the big half orc and almost seemed to disappear into the shadows as he proceeded.

Ignatz says nothing as he follows- he's making a concerted effort not to rush in ahead of Malph, and so far has managed to restrain himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Thu 17 Aug 2017.

[Bairwin’s Grand Shoppe - below.]
As you walk down the stairs, the air gets colder.
A pall of dim purple light consumes the room. Candles line the walls, burning with f lickering, purple flames. Three rows of pews lead up to an altar. A long carpet
with a repeated symbol—a black disk surrounded by a thin purple circle—leads up to the front. Several darkclad figures stand around the room, poised for action.
You see three figures clad in robes of midnight black, these sallowskinned humans have sunken eyes of pure darkness except for a thin outline of deep purple.
Behind them, wraith-like figures cloaked in dark, voluminous robes.
At the alter, with a sinister grin, Bairwin - a middle-aged man wears lavish garments of purple and black.

Two of the armor clad figures shift and block the road ahead, forcing any path forward through them or over the pews.

---

Enemy	HP	AC	F	R	W	Current conditions:	Effects/ongoing:
Servants	38/38	16	14	15	12	Shadow shift, CA +1d6, Wrath R:5/6
Reapers	47/47	19	13	15	13	Reaper, Stalking shadow
Bairwin	47/47	16	14	14	17	Veil, darkness

MAP: https://docs.google.com/drawin...Y6wdaYoFbJU6VCQ/edit

^{OOC:
[*] A character who makes a Religion check can identify certain features of this encounter’s creatures/surroundings.
[*] Perception 13(active check!) - to spot something further...}

rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Int, pews.
rolled 19 using 1d20+12.  Arcana, carpets.
rolled 25 using 1d20+10.  Religion.
rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Perception.
rolled 20 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.

---

Vynthear tried to get a better understanding of what they saw below, after he had followed and taken his orb in hand...
This message was last edited by the player at 08:46, Sat 19 Aug 2017.

Malphurious readies his flail and shield, hoping that Bairwin was alone but was not surprised when he had rallied some allies in the short time that he had. "Someone get some light ready," he exclaimed as he knew the disciples of Shar were likely trained to see in the dark, given her power of the domain of Darkness.

OOC: I think I used up my good rolls for skill checks.
09:35, Today: Malphurious rolled 16 using 1d20.  religion.
09:31, Today: Malphurious rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  perception .
09:31, Today: Malphurious rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  intiative.

Warfryn darted forward, the praises of Corellon on his lips.  Quickly he drew a sunrod from his pack and lobbed it into the room.

"Let there be light" he called before preparing to unleash his powers on the nearest reaper.


18:31, Today: Warfryn rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  Perception.
18:31, Today: Warfryn rolled 20 using 1d20.  Initiative.

Move: as per map: gain concealment (-2 to enemy's attack rolls)
Minor: Draw sunrod
Standard: Throw sunrod, aiming at about G6

This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Mon 21 Aug 2017.

Stahl moves with the group, bow out, Prinz at his heels eagerly but quietly awaiting his master's commands.

---

I didn't see it asked for, but it seems to be what people are doing.
11:07, Today: Stahl Tropfstein rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.

Ignatz's eyes widen in surprise, and then his grin widens.

OOC:
06:02, Today: Ignatz rolled 9 using 1d20.  Religion.
06:01, Today: Ignatz rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Perception.
06:01, Today: Ignatz rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  Initiative.