"We, as a group, ain't really up for more fightin' t'night tho, let alone takin' on everyone. Or am I wrong?"

Jak was still upset and a bit keyed up from the fight. He grit his teeth and glared after the knight who just flew away. He turned on his heel and headed out of the room. He looked up and down the stairs outside, pausing a long moment to make sure that he didn't hear or see anyone else coming.


21:35, Today: Jakrynn Redgate rolled 25 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 19.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Tue 24 July 2018.

Morg checks Tessa in the hall to see if she's still breating, and reports back to Zora.

He then goes back into the scorched room, closes and latches the shutters, and jams pieces of wood from his broken barrel-lid shield underneath to make them harder to force open from outside. "I'd like to finish my beauty sleep," he says to Jak, "but we may have to go save Savha and Huet first."

He collects his javelins and asks if he can have Thurl's greatsword, scabbard, and pierced breastplate; then looking thru the dead knights' possessions, and generally keeping an eye out for mauls in the spire. "I really need to find the shield I left here last time - it's a stupid dwarf culture thing that I can't allow others to use it."

He sits down next to Mayon, ready to shake him out of his wizardy familiar trance.

---

06:33, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 12 using 1d20 with rolls of 12. Investigate check for searching dead knights.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:28, Tue 24 July 2018.

Jak listens intently. From the stairwell he doesn't hear any noise of movement from inside the tower, but through the window some shouts float up from the deepening twilight. Another sound follows a minute or so later, a booming thud, perhaps from the drawbridge being lowered.

Encumbered as he is, Morg can't manage to pick up Thurl's breastplate or greatsword, though he does find some pouches of coin.

Mayon's sprite reappears from its pocket dimension, invisible to all eyes. It moves quickly through the tower, eschewing all closed doors as before. It finds no remaining occupants aside from Sharpwind in the stables below; all of the other mounts have departed. The second and third floors are devoid of cultists, and the spire pinnacle also seems to have been deserted. From the battlements atop the tower, just visible through the gloom, it spies some figures on foot running away from the drawbridge on the far side of the valley.

Looping back inside to the third floor, the sprite tries the doors on the remaining quarters. The door to the northeast opens to reveal a slightly better appointed apartment than the other chambers.

Here the usual fireplace, tapestry, chest, and closet are joined by a writing desk and chair. The furs lying on the single ornate bed a piled high.

In the corner of the room, two figures hang spread-eagled from a series of ropes hanging from the rafters near the ceiling. Stripped of the armor, Savra and Huet wear only their strange leathery garments and grimaces of exhaustion and pain.

Below the prisoners lay a shield of dwarven make, a white glove, a pair of gloves with an inset crystal in each hand, a necklace, and a lute, all in a neat pile.

---

Morg finds 35 gp on the 3 dead knights if you wish to keep it & split it up - I'll add it to the Loot thread if so.

Morg is already carrying so many other items, the heaviest being Qarbo's splint mail tied to his backpack, that he's unable to pick up Thurl's armor or greatsword =)

You've now been through all the doors in the tower other than most of the ground floor - the map blacks out the areas you've not yet seen.

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:18, Wed 25 July 2018.

Mayon pulls away from his familiar's eyes, looking at the others and getting back to his feet. "Myr found Savra and Huet. They are alive, but in poor shape, and our belongings with them. Northeast room on the third floor. We should hurry that way as soon as we can." The name for the sprite came seemingly at random, clicking into place naturally, but he didn't bother to focus on it.

"When we get to the room we should be cautious, though. The setup seems far too convenient, and even with Thurl dead I won't put it past them to have some extra surprises waiting. It looks like most of the other knights are fleeing, however, so hopefully that'll be the worst of our worries."

And so the Sprite is finally named because I got tired of saying 'The Sprite.' Mayon will cease looking through Myr's senses, but it will use its own to scout the room for any notable traps and relay information telepathically.
Sprite investigation:
18:44, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 17 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 15.  Sprite Investigation--Traps?
This message was last edited by the player at 00:51, Wed 25 July 2018.

Morg hands 7 gold pieces to everyone, and leaves Qarbo's armor for later, tying Thurl's armor onto his backpack instead. He also tests the greatsword's balance when he hears Mayon explain where Savra and Huet are.

---

Morg's "Stuff to sell to buy Plate armor":
-60 lb. Qarbo's splint mail
+20 lb. Thurl's breastplate
+6 lb Thurl's greatsword+scabbard

"I really don't like the sound of that," Zora proclaimed on hearing the booming thud of the drawbridge lowering.

"I understand the importance of getting to Savra, but we need to check the front door. If reinforcements are coming in, we're in trouble."

Myr doesn't detect any traps at all in the northeast bedchamber, though the sprite didn't extensively explore the desk drawers, chest, or other furnishings of the room. Savra and Huet seem to be breathing, but are either unconscious or mostly unaware of their surroundings as they swing listlessly, suspended in their bonds.

Morg tests the balance of the greatsword, and it seems to be a finely wrought blade. Small flourishes extend up the blade from the hilt that resemble clouds, purely ornamental, but certainly impressive looking.

---

Love Myr as a name! =)

Thurl's breastplate seems mostly unusable in its current state, though perhaps it could be worth something in trade for raw materials, at the least.

"So, shall the two of us quickly go raise the drawbridge, and then join the others in the trap room?" Morg says to Zora.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:13, Fri 27 July 2018.

Jak shrugged after a moment's thought. "I'll go check on Savra and Huet. I'm theoretically good with traps." He let out an amused snort. Then nodded at Morg. "Yeah I guess go raise the drawbridge, though that don't stop 'em from flyin' back in unless there's a way t'close up the stables or somethin' as well." Another shrug. "I mean, make the place as secure as we can is all we can do, right?"

With that, he began heading to the room where Savra and Huet were being held.

Jak crosses the hall and finds Savra and Huet strung up with ropes and pulleys in the corner of the room, just as Mayon described.

---

The ropes look to be tied off to a metal bar near one of the shuttered windows, so releasing them from their bonds would seem to be a fairly easy task.

I'll wait on Zora's reply before posting about Morg & Zora's potential trip downstairs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:26, Fri 27 July 2018.

OOC: Sorry missed Morg's question.

"As much as I loathe splitting up in a potentially dangerous area, I think we should. Let's be quick about it, then meet them back where they're going to get Savra. If there is trouble we run, no fighting."

Morg and Zora go down the spiral stairs in silence. The quiet of the Spire is unbroken except for the heavy footsteps of the armored pair as they descend. Reaching the ground level, they cautiously open the double doors from the stairwell into the front hall.

A hot and humid breeze blows through the hall from the lowered drawbridge. Looking briefly around they see the hall is deserted. The huge wooden eagle overhead, its metal wings outstretched, still hangs from strong chains.  A side door on the southern wall remains closed. A lever just to the left of the doors from the stair protrudes from the stone, set to the up position. A simple chain mechanism is visible on the far wall, near the drawbridge.

---

Map updated.

Asano breathes a sigh of relief, following Jak as he moves to the torture chamber. He slows as the pair enter the room, cautiously searching for any dangers in the room, hidden or otherwise.

---

17:59, Today: Asano Breathkill rolled 5 using 1d20+1 ((4)).

---

---

Asano joins Jak. Despite expecting to enter a torture chamber, he finds this to be a fairly well-appointed bedroom.

As in the other chambers a fireplace, tapestry, and closet are here, though instead of a pair of beds a single large bed sits in a corner. A chest sits near the bed just as in the other rooms. A writing desk and chair sit nearby. The desk appears to hold several papers, quills, and a cylindrical leather case.

Nothing appears out of the ordinary or dangerous, save the two unarmored knights hanging from the ceiling.

Jak glanced at Asano and then took a deep breath. He walked in to the room and over to the metal bar, but was a bit suspicious so kept his eye out of any traps passively. He glanced at the two knights and quietly asked, "You too okay? Conscious? Alive?" Paused to see if they answered. "Theoretically, we'll have you out in a minute."

Neither of the knights reply, but they do stir slightly and the sound of Jak's voice.

After being lowered to the floor of the chamber, Huet groans and shifts in his bonds. Jak and Asano can see both Huet and Savra have ropes pulled tight across their mouths, preventing them from easily speaking.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 19:41, Sat 28 July 2018.

Mayon follows Zora and Morg to investigate the rest of the keep and ensure it really was empty, while Myr becomes drops its invisibility when Jak and Asano enter. Unable to do much in terms of removing the thick bonds at its tiny size, the sprite flies over to the desk instead to look at the papers for any notes or writings that may be useful or hint towards unknown dangers.


11:17, Today: Secret Roll: Mayon Graycross rolled 10 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 8.  Myr Investigation--Papers on desk.

Mayon joins Zora and Morg in the entrance hall.

Myr stays behind to look over the contents of the desk. Various reports of supplies, food, and weapons appear to be scrawled across stacks of messy papers here and there. Quills lie neatly to the right side, their tips layered with dried ink.

Inside the case is a letter that reads as follows:

Merosska,

We are pleased to hear about the outcome of your altercation with the Black Earth cult, and we praise you for the capture of one of their prisoners. This noblewoman from the High Forest has an interesting tale to tell, and we shall enjoy interrogating this Elessina further. Keep a close watch on the Sacred Stone Monastery. I want to know what our enemy is planning next.

Your beloved queen,

Aerisi Kalinoth
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:53, Sat 28 July 2018.

Jak hurried over and began untying the two knights. He started with Savra, not out of chivalry - well, okay, a bit out of chivalrous attitude - but because she was lighter he thought and easier to get down safely. "Hang in th...nope, that was an unintended bad joke." He shook his head. "We'll get you both outta there soon!"

Stirring, Savra and Huet rub sore joins and groan as Jak removes their bonds. After they are freed, they both sit relieved on the stone floor near the group's pile of confiscated belongings.

"It seems our rescue mission was not appreciated by our leadership," Savra says ruefully, once she stretches out her sore muscles.

Then she starts, seeing only Myr, Asano, and Jak in the room. "But what happened to Thurl and the others? How is it that you are releasing us?" Her features alternate back and forth, between fear and accusation.

Jak shook his head with a rueful look. "Yeah, your leadership didn't appreciate us either. Once we turned down the offer t'join, they gave us a room t'sleep in...an' then tried t'burn us t'death in the room."

He let out a sigh. "So. A fight ensued. Thurl is dead, along with a couple o'the other knights, an' most o'the rest fled. Dunno if they'll be comin' back or not."

He glanced at Asano to see if he had anything to add.

Morg helps Mayon and Zora to raise the drawbridge; and close, lock, and bar any doors and windows. Back at the room with the rescued knights, he takes his shield.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Sun 29 July 2018.

Savra's eyes flashed at Jak. "Thurl is dead? Where is the rest of the Society? Don't tell me they've scattered! How will I get revenge on Thermandar?"

Her eyes flash in anger, then she glances at Asano. Her eyes turn downward. "If the Society is ruined then all my sacrifices are in vain. It's - it's all been a waste." She puts her head in her hands.

Watching the eagle carefully, mindful of a trap, Zora worked with Morg to raise the drawbridge, close and lock any doors and secure the fortress as best she could understand how.

Zora, Morg, and Mayon manage to get the drawbridge raised with little difficulty. Testing the one other door in the entrance hall, Zora discovers that it is already locked.

Back on the third floor, Huet rubs his sore wrists. "Bloody mess we're in," he mutters in a rough accent, not at all like his usual high class tones and lofty language. He looks around the room carefully. "I need to find some armor and a sword," he says finally, looking to Asano, Jak, and the newly arrived Morg. "The armory's on the first floor. Any hostiles between me and the entrance hall?"

Savra looks up then, rubbing her eyes. "You're right Huet," she says softly. "I suppose it's time for a new plan." She glances towards the chest near the large bed. "Let's see if Thurl keeps anything useful in that thing." She moves toward the chest.