Sorcerous spells and magic words, Ben summoned the powers of magic to charm the stirges into enchanted slumber. The creatures in their roost quietened their squawking and fell asleep. They kept their  position in the roof.

Trying her best Nerida swung her hammer but couldn't reach the creatures.

OOC The stirges are defeated and will sleep for a long time. It's up to you how you want to deal with them.

If he can reach them himself by standing on the trestle table after it has been righted, Ben will dispatch them one by one with his dagger. Or maybe he'll have to stand on the table and then boost Nerida to his shoulders, so she can reach them with a blade.

Then he can search room at his leisure, especially the pile of old clothing in the SE corner.

Fiene warmed himself by the fire, trying to ward of the chill that cut through to his bones.  He didn't know if it made the spirits feel better, but it was helping him.  He looks around the room, trying to tell if the spirits persisted.

Together and with use of the table, now righted and placed under the roost, Nerida and Barnabas slaughtered the sleeping stirges. Investigation of the south east corner revealed that it was not a pile of old clothing but the body of a dead woman in a dress and cloak. The body lay on its chest.

On the lower floor Fiene warmed himself up. The firelight banished the cold and kept the ghostly images away but Fiene could sense their lingering spirits in half caught glimpses or the odd unexplained shiver that ran down his spine.

Bertilak the Green, a tall, slim man in fur-trimmed green robes approaches the gatehouse. A tough looking woman in chainmail trails behind him. "I say, Arietta, this looks like the group we were sent to help. They don't look like goblins, anyway."

OOC: DM gave me permission to join the party. Hi guys!

The companionship offered by Arietta on the road was prickly, her mood contrary to whatever chitchat Bertilak offered. So for the main part the pair travelled in silence through the foothills. The road although neglected showed signs of regular traffic. Nearer the river the road skirted a dank marsh from which the foothills rose. Once past the marsh the road threaded through a wooded forest. After several uneventful miles the road terminated at the mouth of a narrow box canyon that bisected a high cliff wall. Steep cliffs and tall mountains beyond the defile loomed overhead.

At the mouth of the canyon stood an old curtain wall that has crumbled in places, leaving large gaps. The gatehouse doors lay rotting on the ground before it and spaces between the rusty portcullis allowed easy access. Through the portcullis Bertilak met some of the others as they explored the gatehouse.

Greed wars with modesty within Barnabas before raising the white flag as it must do in polite company. It is thus Nerida who searches the body of the fallen woman for any valuables.

As she does so, he hears fresh voices from below, one belonging to an Arietta. Always the opportunist, Ben descends to the first floor and entreats their owners to join him in further exploration of the second floor of the ancient gatehouse.  For some reason, Fiene, an able, young man by all appearances had turned dilatory and stood by a campfire -- unable to banish inexplicable chills.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Wed 03 Feb 2021.

Reluctant but following orders Nerida turned over the body of the dead woman. A pouch on her girdle revealed treasure of ten gold coins and a gem. When returned downstairs she followed nervously.

Arietta welcomed Ben with a frown and folded arms, ignoring his pleads to enter the gatehouse. She remained on guard beside Bertilak and didn't seem willing to offer to do any extra work.

Bertilak steps up to Ben with a big grin. "Greetings explorers, I am Bertilak the Green. I was told that an intrepid band of adventurers were exploring these ruins, and I have come to lend my hand, and hopefully earn enough treasure to continue my studies of things arcane. Oh, and this is my bodyguard, Arietta Arundel."

Fiene shivers, having gotten as warm as he can.  "Come, Ermangard, let us catch up." He says stepping towards the stairs to make his way up.  "I don't think there is more here."

Recovered somewhat from the ghostly chills Fiene led Ermangard up the stairs. The stairway led to room thirty-five foot by twenty-five foot. Sunlight entered the room from four alcoves. Cobwebs, debris and dead leaves were scattered around the room. In the middle of the room was a trestle table with three recently killed stirges laid on it. Ruined garments hung from pegs on the wall and the body of dead woman laying face up was in the south east corner. There was a doorway in the north wall.

Cheerfully, Ben replies, "A happy day brings you here, Bertilak."

Wait. Was it Bertilak? Might it have been Beryl? Bertilak. Beryl. A haze clouds his mind. Figures seem to waver and become indistinct.

He follows the others back up the stairs and into the room where the robed woman had died (or had been brought to die?). There was the unopened door.

"Nerida, it's your turn," he reminds her.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:11, Fri 05 Feb 2021.

Nervously Nerida went to the door and opened it. Nothing flew out to assault her and she shakily walked forward. The room was the same size as the previous room, as well as the four alcoves letting in light there was a large gaping hole in the ceiling. There was no roof in the south west corner whatsoever, the hole being about fifteen foot by twenty foot. Signs of water damage and rot were prevalent, the floor creaked and groaned as Nerida walked upon it. A staircase led to a trap down in the roof and another door was in the northern wall.

Gates of hell

OOC

Day: 1. Time: 1:10pm. Turn: 25. Weather: Clear. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil used Ben and Fiene: 19 Turns
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:16, Fri 05 Feb 2021.

"Ware, Nerida!" Fiene calls in warning. The girl might be young, but was still wearing heavy armors.  "Let me prove the floor, it sounds unhale." he offers, gesturing with his long pole.  He hands the lantern to Ermangard and begins tapping on the floor, only standing where it seems stout.

The warning from Fiene had Nerida frozen in place. Prodding with his long pole Fiene tested the floorboards. There was much creaking and groaning but where Fiene poked the boards they held and were safe. Nerida was able to take the opportunity to safely retreat.

Fiene was able to cross the rotten floorboards without accident to explore around the room.

One floor at a time, Barnabas counsels himself. He crosses the room to reach the far door and opens it, keeping to the tested spots as well as he is able.

"My turn," he acknowledges. On whose turn will this game end, he morbidly ponders.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:36, Fri 05 Feb 2021.

The path tested by Fiene was creaky and the floorboards groaned as Ben crossed the room and opened the door. Beyond the door was a dark room. There were no alcoves to allow daylight in. Ben's lantern light revealed a room that was thirty-five foot by twenty foot. Six murder holes led down to the passageway below. Beside the murder holes were piles of stones. Situated above the portcullises were hand cranks.

Gates of hell

OOC

Day: 1. Time: 1:20pm. Turn: 26. Weather: Clear. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil used Ben and Fiene: 20 Turns
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:32, Sun 07 Feb 2021.

Fiene moves to check the stairs leading to the roof, getting the feeling that this has all been ransacked before, leaving nothing for them.

It definitely stood to reason that the gatehouse had been visited many times and stripped of much of its treasure. The only remaining treasure would be either worth little or well hidden. Fiene used his tested path to reached the stairway and went up to the trapdoor. The trapdoor groaned as it opened. Through the trapdoor was the gatehouse roof. The roof of worn stone was splattered with bird droppings. Another trapdoor was set in the roof eighty foot to the north.

Anfinn made his way to follow the others.. nervousness took  over. The thief padded his way in his attempt to follow the footteps of his compatriots.

The wizard pads across the roof, testing the structure before each step. He hops the other trapdoor is not locked from the inside.

The roof proved sturdy enough and with careful progress Fiene followed closely by Ermangard made it to the second trapdoor. The trapdoor like the last was rusty and old but the work of Fiene and Ermangard pulled it open with a loud groan.

Light of foot and cautiously stepping where the others had Anfinn made it across the rotten floorboards of the room. Rather good at making sure he was not heard the  floorboard noticeably creaked and groaned less than the others. Anfinn caught up with Ben in the middle room with the murder holes. Rather than be left alone Nerida slowly made her way to catch up with Barnabus, the floor nosily complaining as the hevaily armour girl crossed.

On the roof Fiene peered down the trapdoor. The trapdoor led to another set of stairs, similar to the first. The room likewise was of similar size with four alcoves permitting light to enter. Throughout the room as well as the usual dust, dirt and debris were many broken casks and crates. A buzzing noise emanated from the room.

Gates of hell

OOC

Day: 1. Time: 1:30pm. Turn: 27. Weather: Clear. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil used Ben and Fiene: 21 Turns.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:32, Sun 07 Feb 2021.

"Bees?" Fiene says, looking at Ermangard.  "Maybe there is some wild honey." He adds with a smile.   He lays down, and hangs the lantern down into the room, trying to see if there is a swarm or a hive somewhere before climbing down into the room.  He wasn't interested in getting stung.

Laid on the ground with his ear close to the ground the buzzing was louder. Taking the time to observe Fiene saw flying insect buzzing around the room. They appeared to be more concentrated in the south west corner.

Fiene makes his way down the stair, not making any aggressive movements.  He avoids the southwest corner, and looks around the room.  If he finds nothing of interest, he will make his way to the north door.