The group took stock of the post battle remains and looked beyond into the mist, trying to determine their baring and where to best head. They weighed whether to head off towards the lizard men or approach the witch…due to the poor condition of the path to the lizard men, the group headed off towards the witch.
The group traveled down the path a short way and approached some skulls upon a bridge which sprung to life and screamed a warning, each skull triggering the next… alarms cascading off into the misty distance ahead. The final scream called out “All Hail Kayleth Mistress of the Forge” and the metal clanging off in the distance ceased.
The alarms ended and the group felt an overwhelming chill spread across their ranks. Alton and Rhin’s horse bolted off to scramble over the bridge. Krius spirited his horse forward and scooped up Alton before he could reach the bridge and attempted to slap the panic out of him (which failed).
The two started to scuffle, but Krius grappled him unto submission. Ahead in the distance the sound of crossbow bolts impacting flesh and the frantic neighing of Rhin’s horse in its death throes could be heard. Krius continued to throttle Alton until he regained his composure.
Rhin began to shatter the skulls and the group prepared for a battle on the bridge. A group ahead called out for the party in guttural barks to identify themselves and sent a scout forward. Prophit cast a spell from one of his scrolls which transfixed the kobold scout, and proceeded to try to fool the group ahead in the fog, at the behest of the party, but his act was less than convincing.
Krius and Mannon decided to go ahead in the mist to offer themselves up and attempt to parlay. They came to a wood-walled fort guarded by gnolls and kobolds and convinced them to send along some kobolds to assist in diggin out the slave caravan "which was laden down with treasure".
The group led the kobolds away, an once they were a safe distance from the fort, they slayed them all, successfully thinning the fort's defenses.
Returning to the fort with the slave wagon (with Alton, Rhin, and Prophit smuggled in under some dead slaves and kobolds). The group convinced the gnolls to let them speak with Graah the ogre blacksmith. He appeared on the ramparts brandishing a massive blade that crackled with electricity and wearing full-plate. He boldly opened the fort’s gate to take his payment of goald and bid the wagon in.
Once the party entered the fort, the gate closed behind them. It was only moments after Krius presented the ogre with fifty gold as payment, that the fort defenders recognized their deception.
The host of fort defenders descended upon the party and a desperate battle ensued. The party was battered and slashed and peppered with arrows...and fought back with fire and sword and began to gain the upper hand. A gnoll slipped away and sounded the alarm, before he could be stopped. The sound rang out above the clamor of battle in a shrill echoing call that would soon bring reinforcements to bear against the party...and possibly worse.
* Alton (Aaron), halfling shadowcaster
* Mannon (Dave), halfling swordsage/warlock
* Prophit (Jeff), human cleric
* Squire Krius (Matt), human paladin
* Rhin No-Clan (Jim), dwarf warblade
Rumors and clues gathered (this session):
* The gnoll captain "Hans" is the gate keeper of the witches fort
* A huge ogre "Graah" is the forge blacksmith and muscle
* Lady Kylith is the name of the witch queen
Treasure found (this session):
* None this session
Foes/traps/tricks overcome (this session):
* screeming skulls, fear trap
* 2 kobold scouts
* luring away and ambushing 9 kobolds
* negotiation with gnoll captain "Hans"
* negotation with orge smith "Graah"
* 4 gnolls lackies (no xp, fight on going)
* 1 gnoll captain of the guard (no xp, fight on going)
* 1 ogre blacksmith-warrior (no xp, fight on going)
* 10 kobold peon crosbowmen (no xp, fight on going)
Experience gained (this session):
360 each player
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