Chapter Five: Hunting Lodge

Talis shakes her head, "You're lying!" she says softly, but with great anger, "What has happened to Mryio? I will give you one last chance to answer me."

Bughu now looks to Talis. "I don't remember," he answers plainly. Are you his next of kin?"

Leema lets out a barely audible sigh. "This isn’t going well..." she thinks to herself as she starts to recite the prayers of several spells over and over in her head.

Ok, so I stretched the truth a little. I do remember the man. He was travelling with us at one point. I recall him mentioning that he knew a Talis, some half-elf ladyfriend of his. He was worried that she had been captured or killed and was dead-set on rescuing her - er - you, I suppose. He was there one day, and the next he was gone. More than that, I'm not sure. Erich says, letting a twinge of a sigh go. I apologize for not being immediately up front, but he had some very unflattering things to say about the organization and to see you placed so highly, it pays for us to be sure of our company before we spend words, yes?

Talis looks deeply pained by this news, "He just... left?" she asks, "That can't be good news if I haven't seen or heard from him either."

She shakes herself out of her pain and looks at each of you in turn, "I tried to shield Mryio from this," she says, "I joined in order to figure out what they are doing and bring them down from within. I didn't want him to try to follow me, so I just disappeared when I came to join up."

Erich looks her over, trying to figure out if she's being honest or trying to ferret out a confession from him.

Erich finds it hard to get a read on Talis. Either she's very sincere right now or a very good liar.

I am sorry to bring you the painful news then, Talis. That is certainly an interesting stance to take, one of infiltration and collapse from inside. You joined for that reason, but is it still your goal? Erich says, hoping to coax more from her, likewise hoping to drop the facade on his part.

As the details bring back memories for Bughu, he looks over to the other woman to gauge her demeanor and reaction.

Bughu doesn't sense anything deceptive about Talis' interaction with you.

She sighs, "I can only hope that he is alright then," she says sadly, "But yes, this is still my goal."

Then how best can I assist you, Talis? Erich says, testing his luck.

Bughu looks over at Leema and nods, giving her the signal to stand down. At least for now.

Giving a slight nod in response, Leema stops her internal recitation and focuses on remaining calm.

Talis nods, "Follow my lead," she says, "I'm not sure what to expect when we get inside."

You move closer to the castle. A lowered drawbridge spans a foggy moat. Beyond the drawbridge is an open portcullis, and beyond the portcullis is a covered gateway leading to an open courtyard. Large figures loom in the gateway, but you can’t quite make them out.

A heavy oak-and-iron portcullis is drawn up just behind the drawbridge. Two life-sized statues of 18-foot-tall cloud giants — one male and one female — stand behind the portcullis, facing each other within the covered gateway.

These two gate towers are not the same height. The one to the left of the drawbridge is 120 feet tall, while the one to the right of the drawbridge is 80 feet tall.

Atop each of the towers are a trio of ogres staring down at you, massive javelins in hand.

Erich follows along behind Talis, just off her right shoulder, trying to keep his face in check at the sight of the structure's massive features.

This is a magnificent castle, Wyrmspeaker. Please lead on.

Just how in the nine hells did they get hold of this castle? Surely, it was built for giants!

Bughu restrains his hand from hovering over his crossbow, and follows as an escort. "One question," he begins, "who is this?" He tips his head to the other woman.

Talis pauses before you cross the bridge, "This is Kushpia, my most loyal advisor and guardian."

Bughu nods. Though he just met Talis (a name that is only now coming back to memory), he has no other choice but to trust her for the time being.

With that out of the way Talis leads you in, past the statues of cloud giants and into the courtyard. Walls of solid ice enclose this courtyard. Another courtyard partially overhangs this one. It is held aloft by sweeping arches of ice that soar to a height of over 100 feet. Doors of sculpted ice fitted with iron hinges lead to various outbuildings and main keep on the far side of the courtyard from the gate towers.

Talis places a hand on the dragon mask hanging on her hip and nods, leading you unerringly toward a door, which she opens, revealing a hallway with several more doors. She picks the first on the left and leads you in. A large rug covers the icy floor just inside the door of this 10-foot-high room, which is lit by a brazier of hot coals. A large bed rests in one corner, a desk in another. Resting atop the desk is a handsome, iron-banded chest secured with a sturdy padlock.

"This was Rezmir's chambers," she says, patting the mask, "I can feel it."

Leema stands near the door through which Talis led the group, growing more uneasy with every passing moment.