The Wilderness

Sheemish notes the glint of gold through the dust on the coins as he picks them up. Interestingly, they seem to come from a variety of nations, some of which he has trouble recognizing. Still, gold is gold, and he judges he's found about 120 pieces.

The rest of the party ascends the ladder and pulls it up after them. Fortunately there seems to be just enough room to maneuver the cumbersome thing, and if desired the companions can bring it out onto the rampart with them.

With morning's light out in full, the party can clearly see how the rampart stretches out to a second tower. Its door looks to be intact and shut. Peering down over the castle-side of the rampart, the adventurers see what must have once been a garden. It's extremely overgrown now, but here and there are bits of stone statues that poke through the thick vegetation. It looks like it could be a good place to hide, should the need arise.

Considering the castle's general layout, which Stella received last night from her familiar's scouting, the group is sure that from the second tower they'll be able to look down into the courtyard where Dynaheir is being held. Similarly, the garden below runs around the outside of the main keep, and likely connects to the courtyard as well.

It would seem that the party has two ways to access the courtyard: from the second tower, and via the overgrown garden. So far the castle's upper levels have been uninhabited, and the high vantage point may be useful in surveying the courtyard. On the other hand, the garden is on the ground, which is where they'll certainly need to be at some point to enter the courtyard. Given its dense foliage, it might be a way to get right up to the courtyard without being seen.

However they choose to proceed, they understand that very soon they'll likely be engaging a dangerous number of gnolls in combat. It would be wise to have weapons and spells at the ready.

Sheemish hefts the ladder and follows dieter across the ramparts to the second tower.

Runeson etc can help with the ladder if they wish if that makes sense.

The party proceeds quietly to the second tower, keeping their heads low and eyes peeled. They listen at the door and hear nothing from the other side, but carried on the breeze they can hear a group of gnolls arguing loudly in the courtyard.

Dieter softly turns the door latch to usher them all inside, but finds it locked.

This tower room is as dusty as the last one, but shows that at some point someone with pawed feet crossed the floor. Most likely a gnoll came from the far entrance and was checking the place out, but was deterred by the locked door. The far door is open, revealing yet more battlements. There's a rusty halberd leaning against one corner, and the outer wall has several arrow slits showing some of the landscape outside.

The inner wall has a single arrow slit that gives the party a partial view into the courtyard, where a handful of gnolls are bickering amongst themselves.

Sharing one arrow slit among the party may be troublesome, especially as only about half the courtyard is visible through it. But the ramparts on the other side of the tower, while providing a bit less cover than the arrow slit, certainly would allow the party to view the entire courtyard. Sheemish and Dieter are quick to point out, though, that at the end of the far rampart is another stairway leading down into the courtyard, close to the main gate. That stairway is the most likely avenue of melee assault should the gnolls below be alerted to the party's presence.

With a silent command from Sheemish, Stitch flies out the thin window and takes a survey of the courtyard below. Her vantage points gives quite the view and her connection to Sheemish allows her to describe it back in detail. The blacksmith begins to sketch out a map in the dusty floor.

Stitch's flitting about the air of the courtyard goes unnoticed by the gnolls below, and she's able to take note of a few interesting things:

1) There are 6 gnolls in the wide courtyard. 4 of these are armed with spears, while the remaining 2 have longbows. At the moment they're bickering and eating fish from some nearby barrels. There don't seem to be any gnolls on any of the other ramparts.

2) There is indeed a dark-skinned human woman at the bottom of a wide pit within the courtyard. She looks to be sleeping, no doubt catching what rest she can while there are fewer gnolls about.

3) The main gate's portcullis is raised; it seems to be one of the few things the gnolls and have bothered repairing and maintaining. And Stitch sees another patrol of gnolls nearing the castle, a group of 8. If the party acts quickly (and soon), they might have time to finish off the courtyard gnolls before the other group arrives.

4) The double-doors leading into the castle itself are closed. The courtyard gnolls pause every so often to look warily in that direction, as though expecting something dangerous or fearful to come out at any time.

"Or leading them in and setting it on fire, Sheemish adds, tapping the wooden floor board with his foot. "and dropping the portcullis before reinforcements arrive would probably be helpful." He then pauses briefly, [/b] Butwhat of minsc and his furry friend? Any thoughts of where he might be in this place?"[/b] Sheemish gives a nod at the stenciled map he had drawn out.

Sheemish nods and sends stitch on another reconnaissance. Luck seems to stay with the tiny little contraption as she zips out the window again unseen.

One of the gnolls in the courtyard below picks bits of fish out of its teeth with a claw. It puts its long arm into the nearest barrel for more food and, apparently finding it empty, shoves the barrel away and moves to the next nearest one.

Dieter and Stella sneak their way out across the battlements. Keeping low, and further hidden by Stella's magic, the two make it to the far end of the battlements and the stairs there without problems. The stairs here turn and run down the near side of the castle wall, without any railing or other visual barrier to hide behind. Still, all the gnolls seem occupied, and Stella's spell is holding up. They proceed quickly and quietly down the stairs, eyes and ears sharpened for any surprises.

They get to the bottom of the stairs and step into the courtyard itself. There's the portcullis, just a couple dozen feet away. And there's the winch that operates it, almost within arm's reach.

The food-seeking gnoll comes to a large barrel and removes the lid...

Round 1 Player Phase!