Chapter 2: The Crucible of Freya

"Before we lose the light!" Ryenne says, as she takes the iron key and crosses for the door. She sets about opening it.

The door unlocks and opens with surprising ease. It appears to be well-oiled, as though the orcs use this door frequently. It opens to a 20ft-diameter tower with a set of stone stairs leading to the second floor. The wooden floor on the level above is rotted and has a large hole in it, as does the roof. In the center of the floor is a colony of green slime with scorch marks around the edges; footprints circle the edge of the tower and avoid the slime. A door on the other side waits closed, without an apparent lock.

In a hushed voice, Nebbleshuven says, "We should get a few archers up high to pick off any orcs in the courtyard. Maybe have a group rush in through the courtyard as a distraction once we're ready to storm the tower and battlements." He offers to lead the way up the stairs.

"I can take the high ground but that floor looks shakey at best! Better stay close to the walls, who's coming with me?"

The second level has a rotted floor with a large opening to the first level below. The roof above is also destroyed. There are two closed doors, one facing west east and one facing south. This is in contrast with the doors on the first floor that had faced northwest (the entrance) and southeast. There are no footprints up here. Nebbleshuven recalls that the orc in the belltower had been to the south.

"The doors on the second level," Kariantha says quietly, taking care to have no slime drip on her, "should lead to the battlements, right? That's where our archers will want to be for sure. I'll accompany Datura with my darts... but we might meet orcs on the walls. Or they might come from the other towers. We'll need to watch for that."

The two guards offer their bows to Datura's watch. Corian, meanwhile, seems fascinated by the green slime.

"If you’re fond of your nose, I wouldn’t go sticking it around in there." Ryenne warns Corian.

"We don’t want to rush out anywhere. Or start a fight too early… Thyr knows how many orcs are in this place."

Ryenne will remain below, as the others go about checking upstairs. She puts an ear to each of the doors on the ground floor, listening for activity on the other side.

The lead dwarf steps forward and, in a loud whisper, explains his idea. "We dwarves are not born archers, nor adept in open courtyards. But we know the stones, and we can find any exits. Have you ever been troll-hunting? It's how I got Grodek here," he says petting his very mundane axe. "You need to send in warriors through the front of the lair, flush out the creature. Dumb, smelly, but surprisingly crafty. They always have an escape. If we come in arrows flying, the orcs may flee. And that's where we of the Shattered Axe must be waiting!" Durgis’ companions, Trel, Burl, and Gar, all nod encouragingly at this ingenious plan.

Ryenne waves the work-shy dwarves away as they make their excuses to get out of a frontal assault once again.

Or have us take the frontal assault, while you come in to mop up what remains once we are dead…

"Yes, yes. Do what you must. Though I doubt they’ll sing songs about this battle."

As Ryenne listens to the door, the troupe of dwarves scurry off to their own task. She spends some time listening, but can't make out if any of the noises she hears are orcs moving quietly or trees and branches rustling.

Those that stand on the second floor check the doors heading east, and then south. The eastern door opens to battlements heading towards a door roughly 30 feet away. Based on the tree cover outside of the keep, this is likely a gatehouse. The southern door opens, as well, to battlements that extend roughly 15 feet before they crumble in ruins. A structure sits towards the inside of the keep with the belltower extending upwards. The orc sentry does not seem to have noticed you.

Nebbleshuven asks Datura, "Do you think you can take out the guard on the belltower?"

"If we take a shot and miss… not that I doubt your skill, Datura… then they will be alerted to our presence. If we mean to scout their numbers, we should do so. If we mean to fight here, so be it. Though, we should barricade as many entrances as we need to be impassable! Funnel them towards us!" she says, taking on a commanding voice.

"The tower orc seems too far away to reliably hit, better to sneak up closer and fire but that gives him a chance to spot us. I'm a do-er not a think-er, you tell me where you want me Ryenne."