Chapter 3: The Dark Fortress

"If nothing else, it is lovely to behold. Are we certain there is no way to truly cleanse the place? I could envision worse places to live…" Belvedere says, cocking an eyebrow. The intent is clear.

Whats our intent here?…

Kendral reflects, "Yes Belvedere from this pristine view, it's hard to believe that this place has been tainted by denizens of darkness. But if we have learned anything on this journey, we have learned little is as seems. We should keep up our guard, I think."

"Maybe, instead of going in through the front door an alerting the denizens within of our presence, we could find a more obscure way? If we have enough climbing gear between us we could even explore the castle top down. That may take them by surprise...although it could also just be a bad idea from the start."

"There is no doubt that we should we should keep our guard. That's a given."

Grimbly gazes at the deceptively peaceful castle that could easily lull one into a sense of ease and safety. "It's not a bad approach, Kendral. But do we have the necessary equipment to scale the high walls of the fortress?"

Sighing, he gives some thought to Belvedere's question. "I wish I knew. Wouldn't that be something? Make it the lovely place it once surely was. In the meantime though, we have a few days left before we lose our weapon magic."

"Aha! A climb! I have just the thing!" the man says, pulling up his pack and rummaging through. He presents a grappling hook to the group.

"Now, you’re probably wondering why and how I came to be such an accomplished climber, aren’t you? You’ve heard the stories of pretty princesses kept in high towers, I’m sure?" he says with almost a laugh!

"A climb would be easy for me. I might have to carry some of you skinny ones.l n my back," she laughs with a barbaric yawp.

Kendral laughs at Xaka's comment as he fishes out another grappling hook and rope from his pack.

"Well Belvedere, wouldn't it be nice if all we found in that castle was a pretty princess simply safe keeping the artifacts the Baron seeks..." Kendral sighs, "that would be nice, but somehow I doubt it."

Katie stares thoughtfully at the majestic structure in front of them and says in a somewhat distracted tone, "Hmm, no, that does seem unlikely doesnt it?" After a moment's pause, "Maybe we should scout it out during the daytime and get s sense of who and or what might be living there now. Hopefully not undead Dryads...."

"Now don’t tease the lad!" Belvedere playfully scolds Katie while jerking a thumb Grimbly’s way!

"Surveillance come morning and then scaling the walls by lunch. With luck, we’ll be halfway home come sundown!"

!

Kendral keeps himself crouched and concealed behind cover as hears the scores of undead marching atop the castle wall. Keeping his voice low just to be safe—even though it’s unlikely the undead could hear them from this distance below—he says to his companions, "well so much for taking them by surprise from the top down, unless anyone knows how to also disguise us as a ghouls. I guess these undead don’t know they’re supposed to linger around crypts and catacombs. Now what?"

"Through the gates. They don't see anything. " She's not sure that's true so knocks on her wooden spear to ward off bad luck. "Or we sneak close, and if they come for us, i hold them off while you get to the inner gate. "

"I say we should sneak close as Xaka says. Charging through the gates is reckless. If we can get close, we can see how they react, and how well they see us. Then decide what to do next. We can probably assume that scaling the walls is not an option, at least for now. We can look for a tunnel entrance too as we approach."

"Well, it won’t be a quite so daring tale, under those circumstances. Us heroes five, armed with our holy weapons and the break of day… burrowed in like common badgers!

I suppose it could speak to a certain sense of heroism and confidence. I don’t suppose any of you would object to some artistic license being utilized in my eventual retellings, would you?"

"Belvedere, you can spin and sing whatever tales you like. You'll hear no objections from me if you decide to make me a hero and I live on forever in your stories." Grimbly chuckles at that idea.