The Heroes Strike Back

Should we try to take out the guardsss asss their attention isssn't on their possstsss?

Pageflap looks up from looking at the forest to watch the prisoners escaping and gives Sulprax a nod. He turns his attention to the guards and pulls out his staff.

Torden nods and whispers, "First, we take out that one headed for the main keep. Then the rest. But quietly - we don't want the alarm raised!" At that, the dwarf prepares to cast a spell.

ANDER, PAGEFLAP, SULPRAX & TORDENROUND ONE

PCs have surprise - your foes do not get to act in the first round.

Initiative Order
1. PCs
2. 3 Night Blade Guards

Ranges: At the top of the round, there is a guard making his way down a staircase to the courtyard 115 ft. away, a guard to the west 100 ft. away and a guard to the east 100 ft. away. You are currently within a 20 ft. radius Fog Cloud centered between the east and west guards. The guard going down the staircase has about 115 feet to go to make it to the keep.

Lighting: The land is bathed in the dim blue light from Sorrow, so disadvantage on perception checks but not attacks.

Special Features

1. Castle walls, 30 ft. high
2. The Fog Cloud*
3. Big iron chains with cages attached to them.
4. A barracks building at the foot of the stairs. (appears vacant)
5. Debris-strewn courtyard.

* You have total cover when inside, although baddies can still attempt a lucky shot as a cloud does not block projectiles. Conversely, when you are in the cloud you cannot see out of it.

You take one end of the barrel as Schneider tips it.

"Gardren thinks he's talking to something alright. Nobody ever seen or heard what though."

His voice turns into a hush as you move the wine barrel up the stairs.

"Gardren's gotten us far, but .... some of the guys are talking about ... a change." Schneider leaves the word 'mutiny' unspoken, but his body language makes it clear that is what he is talking about.

We have sssurprissse on our sssside perhapsssss leathality should not be our goal. He glances at the heavy chains and cages. Though sssome jusssticccce isss still possssssible. How about I go to the wessst, Torden to the eassst, Pageflap and Ander join who you like, and if the guardsss nearessst to ussss can be incapaccccitated we can cage them and make our way down?
With that Sulprax hefts his maul to his shoulder so that he is ready for action.

The Night Lord regards you with a level stare.

"Ah yes I know that one. I've heard it told a dozen different ways, but it always ends with the plucky hero beaning the old giant right between the eyes. He goes on to found a great city state, which is now Katagia. How auspicious that you should bring up that story on the eve of my own founding of a great nation."

"Ah, it seems our wine is finally ready. Kayne! Fetch me two cups from the kitchen."

The large man with Iman's great glaive snaps to attention and quickly moves to the kitchen, passing by 'Skeetz' and Schneider.

Torden starts moving east as Sulprax suggested, the incantation on his lips almost complete. As soon as he clears the fog, the dwarf releases a streak of light aimed at the guard on the stairs. Torden keeps moving, hefting Stormbreaker as he closes the distance to the guard on the castle wall.

Ander follows Sulprax to the west, stepping quietly out of the fog cloud, marking his quarry, and firing an arrow at the guard.

Torden's Guiding Bolt slams into the Night Blade on the stairs, illuminating him in light. You see he is armed with longsword and longbow, and armoured in chainmail - a departure from the usual armament of the bandits and likely pilfered from the castle stores. He manages to stay upright as the glow fades. Ander's arrow finds the Night Blade's throat and he dies in a quiet sputter of blood, like a buck with its neck between the jaws of a wolf.

RYVID AND KIT

---

The contest has been set. A long, sturdy wooden table has been brought up to The Night Lord's grand chair, upon which he now sits. 15 feet across from him, a lesser chair has been brought for the challenger. Each place has been set with a pewter mug. Schneider has finished tapping the barrel and fills two large carafes with blood red alcohol, which he places at either end of the table. The Night Blades flank their lord on either side, making a semi-circle around the table.

"Let the best man win." The Night Lord gestures for Ryvid to take the seat.

As this is happening, another Night Blade guard enters through the main doors and quietly moves through the hall. He has a broad moustache and pot belly, and smells like he doesn't bathe religiously. He approaches the nearest Night Blade, which happens to be Skeetz.

"What the hell is going on Skeetz? Where'd you drag this guy up from?"

Hmm, sssometimesss practicality outweighsssss idealssss


Once within range of the second guard to the west, Sulprax uses Command and orders the third guard to:

"Sssurrender"

With the guard to the east downing in blood and the one in the West in the process of being terrified, Pageflap looks around for anything else he can do. Seeing an obvious and bleeding target right in the range of his cantrip, he tosses a fire bolt in his direction.

Ryvid takes his seat and grabs the pewter mug in front of him, pouring it into the tankard he brought himself. "Your abode doesn't exactly scream 'cleanliness' so you'll have to forgive me for not wanting to use your mugs. I can't imagine the state of your kitchen if your gathering room looks like this."

Ryvid raises his tankard "The best man." and swigs it back.

Pageflap finishes the guard on the stairs, consuming him in flame, while the west east guard drops his bow, and jerks his hands in the air as if animated by a puppeteer.

KIT & RYVID

---

The Night Lord does not object to Ryvid using his own mug.

As Ryvid pours the wine down his throat, the magic takes effect. Tt tastes the same as any cheap red you've quaffed in rural halls across the land. However, you do not feel warmth of the alcohol in your veins.

There is a secondary effect as the cup works its magic; the two masses grow brighter momentarily as you drink. This produces a bit of quiet muttering and sideways looks of concern from the men flanking the Night Lord, and bathes the lord in a virulescent glow. The light fades once you put your cup down.

The Night Lord then takes his own cup, fills it, and drinks.

"The vintage is to your liking, Shepherd?"