Where the dauntless adventurers enable an assault by Sigrid's band of rebels into the horrors of Castle Eslohe's outer bailey.. INSIDE THE BAILEY The party found themsleves in a disused storeroom, with several empty and half broken crates and barrels. The building was of stone and the walls sagged somewhat. A single stout oaken door was cut into the room, and all clustered around it they pushed it open slightly to observe the space beyond. The courtyard of the outer bailey of the castle - they recognized it from their view on the walls above. Magnus, Magister of the Grey College, stood with his new companions inside the storeroom into which they had emerged from the labyrinthine cave system that snaked beneath Castle Eslohe, moving to try to get a look out of the door. Cyrus, the Witch Hunter, eyed him suspiciously from under his distinctive hat's brim, one hand resting on his pistol-holster. Dronk Cragpush, Dwarvish sewer-engineer, thief and sometimes assassin stood beside Cyrus, bristling with weapons - and on his other flank stood the bulk of Hugo von Wolfhardt, nobleman and Knight of the White Wolf, dressed in ornate but rusted plate armor, his war maul slung over his back, the greatsword he had found in the caves in his hands. The courtyard was filled with hideous, malnourished people, almost all of whom showed signs of mutation. The wretches seemed unaware that they were being observed from within the storeroom. Most simply sat or squatted around the improvised shacks constructed of broken furniture, sticks, moss, straw, mud and stones that filled the courtyard. Filthy water collected here and there in puddles and over all hung a foul odor of human stink. One particularly hideous mutant, with three eyes and an elongated neck, strolled past the door, clutching tightly to his breast what appeared to be a rotting potatoe, muttering something about 'his precious'. Cyrus, seeing the thing, cursed under his breath. In the distance, though the bottom was obscured, they could see both the outer gatehouse on which they had so recently fought - and Drake Blackheart fell - and an inner gatehouse which led to the inner bailey across a bridge. Above, the sky was overcast with black clouds and, while it was only afternoon, it seemed dark out. THE DICE ARE ROLLED 'So, what do we do?' asked Edmee. 'I think we should stop wasting time and push into this den of Chaos-worshippers!' spat Cyrus with disdain. Hugo nodded at Cyrus, but added 'First, we should alert Sigrid and her followers who should lay in wait by the outer gatehouse now.' Dronk looked back and forth to the others and shrugged. 'I can sneak out there and try to open the front gate.' he offered. Magnus observed the discussion thoughtfully, his arms folded into his robes. Edmee's brow furrowed. "What if they trap us in the courtyard, between the two gates?" Hugo turned to her "Edmee is right, they could rain bolts down on our heads with little we could answer with." Dronk nodded while Cyrus responded that 'The dwarf and I will open the outer gate to let Sigrid's ragtag band of peasants in. Hugo, you and Edmee and the Magister can, when you see we've opened the outer gate, take the inner. We will meet the rest of you there." Hugo considered then agreed, saying 'I wont be sneaking anywhere in this armor. Best to wait until the battle is joined then we can seize the inner gate before they know what hit them." The others whispered their assent, and with the plan struck, Dronk slipped through the door, his dark cloak wrapped tightly around him, followed by a crouching Cyrus. Edmee, Hugo and Magnus stayed behind, watching as the two made their way through the ramshackle buildings. SPARKS AND FLAME Dronk moved like a shadow, from one hut to the next, avoiding the shambling figures stumbling about. Cyrus was quick but more noticeable as he reached one of the larger shacks. He crouched and began trying to start a fire using his pistol-spark, without firing them. Smoke began to rise. Dronk, meanwhile had nearly reached the gate, flanked by two enormous towers. Across the door lay a massive wooden beam, intended to keep the doors open. He looked back, seeing Cyrus struggling to set the wet hut aflame. It was then he saw another figure approaching Cyrus - a man dressed in grey robes, Magnus. He raised his arms high, and a huge flame began to consume the building near Cyrus, roaring and cackling. Hugo and Edmee exited the storeroom, but remained behind the nearby ruins, concealed, weapons at the ready, whispering to each other. From where they squatted they could see a guard on the walls take notice of Cyrus and begin running along the wall to the nearby tower. Cyrus sprung back to his feet, and as he ran towards Dronk lit a torch on the flames of the hut, tossing it into a pile of straw near one of the castle outer walls. It began to sputter as well, and smoke started to fill the courtyard. Dronk tried to move the beam holding the gates closed, but it was far too heavy. He called to Cyrus, who ran over and together they managed to force the beam from its mooring, dropping it to the ground with a crash. As they did so, a heavy iron bell began to ring. Cyrus and Dronk put their shoulders to the massive gates and pushed with all their might. Slowly but surely the gate gave way and opened outwards, revealing the forests outside the outer bailey walls of the castle. Nearby, the rusted iron cages still held their skeletal occupants. As the heavy gates swung slowly open, the bell continued to peal, and heavy mailed boots could be heard tramping on the battlements. 'The guards are coming!' cursed Cyrus. Dronk nodded, and ran out towards the forest, gesturing and whistling. As he did so, a great cry went up from within the forest, and unseen figures emerged, several dozen strong - Sigrid's ragtag band of rebels and outlaws. She herself led them, her blonde mane only partially covered by the metal helm she had donned. 'The time has come!' she shouted, and the force rushed forwards towards the gates of the outer bailey. THE BATTLE IS JOINED Dronk turned and rejoined Cyrus just inside the opened gates, his crossbow ready. Cyrus's pistols came into his hands in a fluid motion. Meanwhile, back at the rubble of the outer store house, Magnus was now standing in the open, feeding the flames as they leapt from shanty to shanty, making a massive fire. Smoke choked the filthy courtyard, reducing visibility greatly. The wretches in the yard ran around aimlessly, wailing in terror or madness. Edmee and Hugo remained concealed behind a ruined wall as they watched the scene. When they heard the bell begin to sound, Edmee said 'We must take the inner gate now, they have been discovered!' Hugo nodded as Edmee moved as quietly, but quickly as she could towards the inner gate, and he followed, wincing at the loud squeaking noises the armor made as he moved. The clouds above made good their promise as it began to rain lightly. Back at the gates, Sigrid had led her group of three score peasant and farmers turned outlaws through the gates and into the courtyard, where they stood, open mouthed, in shock at the hideously mutated beggars running about the burning shacks therein. Regaining her composure quickly, Sigrid turned to Dronk, who pointed at the nearby towers. 'You must take the walls and gate!' he exclaimed. Sigrid nodded, then barking orders to her followers, rushed into the nearby tower with a dozen fighters in tow. The rain began to quell the fury of the flames, sending even more smoke spilling into the courtyard and the skies above. The sounds of metal clashing on metal, of men screaming their death-cries, and the roar of the flames filled the bailey. Black-mailed guards emerged from the outbuildings and set apon the rebels still in the courtyard, hacking them down like wheat. They fought back but were hard pressed, until Cyrus began firing, his pistols blasting through the heavily armored guards, leaving smouldering ruin. Dronk loosed his crossbow bolt, cutting down another as it pierced it's battle-visor. Their nerve restored, the outlaws raised a battle cry and swarmed the outnumbered guards. PRESSING THE ADVANTAGE They heard strange arcane babblings over their shoulder, and as they did so, Cyrus and Dronk saw Magnus emerge from behind a burning shack, his arms held high. One of the rebels - a particularly large squint-eyed brute - suddenly grew, his form swelling to twice it's usual size. The man grinned broadly and brought his sword down on a nearby guard. The skirmish lasted only moments, by which time Cyrus, Dronk and the outlaws, led by the now ogre-sized one, finished off the guards who had rushed into the courtyard. Magnus nodded to Cyrus and Dronk "Go, your friends fight for the inner gates. I will help these bandits fight the rest of the battle." Cyrus eyed him warily as he muttered "You speak sense mage; these ragtags can secure the rest of the victory - more worthy foes await us.' Dronk was already rushing through the smoke, weaving through the flames raging about the ramshackle buildings and the panicked mutants, towards the inner gates, as Cyrus turned to follow, leaving Magnus throwing bolts of arcane energy at the guards on the walls. Across the courtyard, Edmee reached the inner gates. She could see the gates lay open, and near them stood a single black mailed guard. She ran behind the cover of the tower, and with a prayer to Manaan conjured a ghostly ball of steely tentacles. Hugo was just behind her as the alerted guard rushed around the tower, where he was met by a sweep of the greatsword, shattering his shoulder and splattering Hugo and Edmee with his essence. Thunder cracked in the distance as the clouds continued to gather overhead, the rain intensifying. Edmee brought the ball of steel down on his head, crushing it and breaking the helmet nearly in twain. A foul stink rose off the shattered corpse of the guard. Edmee rushed towards the far tower, while Hugo moved to the gate. The gate lay open, and revealed a long bridge that stood over a chasm; a precipitous fall hundreds of feet down to the river Baren. A strong wind howled in his ears. Edmee reached the tower and found a winch, designed to open the gates. She began to smash at it with her flail, hoping to disable it so the gate could no longer be opened or closed. Cyrus and Dronk reached the inner gate, and saw Hugo standing there before the corpse of the guard. Thus rejoined, they looked out over the bridge, where they could see across the span another pair of towers flanking a mighty portcullis, which was being slowly, noisely opened. Large, mailed figures stood behind it, clustered, and when the gates opened fully they walked out onto the bridge moving quickly towards the party. BATTLE ON THE BRIDGE A huge man dressed in the same blackened mail as the guards with a curious wrought face-plate showing a scowling man gestured at them. In his hand he clutched a chain leading to an enormous hound, black furred with devilish red glowing eyes. Behind him were two castle guards, silently following. He loosed his hand of the chain and the hound, which had been snapping and pulling on the leash, rushed forward across the bridge. 'Ah, someone else to taste my blade!' cried Hugo. Cyrus grinned, and followed behind Hugo, one pistol over each of the knight's shoulders. 'Perhaps they will prove more challenging than the rest.' he grinned. Dronk's crossbow swung into his hands as he readied a bolt. 'Here it comes' he yelled as the daemon-dog rushed, impossibly fast, across the windswept bridge. THE TEMPEST'S CHILD Inside the tower, Edmee, observing the figures moving across the bridge, looked up to the sky where the thickening clouds poured their rain and rumbled with thunder. She called to Manaan. In her mind's eye she saw the fury of the storm, and called again, concentrating on the large mailed figure. With a tremendous crash a bolt of lightning soared down, striking the figure directly, sending the two guards with him flying and causing him to fall to one knee. One of the guards bounced over the low wall protecting the bridge, plummeting to the rocks below, while the other lay on its back, struggling to get up. Edmee grinned, and quickly bashed the winch again with her flail, ineffectually breaking one of the wooden handles. When the light cleared from their eyes, Cyrus and Hugo saw the beastly hound rushing towards them. Cyrus fired, both barrels tearing holes in the fiends flesh. It reached them and bit and scratched at Hugo, who fended off the attack and let loose a riposte, slashing a bloody rent across the thing's hide. Dronk fired his crossbow, burying a bolt in its flank, but the daemon dog seemed to feel no pain as it pressed its assault. Behind it, the large mailed figure continued his advance, drawing a long two handed sword and as he did so, the blade burst into green flame. Behind him, the remaining guard, still smoking from the lightning strike, wobbled behind. Edmee cursed, seeing her friends hard-pressed, and again called to Manaan, guiding the force of his wrath down in a lightning strike that tossed the remaining guard's dismembered corpse off the bridge, and sent the large mailed figure to his knees. The crackle of thunder rang in the ears of Hugo, Cyrus and Dronk as they battled the daemon dog. Cyrus shot it again, and Hugo cleaved at it as Dronk stabbed at its side with his rapier. The thing bled from multiple wounds, but reared up and opened its jaws, unleashing a cloud of black gas. Dronk was just outside of the area, but both Cyrus and Hugo had to quickly shield themselves from its necrotic effect, feeling their exposed flesh shrivel at its touch. With a roar, Cyrus finished off the hound and began reloading his pistols again. Edmee, bashing desperately on the winch, had managed to do little damage, and could see the mailed figure was still advancing, when a guard came down the stairs behind her, sword at the ready. She shouted something to her companions, lost in the violence of the storm. Dronk, seeing the daemon-dog now dead and hearing shouting, rushed into the tower with Edmee, in time to see the guard charge down the stairs and cleave into her with its sword, sending her blood splattering against the wall. She channeled the power of Manaan in response, sending the guard flying back as lightning crackled through her. A TEMPORARY MADNESS The warrior on the bridge reached them, visible weakened, and looked at Cyrus, whispering something that went into his mind. Cyrus felt his hold on reality weaken and steadied himself. When he opened his mouth to speak a challenge, only gibberish came out 'Hggsnkd Tugghjs Issk Nahts' The warrior brought his green-flamed blade down in an arc, battering through Hugo's defense and cutting deeply into his chest. With a bellow, Hugo fought back, his greatsword flashing in the air as he fought the skilled swordsmanship of his opponent. Cyrus, unable to speak, knew one language he could still use. He raised his pistols, firing both barrels into the dark warrior struggling with Hugo. Two smoking holes were blasted from his pistols into the warriors bulk. Hugo deflected an attack, and in a counterstroke chopped a great rent into the man's shoulder, smashing the armor beneath the enchanted blade. Edmee swung at her assailant, bashing it in the shoulder ineffectually, glancing anxiously through the window down to where Hugo and Cyrus struggled against the menacing warrior. Dronk stabbed with both rapier and parrying dagger, deep into the vitals of the guard. It raised to swing again but before it could another stab from Dronk dropped the guard, dead in a heap. RETREAT, INTERRUPTED Sensing defeat, the warrior stepped back and suddenly collapsed into a green vapor, and began floating out away from the bridge, into the chasm. Hugo, snarling, leapt forward and cleaved at the gas with his flamberge. As he did so, a terrible cry shattered the air, and the gas suddenly coalesced again into the black mailed figure - but torn into pieces. His lower half hit the side of the bridge and bounced down into the darkness below, while his top half, the shoulder gushing blood, lay on the bridge twitching for a moment, then with a low moan lay still. Hugo stooped and searched the corpse, finding a curious potion, while Cyrus took the unusually shaped helmet, pairing it with the one he had claimed as a trophy earlier. Inside the helmet were a pair of crystals cut curiously and attached with a leather strap. He discovered that when looking through them he could see, even in darkness. 'Most useful.' he muttered. The storm continued to intensify, with rain coming down in sheets. The group went inside the tower, and Hugo helped Edmee smash the winch so that it was no longer usable - the portcullis of the inner gate could not be closed again without serious repairs. The sounds of battle from the courtyard had stopped, as had the flames. A pall of smoke covered the courtyard, and they saw a few figures approaching the inner gates. It was Sigrid, her arm hanging at her side, broken, a gash cut in her forehead. Beside her limped two of the outlaws, clearly injured. 'The towers and wall have fallen. The outer bailey is ours!' she cried out, raising her sword. Across the bridge, loomed the open gate leading to the inner bailey of the castle. A group of ravens sat on the wall watching them curiously.
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The WizardIn time, you will come to know the tragic extent of my failings... Past Journals
September 2017
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