The Keep of Grunwich Forest

"Brave lad but I'd only needed your anwser," Oisín said with a smile to Aldrik, and he lowered his javelin and looked at the Ogre, "And it looks as though we won't be needing them, yet."

Oisín stretched, "One down, another to go."

None the less, he took one of his waterskins and slid it down his shoulder, "There's Oil in this and we could make a great deal of mischieve with fire but as it stands, it'd doubt it's worth the risk."

He lay his hand on his shoulder, "Atomriug indiu... Niurt Ogmi dom... lúamairecht cumachtae hOgmi dom... chumgabāil cīall Ogmi domm imthú."

"No reason to delay," Oisín said as he moved his hand away and headed towards the group, "I think Sanna's magic is still on us, so the pair of you can scout ahead. Drusus and myself will take to gate. I wouldn't wage on the brute being so willing to march to our traps seeing his companion dead, but no harm in drawing it out either."

Minor; Drop Waterskin with Oil. Major; Lay on Hands +5. Move; 30ft towards the group

edited 20th Jan '15 3:37:17 PM by Fauxlosophe

Sanna's mouth and claws dripped with gore. It had been a while since she'd had to call on the form of the bear, and the rush of bloodlust nearly went to her head.

But at least they were done with this fight. Now, they had to see about that other ogre, and just where exactly Leina had gone...

With the bear's loping gait, Sanna began running towards the tower where she'd last seen the gnome.

edited 20th Jan '15 6:49:10 PM by Pyrite

Lissa yanked her rapier free from the ogre's leg and wiped it on the grass. It seemed her blow had cut something important, as the big brute had finally just... given up. She almost felt sorry for it, but not enough to waste time pitying it. "Let's hurry," she said, standing back up. "We need to find Leina and the girl."

As the group ran back again towards the gatehouse, those who looked into the courtyard would be met with... a rather strange sight.

There was that ogre, the one they got a peek at while leaving. This one was smaller than the great beast they fought outside, however only by a little. Still a full grown Ogre, it was more that his companion had been big by Ogre standards. This Ogre, however, had completely white skin... if dirty and somewhat bruised. His eyes were a bloodshot red and his hair, like his body, was white as snow. However, not only the Ogre's appearance was strange... but the situation he was in.

All around the courtyard, there were about five trunks sharpened into huge javelins sticking from the ground. On the ground, there was some sort of mechanical thing making incessant noise like little bells being struck. There was a familiar owl flying all around the Ogre's head, hooting and flapping all around his field of vision. There was an unfamiliar black cat hissing and meowing loudly, climbing and scratching at the ogre's legs. There were two wolves sticking to one corner and growling. And finally... there was a big fifteen feet tall elvish warrior in shining golden armor and glowing sword moving and dancing right out of the ogre's reach each time it tried to smash the warrior to the ground.

"Briseadh agus brú ar do chnámha!" Oisín shouted to the Ogre as he entered, "Your friend is outside, waiting for his funeral. Will you not do him the honour of attending?"

"Come, we've a seat of honour set for ye beside him."

Cast Bane, Advance 30 ft towards Ogre II

edited 20th Jan '15 8:03:19 PM by Fauxlosophe

Sanna saw the ogre, and the host of animals that were attacking it, but there was no sign of Leina. Still, she recognised Brill, and that meant that the gnome had to be close.

Given a choice between the ogre and the beasts, she knew which one she'd side with. Still in bear form, Sanna roared out a challenge and charged the ogre.

Move: 40 ft. Action: Multiattack Ogre.

Stepping through the gate behind the others, Drusus observed the situation. It was curious the other ogre had not followed after Its fellow immediately. As could be seen now, it was because its fight had already gone underway within the keep's walls.

But who was the ogre fighting? The identity of the golden-armored figure dodging the monster's strikes was not one Drusus had the time to answer. Seeing the others taking action, Drusus had to assist at once.

Taking his medallion once more, he implored Hagal's blessing.

Remain past the gate, Cast Bless at second level upon Oisin, Sanna, Lissa and the mysterious warrior.

edited 21st Jan '15 7:48:52 PM by SonofMelonHead

[Oisin casts Bane, Saving Throw of d20-2 Charisma Based = HIT, Bane takes effect]

[Sanna runs and attacks as a bear! 1d20+5+1d4 bite attack = HIT, damage 1d8+4 = 1 + 4, 1d20+5+1d4 claw attacks = HIT, damage 2d6+4 = 6 + 6 + 4]

[Drusus recasts bless, resetting the spell upon the fighters!]

[Temporarily NPC'd Lissa moves closer into the battlefield!]

[Leina peeks out from the roof of the eastern building and stands up! Casts Reduce! Constitution Saving Throw 1d20+3-1d4, FAIL! Reduce takes effect!]

[Ogre turns to attack Sanna! Greatclub attack is 1d20-1d4 = Miss!]

Thus the battle against the second ogre starts, with Oisin's spell cursing at his fell foe at the same time as Drusus blesses the party to bestow them with strength and courage. Sanna runs in, full of feral fierceness as she clashes against the Ogre, blood soaked maw and claws connecting on the flesh of the brute. The creature cries out in pain and tries to strike at Sanna, but like his ally, his mace cannot harm the barklike skin of the bear to do significant damage.

It is at this moment that the glowing elven warrior disintegrates into a thousand little motes of light and Leina makes her appearance, stranding tall upon the Eastern Building "Ha! Seems like you used well the time I bought you, hunters. Now however, you shall glance upon the might of a transmuter!"

Rising her wand and making flourishes with it, the Gnome grins as she collects her magical power, the essence of transformation that is her calling. Aiming finally the wand at the Ogre, she whispers words of power that trigger the change... and then, right before them, the Ogre passed from being a towering monstrosity to be made the size of a tall, bruttish man "Big, big you were once, but now you have become small!"

"What's your name now, ye wee rascal?" Oisín said as he readied his javelin, "If ye fancy a surrendering, we may yet have words. Elsewise, I'd like to at least mark your graves well."

He advanced his thirty feet and launched his dart.

Raising his shield, he drew another and prepared for the counter attack, keeping close to Lissa.

Move; 30 ft Main; Throw Javelin at Ogre Minor; New Javelin

Ah, there you are, little one. Sanna caught sight of the gnome from the corner of her eye, and briefly wondered what she'd been up to, but there was another more pressing concern.

Sanna had tasted blood.

She wanted more.

Rearing up on her hind legs, she towered over the now-shrunken ogre, and swiped at it with a forepaw even as her jaws gaped for another bite.

Main: Multiattack.

edited 24th Jan '15 7:09:48 PM by Pyrite

Lissa raised her rapier and pointed it at the small ogre, forcing a grin she didn't quite feel. Battle was exhilarating sometimes, but being this close to ogres was certainly not. The old tales were a bit too clear about what happened to most people who fought them. "Vinur þinn dó án ónæmis í allt, og hann var þrisvar sinnum stærð. Hvaða möguleika hefur þú?" she shouted at the ogre, her words vibrating with subtle magic.

'Your friend died without any resistance at all, and he was three times your size. What chance do you have?' Move: Advance to keep up with Oisin. Main: Cast vicious mockery.

[Oisin attacks with Javelin, 1d20+5+1d4 = Hit, damage 1d6+5 = 4+5]

[Sanna bears it up. 1d20+5+1d4 bite attack = Hit, damage 1d8+4 = 8 + 4, 1d20+5+1d4 claw attacks = Hit, damage 2d6+4 = 6 + 4 + 4]

[Lissa casts vicious mockery! Saving throw 1d20-2 = Fail, 1d4=3]

[Drusus attacks with his quarterstaff, 1d20+3 = Hit, 1d6+3 = 5]

[Leina casts ray of frost! 1d20+5 = Hit, damage 1d8 = 1]

[Ogre dead]

"Mrigli boss! Rhua no more! Mrigli smash you puny-"

The ogre tries to boast and cry out his supremacy, unfortunately, he is promptly smashed by the combined efforts of the entire party. A javelin hits him squarely in the chest, driving itself deep. The raging bear tears terribly large pieces of the ogre with both claws and bite, making the brute bleed out quite badly, cry out in horror and terrible pain. With just that, the ogre wasn't long for the world... however, he suffered the further indignity and shame of the bard's vicious mockery... the magic of her shout and song ultimately being the last assault that crushes his mind and makes his body topple over. The hit of Drusus quarterstaff and Leina's bolt of frost are mere insurance that the brute will never rise again.

Thus an otherworldly silence fills the keep for a moment... as neither owl, wolves or cats make a sound... and with his death, the body of the albino Ogre starts to grow back to his regular size.

Victory has been found today in this field of battle.

"No sign of Ria," Oisín said, "The evening isn't done yet. I'll call the lad in. Sanna, you'd do best search about the baily for her, give us signal if there's trouble. We'll keep behind and try not to set off traps and the like."

Sanna nodded, and her form shimmered and wavered before she transformed back into the more familiar shape of an elf - but her hands and mouth were still stained by the ogre's gore.

"Ugh. Ogre tastes bad," she grunted, before addressing Leina. "Don't run off next time, little one. What did you find?"

She lowered her head close to the ground, seeking out the scent and tracks of humans - as well as the ogre's path to its lair.

Survival check or Perception check, whichever one applies.

edited 25th Jan '15 6:48:56 PM by Pyrite

"Aldric," Oisín said by the gate house, signalling the lad, "Bring Tírnanóg and grab a couple traps on your way in. It seems we're safe now. Better at least than to be sitting in the woods without aim."

With that he turned towards the Wolves and gestured them near, signalling as he could in their tongue to approach.

"Where did I run off? For recognizance and distraction purposes! Whitey here was going right after you lot when I decided to do what I do best... and that is annoy the hell out of big dumb things" says Leina with a mischievous sparkle to her eyes as she approaches the dead ogres... remembering something about them.

"Oh... the stories are true... Ogres do carry bags of their favorite stuff" says Leina, taking out a dagger since she doesn't want to touch the stuff herself. With a gentle cut, she detaches a bag from the albino ogre's loin cloth and gingerly opens it "Hmm... hmm... seems like... ughh... a few dead rats and a metallic goblet of some kind over here"

"Ohh... also, Brill found something" says the Gnome looking up at the druid and paladin "There are two more wolves inside the big keep there. And a dead one before a closed door... second floor East side"

Aldrik nodeed his head and then ran off to fetch both traps and horse.

The wolves meanwhile, slowly approached Oisin... and sad creatures they seemed, with rashes, patches of missing fur and the yellow spittle... they snarled and groaned, scratching themselves near constantly.

edited 26th Jan '15 12:31:22 PM by daltar

"Can you two get those wolves calmed like the others?" Lissa asked, looking somewhat askance at the other sick-looking wolves. "Poor things... I'd rather not put them down if we don't have to. For now, though, that closed door seems the best place to look. Maybe the ogres set that dead wolf to guard Ria."

edited 26th Jan '15 12:09:38 PM by RedSavant

Oisín knelt down and patted one, "Go n-eirí an t-áḋ leat."

He murmured as his hand lit up while scratching the Wolf as one would an affectionate pup.

"And c'mere yourself," he said to the other as he set down his javelins, "Nár laga Talona ṫú arís."

Again as an old master, he petted the dog beneath his shield under a glowing hand.

"Beiḋ sláinte agat arís, le cúnamh Oġmi."

Oisín smiled at the dogs under him, and spoke again in his growls and barks that made up their primitive tongue; "I've need of the pair of you to greet your friends inside that neither of us cause the other any ructions, could you take me along and let them know we're friends?"

"May Luck rise with you" "May Talona never weaken you again" "You'll be in good health once more, Oghma willing." Also I am expending 10 HP of lay on hands to heal both Wolves. I am out of magic healing juice and also spells until morning. Ironically, I still have my Channel Divinity power

edited 26th Jan '15 1:06:46 PM by Fauxlosophe

"Hmmph. You deal with live wolves then, half-blood. I deal with dead one. Maybe take cleric with you, in case you get rabies." Sanna was still irritated over having shot the first wolf, and made no attempt to hide it. "Scholars, come with me. We find girl. But if girl sees elf with blood on face, not good for morale."

The look on her face suggested that she had first-hand experience with the above scenario, and wasn't exactly thrilled with the thought of going through it again.

edited 2nd Feb '15 2:55:24 AM by Pyrite

Thus, by the Sacred powers of the Paladin, his Divine infused miracles his hands glowed with the power of healing and brought respite to the two wolves. The two whimpered in relief as the illness was washed away from them... as the ache subsided, their pain flowing away and leaving them whole again. Their rash diminished greatly, though some of their fur would need to grow again naturally. At this the two wolves let themselves be pet gladly and in the language of beasts they expressed their thanks over and over again. Of course they'll mediate with their pack inside.

There was still no sign of Aldrik coming back, but then again, it would take a bit of time to undo the traps and bring them inside.

Leina let Brill land on her shoulder as they moved towards the double door of the inner keep... She did look curiously at it for a few seconds, tilting her head... but as she tried to push them open they easily moved, allowing the group to see the inside of the keep. However, the first one to go into the keep was the black cat that had been attacking the other, marching right in and then climbing up a wall into the second story. The place was rather sizable... as the doors opened into a wide open hall... nearly empty and deserted, only the paw marks of wolves disturbing the dust. There were two doors on the left and right walls, closed at the moment. At the far end of the keep there were a pair of pair of staircases leading to the second floor. To the side of both stairs there were a pair of doors seemingly leading to another part of the complex.

MS Paint Map go!◊

"Brill saw the dead wolf from a window, should be on the second floor, East side" she says, pointing at the balcony on the right side of the room, up.

However, as the Gnome's voice sounded through the empty keep, the party would hear the growling of answering wolves.

"More?" Sanna groused. "We shed enough blood today. Half-blood, you talk to them." Even as she said that, she readied her longbow again, straining to pinpoint the wolves' location.

One other thing puzzled her, though.

"Little one, is that cat also yours?"

Generic Perception check: Wolves, traps, and tracks.

"Keep an eye for the lad," Oisín said to Drusus as he hurried ahead with the pups.

As he passed he smiled to Sanna, "Me oath binds me too tightly for Talona. I'll be fine for whatever these pups carry."

With that he waited until they arrived at the keep.

"I've only a couple minutes left, we'd best go quickly."

He began speaking loudly in the Wolf tongue, howling to get their attention and then growling in such a tone to show no submission but no aggression either.

"Greetings, we come to your pack today in search of a member of our pack who was taken. Human Woman. Young. The brutes brought her away and we were sent out to seek after her."

He paused before continuing his growling; "I've healed your kin and we'll be gone by next sun if you let us pass; I'll make well those who come to me and follow after, if they do not hurt any in the human pack. If any of you wish to make quarrel as the great brutes did, you will be made pelt."

"I will leave your packmates speak for me as I have said my peace."

edited 28th Jan '15 8:57:39 PM by Fauxlosophe

The growls coming from upstairs for a moment seemed to cease... then, the two wolves at Oisin's side growled to him, expressing in their language for him and his humans not to worry, that they will handle this. With that, the two wolves move further in, running up the stairs to find their pack and spread the news it seems.

Sanna with her keen eyes will notice a dust trail different to that of the wolf tracks... coming from the farthest right side door and then moving up the stairs... tracks of a humanoid, wearing footwear.

As for the cat, as Leina steps into the keep and takes a look around she says "Ah, no, the cat ain't mine. The black kitty jumped from a window of the keep and started attacking the ogre all on their own. Didn't think much of it since it actually was quite beneficial for me"

"Leave cat for later. Someone walked here, went up stairs." Sanna was instantly drawn towards the tracks. She approached the far-right door, looking for traps. "Scholars." She turned to Lissa and Leina. "Can you check for wards?"

Perception check for traps on the far-right door.

edited 29th Jan '15 6:24:28 PM by Pyrite

Oisín smiled at the pups as they ran forward, and kept silent pace with the group.

He was no tracker, though he was a decent hand at stealth, he let Sanna ahead and kept to the Scholars.