The Keep 

January 23, 2019

The group has decided to check out the portals and why Arakus had gone there.  They are still not sure if Arakus is alive or not.  They head to the Chateau and go to the same entrance they used before.  

Maldar hoped he made it in time.  Paine's people knew not to get distracted.  They stuck to following the group as the group left their tenement.  And it was only a dozen steps for them to get to the Chateau.  Maldar hoped his aim was true as he launched the dagger.  Maldar winced as the dagger hit the rope but not on center.  Several heartbeats passed before the rope actually snapped and the awning closed hard.  Paine's people, Maldar sees Fentan and Suntha jump, causing the others to jump as the group disappears around the corner.  Maldar took a deep breath then started sprinting.  He threw the pouch of dust and pepper and it ripped apart as he wanted, throwing a cloud of choking powder into them.  Racing past, not bothering to see how well the powder worked, he sprinted up to the door, slammed his key into the lock, opened the door, jumped in, and slammed it shut.  Now to find out which roo-

Maldar stopped.  The party loomed over him in the small foyer.  Maldar had no idea what to expect but didn't expect this.  Tyrel drew his rapier, Hang grabbed at something on her neck, but Jinn kept reading.  

"Who are you?  How did you open that door?"  

"Wait, please!  Stay your hands!  I'm Maldar and while I know I'm not a friend, I'm not your enemy.  Paine has had people following you but I took care of that before making contact."  Maldar shifted a bit under the scrutiny.  "I know it's too much to hope I might join you but I do think I can help.  Ever since you spoke to Paine, I think you worried her.  She has had people following you.  I don't know their orders but that is certainly not good!"  

"How do you know Paine," asked Dorn.  "How do you know us?"  

"Uilken was my friend and I know you have been indirectly trying to find out what happened.  Or maybe you already know.  I think I can trust you and I don't have anyone else.  Paine is up to something and I don't want to see that in Daggerford.  I'm hoping that's the case for you as well and we can work against her."  

Tyrel puts his rapier away.  "Let's at least talk in the comfort-"

"Tyrel, the command wor-!" yelled Hang.  

Too late.  

Lightning shoots out from the rune on the door, hitting all and dropping several.  They writhe in pain for seconds before it stops.  Tyrel and Hang are unconscious and Jinn and Dorn rush to their aid.  Dorn shakes his head, thinking this is not a great start.  They get inside the room after healing potions and rest.  Dorn believes Maldar.  He doesn't trust him but he believes what Maldar tells them about Paine.  They rest and then have to decide on Keep or Den.  They go back and forth, Maldar doesn't know what this is.  They decide on the Keep and Hang again readies Detect Magic while Jinn opens the portal.  

They come into a courtyard of a Keep, standing on a teleportation circle.  As they move out, Tryel activates his new lantern so they have light.  They notice something moving and as they approach, some Gricks attack!  A tough fight but they do finish them off.  That's when a tiefling comes out, demanding to know why they didn't show the amulets so they wouldn't have to kill their guard gricks?  That's when the tiefling notices that they are new and asks what they want?  The group recovers from their confusion and demands to see Arakus, who the tiefling says he hasn't seen in a while.  He then tells them that if they are there for his staff, they owe the remainder on it.  They say yes, so the tiefling, who finally introduces himself as Mitine (Mee tie) and has some other tieflings move the gricks and clean up the mess.  

Mitine brings back the staff and says they can have it for the remainder of the 200 gp owed on it.  None think they have it and Hang finally has enough and uses Hold Person on Mitine, who is held.  They kill him while held and take the staff.  However, Mitine's lackeys see this and sound the alarm!  It's another fight and it's a tough one.  They have dropped two or three people but there are still a dozen defenders, with two casters, and more getting ready from the barracks.  The group retreats out the main entrance to the keep.  The portcullis is slammed down behind them.  The teleportation circle remains out of reach.  

Several can see in the dark and lead the others.  Dorn and Tyrel bump and stumble their way until an hour passes and they can't do it anymore.  They get a few hours sleep, until the sun rises, before they have to get going.  Riders leave the Keep and are looking for them.  Jinn has Chandi scout for them as they try and keep the road in sight.  When another rider arrives, the pursuers hone in on the group and then fire flaming arrows to harass and lead them.  Chandi's help allows the group to avoid the patrol and any ambush the patrol attempts.  At the end of the day, the group gets ready to set their own ambush but it's too late.  The patrol ran out of tracking spells and headed back.  The group travels a bit more before making their own camp.  

800 xp  

GM Notes

• The group forgot about the password into the room and so set off that trap.  It was brutal and took several down. 
• The group thinks it's better to attack than to talk. 
• It wasn't until after the confrontation with Mitine that John remembered they had more than enough to cover the cost, had they wanted to buy it! 
• I think the worst hit was as they were retreating, Dorn got hit by four arrows, where they had been missing their shots before, and nearly dropped due to it.   
• They were hoping to mark a long rest as they made it to camp.  They were mistaken.  And not happy.  This is a dangerous area! 

BACK