Campaign Journal: Keepin' up at the Keep of Madrual

Who's stormin' the castle?

• Slick-thief
• Fulvus-halfling
• Jax-barbarian
• Rondel-elf
• Plus Various Hangers-On

Some quick retcon to describe the interactions and reactivation of lens at Vansho Reliquary. A significant observation was that two undead knights in residence who were bound to their funerary chamber now had free movement around the place.

Back to the present: The party assessed Toronin as Librarian Grancet repaired and etched the lens with the help of his bound demon. Benedikt noted that they would need reinforcements to hold the hardpoint if the Barrier was to remain intact. Gerhard was dispatched to see if he could rustle up some troops.

In the meantime, Cleric Henry Cee was reminded that he had a Potentially Useful Relic in Sister Sowena's Gauntlet. Donning it and casting about, he located a small mass grave of slain soldiers from the original fall of the Barrier. A handy platoon of skeletal warriors was summoned, arising from the turf, reattaching limbs, digging up rusted weapons. And soon enough, Gerhard returned with a similar platoon of (living) soldiers and Roderick, Fulvus' archer hench. Reunion made, and Roderick was put in charge of the station's defense. The party and others departed as the soldiers and undead set to digging trenches and sharpening stakes.

The group moved north along the West Trade Road. Several towns they passed through were completely depopulated, either by apparent Chaos raids or fleeing refugees. Coming to the small town of Lany, they found that the Beguines led by Sister Isabel were still entrenched with the locals. They were aware of the predations and turmoil along the road, but were staying put for now, as their oath was to aid and heal. The party encouraged them to decamp for one of the recently liberated fortresses, where there were troops and fresh fortifications. 

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Bella Hoekstra, former second in command at St. Vivinna's Home for the Wayward, caught up with the party (while also conveniently disguised as a beguine). Acroria was in turmoil, with the merchants and clergy overriding the military on the city council. Conflicting commands were going out, and large numbers of incarcerations were occurring for a variety of trumped-up charges. Most of the “wayward children" had either been arrested or fled. It seemed that little aid would come from Acroria, if at all.

With this in mind, the party considered heading straight to Gaerborin Keep, known to be held by Acroria troops, in an effort to sway them to their cause. But securing Madrual, the next node to the north was a priority. The party had never visited the location, and its occupants were unknown. Off we go.

Time to scout. With various invisible and generally sneaky short individuals, the surface ruins were found to have been rebuilt and defenses improved, similar to Toronin. A pair of ballistae covered one quarter, and archers were seen among other fortifications.

Lightly modified map

Now for the cheaty stuff we've all come to know and love. Haste and bless the party and get ready to wreak havoc. Gerhard was given a cask of some horrific but quite flammable gnoll liquor that Slick has had in his inventory for who knows how long. His bombing the ballista redoubt would signal the start of festivities.

A marginal bombing run set enough things on fire, and the part hoofed it in. There was a slight delay as a flaming mutant threw himself off the redoubt and into concealed pits filled with flaming oil. And another as a caster on the tower set surrounding plants to growing at a terrific rate. 

Slick slid up to a tower and checked the door - occupied. A pair of Chaos knights charged out, alerted by the noise. Slick stepped behind them to look for a passage down, but only found their quarters. No worries. Back outside for stabbing. By now everyone else was engaged, with arrows flying, spells going off, and general shenanigans. Jax and Goober squared off with the knights as Slick caught one from behind. The various short members of the party did stabby and shooty things. Benedikt led his remaining troops in to storm defensive points. 

Slick relieved a deceased knight of keys and found the door into the underground stronghold. Which was good, because the door was trapped and would have gone off otherwise.

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Down to face a phalanx of guards. They were defeated, and then reinforced. And reinforced again. The party crowded in and shot and stabbed their way through the throng that came at them from three directions. A pause, and Henry Cee employed Sister Sowena's Gauntlet to choose which door to open. Southeast it is. First, they called for Bendikt's troops to help clear downstairs into the next level.

And into an abandoned chapel with a shattered and melted statue. Likely the mount of the former lens, severely damaged by the current tenants. While the party inspected the room, they were overwhelmed by an insect swarm. Fine. We'll use Rondel's lightning bolt to dispel it. Pursuing the caster down some stairs, silence was cast on a coin and tossed ahead, neutralizing further spells.

Down they went, Henry now employing his new-found flail to whack the caster and his guardian. Others joined in for the now-classic curb-stomping. 

Stepping out of the ring of silence, combat could be heard elsewhere on the level, followed by yells of terror and calls for retreat. Now what. Slick invisibly headed up the corridor to investigate.

This isn't a good sign

Damnit. He froze as something crept out of the shadows.

Definitely not a good sign

Playing cat an mouse with the petrifying beast, Slick was able to signal the party of this new hazard. He kept it distracted with thrown stones as Rondel prepared to blind it. Success! Followed by Slick's hench-halfling Finhorn earning his wages and dropping it with poisoned arrows.

Fine, kill my monsters.

DM Notes:

These dice are in the doghouse, as I lost enough initiatives and had more whiffs than hits. 

Too bad, a couple of the foes had weaponry or abilities to cause some significant damage (Shakes fist).

I'd stocked this lair way back when the party was still in exploring/clearing dungeons stage. The basilisk is an original occupant, saved by the Chaos folks as a continuing nuisance. Other spaces and occupants were generally recycled and updated to the current list of foes of the day. And, per the scribblings above, the place was reinforced by its current guardians. 

Fed out more hints as I figure which shoe or shoes to drop next session, which will take place in three weeks after DragonFlight.