The Retaking of Fort Rannick
Our Heroes return to Turtleback Ferry, where they are hailed as heroes, yet again. Another day, another town saved: "Yes, thank you, I'll accept your free drinks and lodging, sorry about looting those mansions, all in a days hero-ing work, don't you know."
Then it's off to Fort Rannick, albeit somewhat resignedly. "Can't anyone solve their own problems? Ah, well - another day, another fort overrun by ogres and a Lamia Matriarch. Ho-hum."
Your Humble Narrator must apologize, at this point. The flood in Turtleback Ferry ruined a mahogany table that YHN inherited from his great Aunt, in which he had stored the second draft of his manuscript: "Narrators: The True Heroism in the Heroic Journey". YHN had been told by over two people who read it - one of which is in the publishing industry - that it truly was an epic work of journalism and research, and was likely destined to be considered a defining work of our generation. So please find space in your heart to humor a Humble Narrator such as the one who writes these words: YHN is both humble and a singular mind, true, but even one such as YHN can give in to the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune.
But I digress. This missive was a bit late, and I'm sorry for it, even though it was due to issues that were CLEARLY not the fault of YHN, and moreover...
Ah. Further digressions will be the death of me! Here is what is happening.
The Heroes set off for Fort Rannick, accompanied by a small band of mercenaries, and two of the surviving Black Arrows (Tsuto is left behind to train the recruits), for a quick scouting mission. Plans are discussed, architecture is envisioned, and ideas bandied about in the dark before the dawn. Ultimately Our Heroes pass through a waterfall just to the south of the fort, where they find a passageway through the rock leading deeper into the Fort Proper.
And - an ambush! Lucrecia the Lamia Matriarch is waiting in the tunnels, with a small retinue of ogre warriors! She starts to monologue - as one does, when they encounter The Party - but battle is soon joined - again, as happens when Bad Guys encounter The Party.
The ogres are vanquished, of course, and Lucrecia, wounded, makes her escape. I'm quite sure she has learned her lesson and will not be a danger to The Party in the future.
Sneaking their way deeper into the Fort, Our Heroes enter through the front door, and make their way upstairs. In what used to be the Fort's Chapel, The Party meets Jagraath "Pappy" Kreeg - the leader of the Ogres who've taken over Fort Rannick - and several of his concubines. Combat is joined! Other Ogres, hearing the battle, come to get in on the action!
Our Party, of course, handles the ogres handily. I suppose 'handily' is the best way one can handle a situation that needs handling, no?
Using Pappy Kreeg's head and ogre hook, the party is able to destroy the morale of the surviving Kreegs - a few of which flee into the wilderness, but most of whom are summarily executed by The Party and the associated rangers and mercenaries.
The Fort is retaken! In Lucrecia's room the party finds a journal, indicated that a necromancer named Auren Vrood had come by recently, cleared an ancient spectre from the tombs under the Fort, and then headed up to an old Thassilonian structure, high up in the mountains, where the Kreegs labored in an iron mine to make weapons and armor.
The party also finds a log book, listing several hundred names - which, as Our Heroes will come to find, all represent a person who bears the Sihedron Tattoo.
But now we need to rest and recover for our journey up a mountain in the middle of winter. Bring your warmest cloak for the next missive!
Then it's off to Fort Rannick, albeit somewhat resignedly. "Can't anyone solve their own problems? Ah, well - another day, another fort overrun by ogres and a Lamia Matriarch. Ho-hum."
Your Humble Narrator must apologize, at this point. The flood in Turtleback Ferry ruined a mahogany table that YHN inherited from his great Aunt, in which he had stored the second draft of his manuscript: "Narrators: The True Heroism in the Heroic Journey". YHN had been told by over two people who read it - one of which is in the publishing industry - that it truly was an epic work of journalism and research, and was likely destined to be considered a defining work of our generation. So please find space in your heart to humor a Humble Narrator such as the one who writes these words: YHN is both humble and a singular mind, true, but even one such as YHN can give in to the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune.
But I digress. This missive was a bit late, and I'm sorry for it, even though it was due to issues that were CLEARLY not the fault of YHN, and moreover...
Ah. Further digressions will be the death of me! Here is what is happening.
The Heroes set off for Fort Rannick, accompanied by a small band of mercenaries, and two of the surviving Black Arrows (Tsuto is left behind to train the recruits), for a quick scouting mission. Plans are discussed, architecture is envisioned, and ideas bandied about in the dark before the dawn. Ultimately Our Heroes pass through a waterfall just to the south of the fort, where they find a passageway through the rock leading deeper into the Fort Proper.
And - an ambush! Lucrecia the Lamia Matriarch is waiting in the tunnels, with a small retinue of ogre warriors! She starts to monologue - as one does, when they encounter The Party - but battle is soon joined - again, as happens when Bad Guys encounter The Party.
The ogres are vanquished, of course, and Lucrecia, wounded, makes her escape. I'm quite sure she has learned her lesson and will not be a danger to The Party in the future.
Sneaking their way deeper into the Fort, Our Heroes enter through the front door, and make their way upstairs. In what used to be the Fort's Chapel, The Party meets Jagraath "Pappy" Kreeg - the leader of the Ogres who've taken over Fort Rannick - and several of his concubines. Combat is joined! Other Ogres, hearing the battle, come to get in on the action!
Our Party, of course, handles the ogres handily. I suppose 'handily' is the best way one can handle a situation that needs handling, no?
Using Pappy Kreeg's head and ogre hook, the party is able to destroy the morale of the surviving Kreegs - a few of which flee into the wilderness, but most of whom are summarily executed by The Party and the associated rangers and mercenaries.
The Fort is retaken! In Lucrecia's room the party finds a journal, indicated that a necromancer named Auren Vrood had come by recently, cleared an ancient spectre from the tombs under the Fort, and then headed up to an old Thassilonian structure, high up in the mountains, where the Kreegs labored in an iron mine to make weapons and armor.
The party also finds a log book, listing several hundred names - which, as Our Heroes will come to find, all represent a person who bears the Sihedron Tattoo.
But now we need to rest and recover for our journey up a mountain in the middle of winter. Bring your warmest cloak for the next missive!
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