The Fortress – Part I
February 25, 2023
The Party
- Gilbert Fezziwig (Gnome Artificer) – Mark M.
- Maran Maraka (Half-Elf Bard) – Mark C.
- Nihl (Dragonborn Monk) – Kasey
- Rosetta Stone (Human Cleric) – NPC
- Villitch Von Velckha (Aasimar Paladin) – Ross
- Zabrina (Tiefling Warlock) – Natasha
The adventurers emerged from Elfland into a gathering dusk in the rough, lightly wooded foothills of the Handera Mountains with what looked like a watchtower nearby. As they approached the tower, the heroes saw a large army camped between them and it, an Orc army that appeared ready to march at any moment, with a Hill Giant spotted among their numbers.
As night fell, the party spent hours going around the army to approach the keep from the far side. A cave in the rockface allowed access to the dungeons of the keep which showed signs of a much larger-scale version of the Black Magic Ritual the party had seen under Neyata’s control. Everything showed that the place had been in heavy use until very recently, building the army outside.
After dispatching a Flesh Golem sentry blocking access to the keep aboveground, the heroes found a small group of orcs assembled in the Great Hall. As combat broke out, the leader ran upstairs, presumably to warn Garisul in the tower above.