Stormraider Keep (A M.E.T.A.L. Campaign)

Flynt slumps into a sitting position. "The battle was well fought my friends. A good plan well executed." He then closes his eyes and begins to meditate in an attempt to regain some of his runic energies. 

OCC: Flynt will take the feather since it appears to be part of the set.

You all rest comfortably for about an hour, the area seeming quiet after all the activity from your fighting just a short time ago.  The canyon itself is relatively barren, with only a few scraggly plants managing to find a way through the rocky ground.  After the rest you begin your trek towards Lady Leilatha's fortress.  For some time even Yoë is rather quiet.  

A little more than 3 hours later you reach an area where the canyon has opened out to a bit flatter terrain.  The ground is still fairly rocky, but there are more incursions of plant life and even a few spots where trees have grown up.  Yoë speaks up.  "Hey, we're probably getting close enough that some of Lady Leilatha's guards or scouts might have an eye on this are. Not sure if we wanted to try to not been spotted or just show up and see what happens. Oh, but were going to take the more hidden route?"

"I suppose we should confront Lady Leilatha's servants with that she was a hag at some point, but possibly many of them in the fortress already knew, and others could simply not believe us even after showing them her silver circlet." Elyria says, looking at Aurelius and Flynt. "I would prefer us to take the hidden route and started with finding Rahkeshi."

"Agreed. There may be residual loyalties that even the truth about her nature won't sway. Whats more, they may even seek revenge for the killing of their mistress." Says Flynt.

"Well, then if Mr. Aurelius is agreeable then we should head off this way," Yoë says as she leads the way.  It's a bit less than another hour of travel, following what seems to be a looping path around the plateau where the fortress rests. The path drops quite a bit in elevation, and you start to drop out of the higher rocky terrain and back down into the forest. 

Yoë slows a bit and looks back at all of you, speaking in a lowered voice. "There's typically one or two satyrs on guard here at the entrance ahead.  I could try talking to them and see if they let us pass?  I mean..."  As she continues moving and talking, the group sees the body of a young male satyr, pierced with arrows and covered with blood. "... if worse comes to worse you guys will help me, right?" 

"Oh no, the fortress might already be under attack, we must hurry to reach Rahkeshi." Elyria says as she sees the dead satyr, quickly moving over to see if she can identify the arrows as used by some known faction, also checking if the satyr might have died recently.

Aurelius is in agreement with taking the hidden route.  When the party comes upon the corpse, he unsheathes his longsword and snaps his helmet down into place.

"Quickly now, friend Yoë, lead us to Rahkeshi posthaste. It appears there is no time to lose.  Everyone be on the watch for the Betrayer."

Yoë at first looks strangely at Elyria at the mention of an attack, and then finally turns as Aurelius seems to prepare for battle.  She lets out a startled gasp, "Oh! Oh my.  Oh... that's... that's... it's Tifyros!"  Her head is just kind of shaking back and forth, clearly stunned.

The satyr clearly has a number of arrows sticking out of him as well as some slashes likely from a sword of some sort.  You do notice the arrows are not exactly full sized, so certainly not from longbows. (History check for more information.) 

Elyria History check: 16

The arrows are in dark greys and blacks - the colors of Sylmare's forces.  That and the small arrows remind you of the Sprites you saw as you were trying to prevent Frost from taking Rahkeshi into the Feywild. 

After quickly examining the arrows Elyria stands up and looks to the others. "Lady Sylmare's forces are attacking the fortress, her loyal sprites among the attacking forces so watch out" She says grimly, then looking at Yoë. "I am sorry for your friend but we must hurry now to save Rahkeshi, show us the way, quickly!" She says, a hint of desperation in her voice.

Stealth: 23 Perception: 18

Elyria also commands Aelric to quickly scout the rest of the fortess from above and some distance, trying to determine if a battle is raging inside.

Aelric perception: 21

Yoë looks back at Elyria a moment and then nods, "Yea. Ok, sure, we have to keep moving. Come on, this way!"  It's just another couple minutes and you come to an entrance to a cave, well hidden by heavy foliage.  The satyr however knows how to navigate through easily.  Inside you see a satyr, dressed similarly to Leilatha's scouts in a light blue and grey uniform.  "Oh Kyfos! So good to see you are alright!" 

"Yoë? What are you doing here? There was an attack and..."  Kyfos then pauses as if realizing something. "Didn't you disappear or something? And now of all moments you return?"  

"Well, I had to go...  well, and I brought these folks to help! But we've got to find Rahkeshi," Yoë says. 

"There was a lot of fighting up above.  I heard she was in the middle of some of it," Kyfos replies. 

"What do you mean, have the attackers already left? Did they take anyone with them?" Elyria says in a desperate tone, stepping closer to the satyr.

Aurelius keeps alert for danger, remembering the sprites can turn invisible.

"Good Satyr, we mean  you no harm.  We are here foremost to find our friend Rahkeshi, but we can also help some with defending against Sylmare's forces.  Please, let us pass."

Kyfos looks at Yoë for a moment and then at the rest of you. "Ok. Sure, we can probably use the help. It was mostly those sprites. There's a rumor they've been here for a while, hiding using their invisibility. So who knows if there are more!  Nobody knows what to do next.  Messages were sent to Lady Leilatha but it sounds like there is no response!" He seems a bit nervous, and you can't help but notice he is the only one guarding this entrance. 

"So the fighting is over?" Yoë asks again.

"Not completely. But a lot of it. That's why I got sent down here.  Though the sprites could just fly in invisible up above," Kyfos says. He then looks at Elyria. "I don't really know if anyone left or was taken. I'd be just as happy if they did leave, but we were just worried about fighting those that were here." 

"Then quickly take us to where we could find Rahkeshi. She could be in danger of being abducted." Elyria says, taking the satyr's arm to impress upon him the urgency of what she asks.

(Tell me when Aelric has anything to report.)

(Aelric has no way to know where you are, since you are in a well-hidden cave.  So he will report when you are somewhere he can find you.) 

Kyfos bristles a bit at Elyria grabbing him.  He draws his short sword and brandishes towards you. "Back off! My job is to watch this entrance. Go on if you wish, but I have not seen Rahkeshi. I heard she was somewhere in the halls. Though she might be anywhere by now." 

Yoë says, "I can help. I'm well aquainted with where Rahkeshi's chambers are located.  We can start there first." She begins moving further into a cave, and what seems to be a tunnel carved into the stone.  

Flynt readies Betsy and quietly follows along.

"I'm...I'm sorry." Elyria says quickly to the satyr, giving him an aplogetic glance before following Yoë deeper into the cave and into the tunnel.

Stealth: 9 Perception: 16

(Aurelius - if there is anything you wanted to do regarding the satyr guard, feel free to back track on that.  Just wanted to move things on a little bit.) 

Once everyone's ready, Yoë leads the along the tunnel which then turns into a spiral stair.  The landing leads out into what must be the inside of the fortress.  You are greeted with smoothly polished stone floors and walls of stone blocks.  

The door at the top of the stair is open to a small space with some crates are drums along the wall.  To the northwest it opens to another passage heading more or less northward.  You see the body of a satyr guard dressed in Leilatha's colors, as well as 3 sprites in garb reminiscent of what you saw back in the Material Plane.  They all seem to be dead, or at least critically wounded and unconscious.  Yoë says softly, "There are cells there to the left," and you can see an area blocked with metal bars.  "The barracks are further on and to the left. The door to the right takes us towards Rahkehsi's quarters."