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

"Then let's go there!" Elyria says quickly and moves up to the door to the right, her heart beating faster now as she opens the door to look beyond.
Perception: 11

Elyria sees another room - more of a passage.  It is empty save for one barrel.  There is a door to close by to the north. And other doors to the east and to the south. 

Yoë calls out, "Hold on! You'll get lost." 

(Updated map showing new area.) 

"I'm sorry, please show us the way to Rahkeshi's quarters." Elyria turns and says to Yoë in a hurried tone.

(Sorry, I thought I had posted something)

Aurelius will silently monitor the interaction between the satyr guard and Elyria, ready to jump to her defense if needed.  As they leave him, he will nod respectfully to the guard.

As they enter the room with the adjoining the cells, the paladin will look through the bars or door (without opening them) to see if they are occupied. 

He then follows Elyria and Yoë straining to be alert to the presence of hidden or invisible foes.

Investigation 22

Perception 17

If the cells aren't occupied Flynt will tell the others to hold a moment while he speaks to the inmates. If not he follows.

The cells are empty. You notice the doors are all slightly ajar and they don't seem to show any sign of recent occupation. 

Yoë quickly moves along now to a large rather empty room.  She stops only a moment as she sees a couple more dead satrys lying on the floor. "Oh my! Ok, let's just go quickly!"  There are also a few dead pixies here as well.  You see a few empty weapon racks along one wall.  Continuing, she passes through a passage to the east which opens up to another room, slightly smaller than the last. No dead bodies decorate this place. Racks along each side hold a number of short bows, many of which seem to be missing.  

For those that glance to the passages to the north, they seem to all lead to a larger room with a more earthen looking floor. 

The room has another exit to the east, but Yoë heads for the double doors to the south. "Should be quicker this way. At least, to get to Rahkeshi's chambers." 

Elyria nods and motions for Yoë to continue through the double doors to the south, tension building within the elf now.

Yoë nods to Elyria, pressing on through the double doors.  Pressed by the elf's insistence on hurrying, she moves quickly across what appears to be a partially covered balcony.  At the far east end is another set of double doors.  The space is punctuated with 3 columns, helping to support the stone overhang above.  The crenellated walls are about 25 feet above a large garden.  You see many rows of what seem to be barren and withered plants.  There are many green plants throughout which appear to be heartier alpine varieties.  A handful of well-manicured evergreens also decorate the area.  The edges of the garden do appear to be walled, but looking beyond you can see there is a vast vista of the valley and forests far below.  

For those that take a look, the garden is marred by blood in a few spots.  You again spot a few satyrs, a few sprites, and one large, ogre-like creature.  All appear to be dead. 

In the sky above you note an owl, which swoops down towards Elyria.  Aelric swoops in to report.  He reports some enemies in the courtyard, which is evidently to the northeast of your location.  In addition, he mentions what seems an 'army' bearing the colors of Lady Sylmare.  They are Eladrin and are approaching the fortress, arriving perhaps in a couple hours. 

Elyria thanks Aelric for his brave assistance and asks him to fly and scout the army to see if he can spot Lady Sylmare with it or not, while taking good care to not go too close.
Aelric Perception: 18
"Lady Sylmare's army will be here in a couple of hours, we should hurry to try and find Rahkeshi." She turns and says to the others, motioning for Yoë to continue.
Perception to spot threats: 21

(The ogre-like creature wouldn't be the deciever right?)

(The ogre-like creature might be.  You would need to stop and check - Perception or perhaps Investigation depending on how you do it - to know for sure.) 

(Perhaps later :-)

"Elyria, mon ami, I am worried we will be ambushed by these invisible creatures again.  Do you still have the strength to summon your wolf friends that might give us some warning or assistance?"

"Yes, but I think Flynt will be able wo warn us if we are about to be attacked." Elyria says quickly, looking at the lawman for confirmation.

(If I'm not mistaken Flynt's crossbow will keep us all from being surprised right?)

Flynt gives Aurelius a wink as he raises Betsy to shoulder height and points her skyward. "Don't y'all worry Betsy will let us know if those sprites are around."

"Okay, but will she tell us where to point our arrows?"

"No, I guess not, but I will call upon Freke and Gere when needed." Elyria says a bit impatiently, waiting for Yoë to proceed.

"They also might be able to track Rahkeshi by scent," points out Aurelius.  "But it is only a suggestion, you will know how to use your skills best, I trust you."

 (Did we leave the blink dogs somewhere? Rahkeshi's dog should also be able to track her...)

(Good question, I think we sort of forgot to bring the blink dogs along from Yoë's secret cottage. We'll see in a moment if any tracking is needed I think :-)

(Think we previously said blink dogs stayed at Yoë's hideout.)

Yoë continues, spurred on by Elyria's impatience.  She opens the double doors on the east end of the balcony, steps through,  and abruptly stops.

About 10 ft in front of her is an Eladrin Elf, dressed in a uniform grey colors, the colors of Lady Sylmare.  He has a short sword at his side. Another similarly dressed figure can be seen through a passage to the east. And a third further behind him.  Even a bit further is an Eladrin Elf in studded leather armor. You hear two others, though you cannot see them at the moment. 

They all look surprised at your presence.

('Cult fanatic' tokens are the ones with short swords. The armored token is the person in studded leather, you see she has a rapier. You don't see the others yet.)

(Roll initiative!)

(7, 7, 14, 9, 13, 15)