Three more shots from the elf Lord's bow sink into the Dire Wolf's side, and suddenly it is no longer there. In its place stands the Hound archon, still just as bloody as he was when you last saw him

Eya screams in pain as she's bitten and flung. She feels a crash into something, but adrenaline kicks in and she manages to grip a stone to keep herself from falling into the pit. She looks over her shoulder and witnesses Selena's unmoving body on the floor below. 

"Selena...damn it..." she says quietly as she lifts herself up slowly. Eya growls in anger and shouts, "You'll pay for that, mutt!"

She points her wand directly at the hound, then swiftly angles it to point slightly above his head. A small red bead flies just above the creature's head then detonates in a roar of an explosion. 

Blau sees the deathly strike of the Hound and the sudden plummeting of the two tools of Asmodeus and he curses "Take a leap, offspring of a leprous  poodle!" Firing the Ring yet again at full strength.

Attack 39 , 13

Respar, this time expecting a change in form, does not hesitate and continues to assault the hound with his rapier.

The hound archon is stabbed yet again, and his head bathed in fire.

He emerges from the flames, still angry, but before he can go for his weapon or find some other way to strike back, Blau hits him yet again with the Ring of the Ram, the spectral force slamming him back and over the edge of Eya's pit. From his vantage, Respar can see that the archon broke his neck in the fall.

A few moments later, and both the celestial and his sword fade away, apparently returning home.

Your attention is called elsewhere pretty quickly however. The catapult crew is still active, and it looks like they're shifting the heavy siege weapon to targeting the top of the tower you're standing on.

Still hurting badly, Blau makes his way down the trap door ladder, waiting for the rest of the group before proceeding further down. As he goes, he uses the wand on the injured who are not already affected by it's magic. "A couple of minutes and we'll be ready to take the fight to the rest of these fools. How's the vampiress - She coming out of that pit soon, so we can get her healed up?" Once he hears about her demise, he comments "Probably for the best. Her kind are hard to keep on track when the blood starts to flow. Asmodeus will provide us with a replacement, I'm sure."

OOC - Blau will need 2 more charges to be fully healed (26 more rounds).

Eya sees the catapult crew shifting the siege weapon and points her wand at the catapult's base. Another red bead flies out and erupts to engulf the crew at its base and the catapult itself once more.

"Alright, let's head back down and take cover to rest up," Eya says to the group. 

The fireball streaks out and engulfs the catapult, the ropes snap and peel away, allowing the throwing arm to crash down to the ground.

The knot retreats down to the rookery to lick their wounds and observe the damage done. From their vantage point, they can watch as the horde pounds on the gate, soon breaking through.

Their advance does not go unchallenged however. Lord Thomas Havelyn, flanked by four heavily armed men, strides out through the wedged open gates to meet the enemy head on. The lord has apparently prepared for this moment, as he currently stands at twice his normal height, and is surrounded by a golden nimbus of light. He stands every inch an inspiring paladin of Mitra as he faces down the ogres and trolls and bugbears.

For a time, it seems as if he could win the battle here in spite of the Knot's efforts. The lord's halberd is a blur of radiant light as it sweeps to and fro, flinging his foes off of the bridge to dash on the rocks far below.

  Abraxxas grumbles as he and his fellow orc warriors are waiting to get into action.  He is tempted to fly above the horde but is worried about the war machines.  As they get closer the screams of the dying and the smell of blood overwhelm his senses.  He grips his huge axe of butchery tightly.  The weight of it would keep many from even lifting it, much less weilding it. He is a hulking half - dragon/ half- orc. His yellow eyes stand out from his reddish scales.  A battered breastplate covers his chest and 2 javelins hang from the belt of his leggings. A forked tongue is visible when his mouth opens. 

   Seeing bodies beginning to fall from above he knows this is his chance at glory.   Glory will gave respect for him and a bigger share of fhe gold.  His wings sweep back and begin flapping.  " Mirdautas gajupat," he says in Orcish.  ( Seize the day). He grips his weapon tighter as he speaks words of power.  Abraxxas heads skyward and hugs the walls to avoid drawing much attention yet.  As the sorcery takes affect he grows larger. As he crests the wall and sees the paladin holding the bridge with one other he is 13 feet tall.   He rapidly flies around and behind the paladin.  Abraxxas lands heavily beside the 2nd warrior.  He strikes out savagely with the haft of his axe and it flings the man screaming down ofc of the bridge. 

  His frills flare as he glares at the paladin.  He says in draconic with a low rumbling voice, " Svent maekrix!" (I kill the leader). The paladin is slowing now and his armor has many rents in it and blood trickles down his armor.  

 Stepping slowly towards the weary paladin, Abraxxas grins and salutes the paladin mockingly.  He swings his axe thinking to end this fight quickly but the halberd blocks him.   They fight furiously as the half dragon presses the attack while the paladin defends.  Abraxxas grins toothily as he thinks it is almost over.  He swings the axe down at the paladin but is surprised as his target steps aside and gouges him deeply in the chest.  " That is enough human, just die. " He feints a high blow then suddenly flicks the axe downwards.  It sheers off the lower part of the man's right leg.  He screams and struggles to keep his foot.  The bloodied axe blade seems to move in slow motion as the half dragon swings with all of his might.  The axe catches the man at the bottom of his neck and seperates his head from his body.  The leader's head falls down below.  Abraxxas kicks his body off as well and then holds his axe high in a roar of triumph. 

With the fall of Lord Thomas, the horde gives a cry of triumph. They begin thundering across the bridge and spreading throughout the keep, slaughtering the few scattered defenders that remain.

Soon enough the southern gate is opened and a large portion of the horde descends on Aldencross. The screams carry all the way to the keep.

The knot, with their wounds patched up and the remaining resistance in the Fort broken, start seeking their own share of the looting.

They exit the tower into the main courtyard, running into a fair sized group of goblins, two ogres, and the half dragon warrior they'd seen kill the lord.

The Goblins get excited at the sight of you, raising their weapons and starting to move forward. But their enthusiasm is cut short as a deep voice growls, "No!", the denial punctuated by one of the goblins getting flattened by a familiar looking steel maul. Its Grumblejack, and at his side is the ugly ogre woman he'd been smitten with the last time you saw him.

  Abraxxus now stands his normal 6'7".  He still carries his gore covered axe at the ready.  Seeing the group and then Grumblejack crushing the goblin he laughs.  " Are these the ones you were telling me about Jack? " He grins toothily at them. Sighting Kiven he scowls and asks, " An elf?"  Traces of smoke seep out of his mouth and a glow is visible down his throat.  He speaks in draconic, " Dartak vaecaesin".  ( I hate elves) 

After the battle, Eya just sits down, weary and drained after all the fighting. "Well...we did it. It's finally over. Balentyne has fallen."

She looks over at Selena's lifeless body with a cold yet sorrowful expression, "We knew this was going to be a dangerous mission. Still, it's a shame, I was starting to like her."

Eya takes the circlet, masterwork rapier, and living steel shield from Selena. "We'll burn the body later," she says to the group.

---

Once the party has healed up, Eya goes out with the party to meet the half-dragon warrior. At the sight of Grumblejack, the party sees Eya genuinely smile for the first time in a long time. She walks up to him and gives the ogre a great big hug. "Grumblejack, how have you been? Are you hurt? It's been so long and I've been so worried about you. Did you have fun?" She asks as she looks to the female ogre with a sly smile. 

Then, Eya cranes her neck to look up at their new half-dragon ally who fought with and seemed to know Grumblejack. She smiles and says to him in draconic, "Sukriya, troth kosjmyrni ." (Thank you for protecting my son). "My name is Eya, and we are the Nessus Knot. The elf is Prince Kiven Aloro. He can be grating, but please try not to eat him, tempting as it may be sometimes." She can't help but let out a mischievous chuckle. "You get used to him once you get to know him."

"What's your name warrior? Your skills are clearly impressive. Havelyn was no small foe to bring down," Eya says. By now, Eya is in her normal tiefling form.

After his health has been restored and the army has breached the final gates, Blau happily shuts down the disguise, all his human facade finally shed to reveal his natural form. Stomping through the devastation, he helps his Knot to gather the loot they can, making ample use of Detect Magic and spending time on the quarters of the leaders before looking at other rooms. Throughout the time they pillage, he is heard to extort the groups they pass or encounter with praise and blessings from Asmodeus for their prowess and survival. When the meet-up with Grumblejack and the others occur, he comments "This is one prime example of ogre-hood! A true asset to Asmodeus' glory and a fine example to be friends with." Blau's examination of the dragon crossbreed is harder, as the disparate sizes is more extreme than usual for him. He is forced to step back a foot or three as he looks over this sun-shading warrior. "Greetings, I am Blau, honoured priest of our Lord Asmodeus and herald of his glory. Your usefulness to His cause has been well proven on the bridge, indeed! Welcome to the debris of the Mitran folly."

After introductions and such are finished, Blau mentions "They were able to send messengers to the other fort or two - we should finish what we need to do and leave them to mourn their God's abandonment of their defenses. "

Grumblejack looks embarrassed as he gets hugged, He mutters, barely audibly, "Missed you too." Turning to the ogre woman he continues more enthusiastically, "This Karlotta Bonegnasher, we bin havin' fun."

Miss Bonegnasher is at the moment looming over Blau, "Rock man, why no pretty words for me?"

Once the light is eclipsed by the ogress, Blau looks up and says diplomatically "All my words capable of describing you are too weak, Bonegnasher. You are beyond words, in many ways. Asmodeus has a purpose for you, too."

  Abraxxus eyes Eya and Blau then nods. " Well met Eya and Blau. Kiven on the other hand...I will need to wait and reserve judgement. I am called Abraxxus the Red. It is a pleasure to meet you of this Nessus Knot. " He looks back to Eya. " Jack can take care of himself but thanks. He is a friend of mine. " He takes his surroundings in.  " It is always a good day when blood is spilled. Today is better than most.  " He sniffs the air. " Gold...is there much gold here?" 

Respar also is glad when the fight ends, impressed by the half-orc-dragon as it despatches His Lordship.  He greets Grumblejack, "Good to see you once more, big fella!"  To Abraxxus he says, "Nicely done on the bridge. I have a feeling your skills will be needed a lot more before this campaign to control the south is over."  He then helps with the looting, using his keen eye to help search. Perception 15

Rerolling Perception 34

Eya replies to Abraxxus, "Yeah, we were just about to start looting this place, starting with Havelyn's room. He may have also had valuable items on his person, but you...uh...well..."

Eya glances down the ravine. "That...might be difficult to retrieve, unless you want to fly down and try having a look. Assuming he landed on solid ground or rock and hasn't been swept away by the river, his valuables might sell well. Have you spoken with the Cardinal? Which Knot do you belong to?"

Kiven grins at the party's impressive new ally.  "I am not properly educated on the draconic tongue, but you have no need to flatter me, my impressive new friend."  "After your triumph on the bridge I am confident that we can find you a great deal of gold if we are true to the path our conjoined destinies have presented for us."

The elf uses his detect magic abilities to search the towers and the lord's room as they move about, keeping an eye out for spell books, gold and other valuables as.

The group heads into the keep and passes by the chapel on their way up. In your scoutings, you had previously determined that the Lord's council chamber and personal rooms were on the third floor, though you had yet to get a look at it, this part of the keep was much more actively guarded than the rest.

By the time you reach the third floor, you can hear the cacophanous sounds of a goblin pack, most of them laughing mockingly. You can also hear a woman crying in distress.

Upon entering the main room on this floor, you find yourself in what was obviously the council chamber. A large table imprinted with a map of Tallingarde is in the center, with six chairs around it. 

Of more immediate interest is the scene at the back of the room. A massive iron bound chest, which has been secured with thick chains to the wall and floor, sits there. The corpses of two goblins lie nearby, they look like they were electrocuted to death. About a dozen still living goblins are surrounding the chest, and in their midst is a terrified young woman in servant's garb. The goblins appear to be forcing her to try and open the chest while laughing at her apparent fear.