Mystara Campaign Journal: Corran Keep: Part 1 (Gainfully Employed Once More)

· Main
· Elwyn's Sanctuary
· Silver Princess
· Rahasia
· The Veiled Society
· Corran Keep
· Part 1

Corran Keep: Part 1 (Gainfully Employed Once More)

DM	It is the 22nd of Nuwmont and an interesting event is occuring. This morning you all received letters from Marita Corun-Rubius, who you met in the office of prosecution. It reads: 'Trial of Rahib Catharandamus to take place this afternoon at the Courts of Justice by the Church of Tarastia. These letters will allow you into the viewing gallery. My thanks, Marita.'
Leanna	I want to go!
Narond	Me too!
DM	You make your way to the Courts of Justice and produce your letters thus allowing you access to the gallery. The court consists of a prosecutor's forum, a defender's forum and benches for the three Priests of Tarastia. As the proceedings start, a trapdoor opens and a cage rises from under the court. It contains a very dishevelled Rahib. You notice four people in white robes in the corners of the room who all look intently at him. The proceedings are surprisingly brief. The prosecutor reads out the charges and statements from yourselves, the Abbot of the Siswa and Ellis, Prince of Harren. Each describe how Rahib used his influence and powers to try and release dread forces into the world. Rahib's defence is based on the fact that he was possessed by an evil spirit, a fact that he is totally unable to substantiate. The judges of Tarastia think, talk among themselves, pray, look sharply at Rahib and then pronounce him guilty as charged. At this point they file out of the room and an official Dispenser of Justice enters. He climbs a podium and proceeds to auction the right to provide punishment to the various businesses that have come along. Eventually the auction is won by a company based in Selenica who pay 9,000 Daros for the privilege of putting Rahib into indentured service with them for the next 5 years. His cage sinks unceremoniously into the floor again and the show is over.
Leanna	Well, all's well that ends well I suppose, not exactly the punishment I would have meted out, but fair enough. [Attempts to find out the details of this Selenica-based company from a court clerk]
DM	It's a forestry and mining company that works the Darokin-Ylaruam border. The name and company address is easy to find.
Leanna	I suggest we at least keep a note of this for future reference, just in case it's of use. Presumably the courts have checked at least to some extent that the company isn't a front.
DM	Only approved companies are allowed to bid in the indentured criminal business.
Leanna	So what are our plans now, guys? Got any trading runs set up, Narond?
Dreylin	5 years!? Is that all he gets for trying to overthrow a kingdom, sacrifice young girls and generally irritating all of us immensely!? [Mutters something about human justice]
Leanna	Well he already seems to have earned the eternal hatred of a Hin, I should think that's punishment enough. [Grins]
Dreylin	[Pauses for a moment to consider whether that was intended as a compliment or an insult and then shrugs] Well, shall we adjourn to an inn to discuss where we're headed next... if nothing else, I need to wash away the taste of this trial.
Narond	5 years' service does seem a bit short to me as well. But he may well have friends in high places. Back to the inn sounds like a sensible idea.
Berillia	[Agrees]
DM	Back to the Stag it is then. You spend the rest of the day relaxing, drinking and talking over the trial. As usual it gets dark early and a mist rises on the streets. Harry is just bringing another round when a messenger comes into the inn and walks over to you. He is a young boy with red cheeks from the cold.
Boy	I brought you this message sirs.
DM	He plonks it down onto the table. It is an envelope addressed to 'Master Narond Mael and Friends'.
Berillia	[After a short pause, picks up the envelope and opens it]
DM	Inside is a letter. It reads, 'Dear Narond, I am a member of the Guild of Merchants and I have heard of your exploits from my contacts there. It seems that I have a problem that needs the sort of expertise that you and your friends can provide. I would be very grateful if you and they would meet me at the Guild at tenth bell tomorrow morning. I remain your servant, Jeddarin Corran Esq.'
Leanna	Sounds interesting. Has anyone heard of this guy?
DM	The short answer is no.
Shianara	[Looks thoughtful, and mutters the name to himself]
Leanna	Well, what say we see if we can find anything out about him today, and go see him tomorrow.
Narond	[Takes the letter of Berillia] I definitely agree with Leanna about finding out a little bit more about the guy. Has everyone that wants to do that got enough money handy to grease the wheels of bureaucracy?
Dreylin	So the usual tactic of gathering gossip in the pub doesn't work in this town?
Narond	Might do, but most pub gossip gathering still involves buying pints for prospective gossipers.
Dreylin	Yes, but that hardly counts as bureaucracy! [Grins]
Leanna	[Nods] Well it probably does. Why don't some of us do one thing and some the other? I suggest that Narond, Shianara and I go to the merchants' guild or wherever is best to find out about merchants officially, and Dreylin, Beri and Habib go for a pint at a few bars in the mercantile district. Then we can meet up for dinner somewhere and compare notes. Sound OK?
Narond	Sounds like a sensible plan to me.
Berillia	An excellent plan! [Turns to the young messenger] Thank you for the message. Now... you definitely look like you don't want to be out in this weather? Let's see if we can't do something about that. [Touches him lightly on the nose]
DM	He looks better.
Boy	Thank you ma'am. Very kind.
DM	He bobs his head and begins to trot away.
Leanna	[Winces and rubs her leg] By the way, Beri, does that staff of yours recharge every day? I managed to turn my ankle over somehow last night, and it's a bit sore.
Berillia	Verily I am a font of wellbeing tonight. I think we can do something about your inexplicable injury...
Leanna	[Smirks] Cheers Beri!
DM	Dreylin, Habib and Berillia make their way to the Mercantile District and drop into the first inn you encounter: The Rose. Inside it seems cosy without being ostentatious. There are various people around and the innkeeper is an apple-cheeked woman in her mid fifties.
Dreylin	[Surveys the room, then wanders up to the bar to order some drinks]
DM	The innkeeper smiles down at you.
Innkeeper	Hello my dear, what can I get you?
Berillia	[Calls to Dreylin from a way away] Draught ale for me...
DM	She begins to pour you one.
Dreylin	Same for me please. And milk for our friend here.
DM	She gets a milk and another ale for you and charges you a nicely small amount for them. Questions are asked, answers are forthcoming, beer is drunk. Jeddarin Corran is a fish trader from Akorros (on the shores of Lake Amsorak). He runs a good firm and has a reputation as a fair and sensible man.
Berillia	Ready when you are... [Finishes her drink]
Dreylin	[Looks slightly wistfully at the bottom of his mug] I guess we'd better go meet the others.
DM	After your various trips you find yourselves back at the Stag.
Leanna	Well, we discovered that he is the owner of a not particularly major fishing business, although it is one of the biggest on Lake Amsorak, based in Akorros, 17 ships mostly on the lake but also some on the Athenos Coast and the Streel River, 170 sailors, and 4 offices in Akorros, Darokin, Athenos and probably Akesoli, with about 5 staff at each office. So how was the ale?
Berillia	Not bad for the price, since you asked. What we found out more or less confirms what you heard, in a more general sort of way. Apparently he's pretty well regarded, has a good reputation for fairness, that sort of thing.
Leanna	Great. Well, let's go meet him unless anyone has anything else to do?
Narond	I can't think there is anything else worth finding out about the man, so yes, let's go meet him.
DM	At tenth bell the following morning you find yourselves at the offices of Corran Fishing. You are met by a receptionist who shows you into the office of Jeddarin Corran. He is a tall man with dark hair and a moustache who greets you warmly.
Jeddarin	Thank you all for coming, it's a pleasure to meet you at last. Please sit down.
DM	He gestures you to a set of chairs and offers you some small cakes and a light wine in some good quality goblets.
Jeddarin	I suppose I should start with my cousin, well second cousin I think. He died a few months ago and he was the last of that branch of the family. So even though I didn't know him well, I inherited all that he owned. It wasn't much, a little land, a few trinkets and a chest of papers. Now these had been in the family for generations but nobody had paid them any attention. I was the first that ever bothered to get a lawyer to look at them. Most of it was accounts and old wills and general rubbish but tucked away was something much more interesting. Turns out a couple of centuries ago one of the Corrans did rather well for himself and got a title and a small keep up north of the Lake. Anyway it didn't last long, the whole family were wiped out in some sort of bandit attack and the keep was abandoned. The Baronial title was revoked but it seems some bureaucrat forgot to revoke the land grant, so the Keep and its lands fall to me. Not a bad inheritance from my poor cousin eh? So a couple of weeks ago I sent my eldest, Noriad, to see the place. When he got there he found that it was inhabited already. He could see men moving around but the odd thing was... they glowed in the dark! Sensibly he decided to go no further and came back to report to me. As you can see this is a bit of a problem. What I need is someone to encourage the current occupiers to move on, if you follow me. I'm no good at this sort of thing and I heard that you, Narond, and your friends had some experience. I'm willing to pay, and transport there and back will be provided. So are you interested?
Leanna	Certainly we have experience, although not so much directly with glowing men that I recall. Still, we seem to turn our hands to most things these days. You were saying you're willing to pay...?
Berillia	[Sips the wine gracefully]
Jeddarin	Indeed. I'm not a man of enormous means but I can offer 50 daros each and, as I said, bed and board for the trip there and back. In addition I'm sure that there will be treasure in the Keep. You're welcome to anything you find, although show me jewels or anything like that in case I want to buy them from you. However, family heirlooms are not fair game so furniture, tapestries, pictures and that sort of thing are mine.
Narond	[Looks slightly thoughtful] I wish I could be a man of not enormous means like yourself, with all those people you employ, and being known as the biggest fishing business on Lake Amsorak. How hard it must be to eke out a living under such circumstances. 50 Daros would barely cover the costs of any sort of recuperation that might be required while we put our lives in danger for yourself.
Jeddarin	[Almost smiles] You are a true Darokinian Master Mael. My operation may be a reasonable size although by no means great, but my profit margins are small. I can stretch to 100 each but more than that really is beyond my means. Besides, I would think the treasures of a ruined keep and what is likely to be a band of thieves would be enticing enough.
Narond	[Ponders the new deal for a short while] That does sound better. One further question, you said that transportation would be provided. What sort of transportation will this be?
Jeddarin	I'll pay for the inns on the way to and from Akorros although I presume you'll want to use your own horses. And you'll have transport on one of my ships to Fort Lakeside at the top of Lake Amsorak.
Narond	Yes, we can use our own horses. I presume you will be paying for any stabling charges and food, and so on, for our horses as well, given this is part of transportation costs that will be incurred by us on the journey there and back. [Pauses before continuing] If however we do use our own horses I would insist that should something happen to one of them - a very unlikely thing, but always possible - that you cover the costs of replacing the horse.
Jeddarin	That seems fair. However since the journey to the Keep is into the Glantrian Mountains, your horses are best stabled at my residence in Akorros. I promise they'll be well looked after there.
Narond	Good. Sounds good enough for me. Can we get a map of the surrounding area and have a chat with your eldest to get as much information in advance of the trip as possible?
Jeddarin	Well the surrounding area is pretty barren so a map may not be much use but I can arrange it if you wish. As for my son, Noriad will meet you in Akorros and act as your guide all the way to the Keep so you can ask him anything you want then. Are the rest of you content with the offer?
Berillia	[Looks around at the others, then nods] Narond seems to have covered everything.
Habib	Yes, let's go on this quest.
Jeddarin	[Relaxes] Good. The only other thing is that I wish to send a personal representative with you as part of the group. Noriad will not go into the Keep with you whereas I want him to act directly for me. He's a solid chap, saved my life in the riots. He's in the next room if you'd like to meet him.
Berillia	[To the group] Shall we?...
Leanna	[Nods] Certainly, that all sounds fine to me. I might even be able to drop in on my family. [Smiles at the thought] One other thing though, are there any historical records of the house and the bandit attack further to what you've just told us that we would be able to access, either that you possess or that might be found in Akorros?
Jeddarin	No records that I know of sadly. We didn't even know of the Keep until last month! However there may be something at the Keep itself. Let me know if you find anything.
DM	He leads you into the next room. The party enters the next room to find a medium-sized, stocky man with dark hair and pale skin. He is dressed in good Darokinian clothes in a pale blue which emphasises the colour of his eyes. He smiles sheepishly. Most of you instantly recognise him, as you last saw him tied up in the temple of the Siswa telling you everything he knew about his employer - the mysterious Rahib.
Jeddarin	[Gestures towards him] This is my representative, Yurini Harov.
Leanna	[Raises an eyebrow] We have met... I see you managed to escape the Siswa temple then? Don't know if you've heard, but we just managed to get Rahib sent on a little mining expedition.
Yurini	[Mutters something under his breath] I hadn't, but good. And not so much escaped, as got sent away with a lecture still ringing in my ears. [Looks slightly sheepish again]
Leanna	Been up to much since then? How did you get involved with Mr Corran?
Yurini	During the riot I stumbled across him being attacked and tried to help. He's been keeping me around since then, and my thanks for it. [Nods to Jeddarin]
Leanna	Ah, the riot... [Looks thoughtful] Happy times.
Yurini	[Raises an eyebrow but refraines from comment]
Jeddarin	Yes, not a pleasant memory. [Turns to Yurini] So this was the group who found you at the temple. Small world.
DM	He turns back to the rest of the party and continues.
Jeddarin	Yurini told me of his background and, despite some lapses of judgement, I believe him to be a good young man. I trust him as my representative and I hope you will do the same.
Leanna	[Nods and then grins at Yurini] Fair enough. He was pretty helpful in our previous encounter, even if we did have him tied up at the time.
Jeddarin	So if you're happy with the arrangements, I'll meet you tomorrow morning and we can travel to Akorros together.
Berillia	Narond? [Waits to see if he has anything else to add]
Narond	Yes, I am happy with the arrangements. We will see you again tomorrow morning.
DM	You meet the following morning (24th Nuwmont) and, having settled up at the various inns, head out of Darokin City and across the Streel River. Passing through the lesser city you leave the walls behind and head out onto the wintry grasslands of the Streel Plain. For much of the year the area grows wheat and barley for food and trade but now it is barren and covered with snowy patches. As the day wears on you ride and talk to Jeddarin and Yurini, who you discover is from Karameikos. You pass some farmsteads and, as the sun sets, stop at a small hamlet to eat and sleep. The stay is very pleasant and it is clear that Jeddarin often travels this route and knows the farmers well. The following day is much the same and the next. In fact it isn't until around midday on the 28th that you arrive at the city of Akorros. Leanna of course knows it well but it's the first visit for the rest of you and you are surprised by its size. For Habib and Yurini it's the second biggest place you have ever seen (after Darokin City itself). Passing through the walls you see that it is busy and apparently prosperous although it is less clean than Darokin and the buildings are considerably plainer and smaller. Jeddarin leads you down to the dock area where his offices are and stables your horses. For many of you this is your first sight of Lake Amsorak. The word 'lake' doesn't do it justice. It's simply vast! It stretches north and south for as far as you can see and also meets the western horizon. Small waves lap the shore and Narond, who was brought up by the sea, cannot tell the difference. The docks themselves fill a large section of Akorros. It is obviously on a thriving trade route and Jeddarin explains that it forms part of a line running from Akesoli, on the other side of the lake, through Akorros and out into the rest of Darokin. As you watch, a huge ship, called The Sindhi Queen, docks and begins unloading silks and spices. Having unpacked, Jeddarin introduces you to his son Noriad, who is a quiet boy of about 17. After a meal in the afternoon you check in at an inn called The Laker's Ship. There Leanna introduces you to her parents. They are a solid, middle-aged couple and you can see where Leanna gets her sense of humour from once you start talking to them. You finally relax in the inn as it gets dark.
Dreylin	So, Noriad, your father gave us a brief summary of what you saw, but it would be interesting to hear it in your own words...
Noriad	Well I came over the brow of the hill and saw the Keep. It's a donjon type thing with a curtain wall round it and it backs onto a cliff. Well I could see that, for a ruin, it was in very good shape so I went a bit closer and found that there were new doors and the wall had been repaired in places. Obviously something was up so I hid in the scrub on the hill and watched. Every now and then people came out and moved some stone or added to the repairs. I didn't think much of it until nightfall when, just as the light failed, I caught a glimpse of one of them and he or I suppose she, seemed to be glowing. Just a little, like a shimmering field around their skin - sort of blue colour. So I packed my tent up and headed back for the Fort.
Dreylin	So did you get the impression that they had been in occupation long, or were just starting the repairs?
Noriad	The repairs looked well along so they could have been in for several months, possibly even years.
Dreylin	Also, apart from the glowing, obviously, was there anything strange or distinctive about their appearance; weapons, gear, etc.?
Noriad	To be honest I wasn't close enough to see. They all looked a little pale I suppose.
Narond	Definitely human though? Any other useful distiguishing features about them?
Noriad	Yes. Definitely human. Nothing else, sorry.
Dreylin	Are there any local stories about the keep, or these strange glowing people? [Turns to include Leanna's parents in the question]
Noriad	Nothing. Nobody even knew the Keep existed until we found the records of it. Even the Baron up at Fort Lakeside, which is the nearest town, had never heard of it.
DM	1st Vatermont AC1002 After a night in the inn Noriad takes you down to the dock where you say goodbye to Jeddarin and board his personal transport ship, Corran's Pride. Like many of the Amsorak boats it is small, sleek and fast, made by the finest shipwrights of Akesoli. You find your cabins and watch as the ship pulls away from the docks, turns north and starts its long journey up the lake. After a short while land is no longer visible on any side and you are alone on the water. The captain, a bluff man with a black beard that doesn't cover his upper lip, is happy to talk to you while the crew get on with their business. The wind is good and he reckons you should be in Fort Lakeside by late tomorrow or early on the 3rd.
Dreylin	So Captain, this lake is so huge it's almost a sea, have you sailed here all your life or have you spent some time out on the oceans as well?
DM	The captain is drawn deeply into conversation with Dreylin. After an uneventful night on the lake the following day is overcast and grim. However, the wind drives you north with good speed and you arrive a little after dark, guided by the port fires of Fort Lakeside. The town was clearly originally a military base as a wooden palisaded camp forms its centre. However a gathering of a few thousand people has built up around the camp and the fort is well on its way to becoming a civilian rather than military location. As you disembark and thank the captain you can smell the fires of the houses and hear the sounds of people moving through the streets and hawkers still calling in the dark. Noriad leads you through the streets and you realise that the polished armour and shields of the Darokin Military are a common sight. By the time you reach the inn you have passed four such patrols. You have seen no carriages and very few houses that stand up to the quality of Darokin City or even Akorros. On entering the inn, called The Baron's Law, you find it is a wooden establishment with straw on the floor and a few customers who look like they might be miners. A pretty girl of perhaps eighteen is standing on one of the tables and singing. The barman waves a greeting at Noriad and the girl gives him a smile so friendly that you decide he may not be as inexperienced as he first appears.
Dreylin	[With drink in hand] So, Noriad, how far away is the Keep from here?
Noriad	It's two or three days north of here depending on the weather. Only 15 or 16 miles but the terrain is quite rough.
Leanna	[Swallows a large mouthful of wine] Can we expect safe passage, or are the bandits going to be a problem?
Noriad	There are bandits around this area although Baron Markone uses the military to keep them down. I'd worry more about humanoids once we get up into the mountains.
Narond	Was there any local knowledge of the keep before you went up there, had you heard any strange rumours or anything?
Noriad	Nothing. I think everybody had forgotten it even existed. I think the area has been settled on and off for centuries but nobody seems to have been able to hold it.
DM	Having spent the night in the inn chatting to the locals you wake up early the next morning and breakfast on eggs and a little salted ham. Fort Lakeside is already awake before you and, as you head north through the town, you pass stalls and merchants setting up for the day. Noriad points out Baron Markone's castle, a large stone structure just inside the Fort itself, then you leave the town behind. At first the going is relatively easy as you follow a rough road through the hills through the various sheep farms. But around mid-morning you leave these behind and pass into the foothills of the Silver Sierras, the mountain range that marks the border with Glantri. Pretty soon you can see the snow-capped peaks of the mountains themselves stretching east-west and looking very impassable. A quick question to Noriad confirms that there are no major passes in these mountains and this is why there is no great trading city here. Instead all such trade has to pass through Corunglain and north through the Broken Lands. By nightfall you have climbed several hundred metres and the air is very cold. You camp on a hillside, sleeping in canvas tents that Noriad gave you at the inn. The night is cold but uneventful and you wake the next morning to a breakfast of bread and cheese before setting off again. The going gets even worse as the day draws on and you pass into the mountains proper, surrounded on all sides by huge cliffs and gorges. After a hard day's walk you camp in a cleft to shelter from the biting winds, which carry flurries of snow. Those on watch report hearing footsteps and occasional noises from the darkness and Shianara mentions seeing a humanoid shape approach then leave again. Noriad reckons they're probably orcs or perhaps goblins - either way they choose not to trouble you. Following the trail for another couple of hours brings you over a rise and suddenly Corran Keep is in view. It is a large donjon (a circular tower-like building) built flush against a cliff face that stretches high above you. It seems to have a flat roof and there are small windows in the upper floors. Around it is a semi-circular curtain wall at least 35 feet high. The walls are solid and any remaining damaged areas that Noriad saw have been repaired. A huge pair of wooden doors stand in the middle of the wall. Nothing moves.
Noriad	[Stops] Father says that I'm to go no further I'm afraid. This is as far as I got last time.
Dreylin	You know you might be safer if you come with us. Of course we don't know what we're likely to find in there, but if we leave you out here alone and whatever visited us last night returns...
Leanna	Whatever you decide, can you point out to us where you saw these figures when you were here last?
Noriad	They were moving by the door of the donjon, [Points] but I didn't see any outside the main walls. [Pauses a moment] I saw a gully I can shelter in back there. I should be quite safe. [Begins to head back down the path]
Berillia	[Breaks the silence] If we stand here much longer someone might see us.
Leanna	Agreed. So do we try the door, or look for a more subtle way in? [Has a look at the sides of the walls, specifically at the point they meet the cliff face, as there should be more footholds there]
Narond	Well I am not really convinced knocking on the door is the best idea if we can help it. Perhaps it would be sensible to wait overnight and see if we can see any of the humanoids before we try to enter. We might even be able to work out where they seem to be in the building and avoid those areas if we try to get in unannounced.
Leanna	Sounds good.
Berillia	If they're around in the dark, it might be best to have a good look round outside before then, though...
Narond	Agreed, or at least those confident in their ability to get close should.
Leanna	Well I'm happy to go and have a look at the walls in detail while the rest of you go hide in the gully with Noriad, if you like. The only other thing I can think of is coming down from above - can anyone see a trail going further up the mountain?
DM	There's no obvious way up and the cliff that the Keep is built into is very high. As for the curtain wall, it looks climbable in a couple of places including by the left hand cliff-joining point. Leanna creeps down to the walls and the rest of you join Noriad in the gully. After a while, she wanders back to you.
Leanna	Well, I think we can climb in the left hand corner. It'll be tough going, but that's the easiest spot. Looks as though the current occupants have been doing some repair work. That door's new, not fully weathered in; and the walls have been repaired where they'd started to fall down. I couldn't hear any signs of humanoid life from inside, just birds and so forth. So do we go in now while it appears deserted, or wait until nightfall and hope to see the things for ourselves? [Turns to Noriad] There's no reason for particular urgency is there? I wonder whether it might be best to observe throughout today and tonight and then go in either before or after dawn, depending on what, if anything, we see.
Noriad	[Thinks a moment] I can't see a problem with that. We can shelter here and take turns to watch.
Dreylin	That does sound like a good plan, but once we've got an idea of their strength and attitude, I really think we should consider knocking on the door and introducing ourselves. [Pauses and glances at Noriad] Your family may be the rightful owners, however it's not like there's any way these people could know that and if they were just looking for somewhere to shelter from the rain and came across this place they might very well assume that it was free for the taking...
Leanna	[Snorts] Surely if they were just innocent shiny folk sheltering from the rain, they would be passing through, not conducting extensive repairs and improvements over a long period. The thing is, if we go knocking on the door and it isn't just an innocent mistake, we've completely lost the element of surprise, and will probably be overwhelmed by a superior force. Also, even if they have taken it over in the manner you say, who's to say they'll be at all friendly to the suggestion they might like to leave? I still think we need to get in and find out more before we make any cordial introductions; if that makes them angry or suspicious I still prefer the odds.
Dreylin	Cynical as always, Leanna. [Looks vaguely disappointed] Maybe they just assumed that since the keep has been abandoned for several hundred years, that no-one would care if they took up residence... they may even be interested in buying the land. [Raises an eyebrow to Noriad]
Narond	Cynical but with good reason. I am sure they have been watching the keep for several hundred years, just waiting to see if someone turned up, just to check you understand. To be honest I could believe that, were the keep not where it is and had reported glowing people inside.
Dreylin	What good reason!? You seem to be saying that because these people glow, and that the keep is on the edge of the wilderness that they must be up to no good. Maybe they're fleeing persecution by people who are afraid of them because they glow and they just want to live a peaceful life away from 'civilisation' judging them?
Leanna	[Sighs] Maybe they are, but all I'm saying is that if you're right, then we annoy them by breaking into what they think is theirs by occupational right, but we should be able to salvage the situation, with your natural charm [Smirks a little], if nothing else; if we're right, then we get screwed over by knocking on the front door. I suppose if we did knock on the door we could ask for somewhere to stay the night, and aim to find out more that way, but we should probably split up if we do that so that there's a rescue party in case anything goes wrong. [Raises her hands and then lets them drop in frustration] Anyway, let's not argue now, we've agreed that we're observing the place today and at least some of tonight, why don't we see what we think then and discuss further later. Not to mention that nobody other than the three of us has offered their opinion. [Looks at the others, including Noriad]
Dreylin	[Nods] That seems fair enough, we'll finish the discussion tomorrow morning, when we'll hopefully know more. I'd be quite prepared to act as a distraction for the rest of you by knocking on the door alone. After all, it worked at the Siswa Temple... and I'm not that adept at climbing. [Grins sheepishly]
Berillia	Perhaps some of us could try to get up that cliff now, while nobody's (obviously) around? Otherwise it'll have to be the door, one way or another.
Leanna	Well if we're not in any great rush, I was thinking that if we see them tonight but they're not around in the day, then we just climb tomorrow morning?
Narond	That was what I had assumed we would do. Make any approaches tomorrow after observing for a night. Assuming it is likely to be as quiet.
Leanna	[Thinks for a moment] Just so we know, Noriad, do squatters have legal rights in these situations?
Noriad	[Thinks for a while] Well I suppose it is possible that they really didn't know it was already owned. Since we have rights to the Keep I think they don't have any. But if our deeds hadn't been found I suppose they could have petitioned the President to grant them the land rights. It would have been very expensive for them though.
Berillia	If we're going to be waiting for tomorrow - let's find a good place to be concealed tonight. Unless this gully's good enough, of course...
DM	It's pretty much your only option. You put up the shelters and settle in, spending the day chatting and telling Noriad stories of some of your adventures. All the while you keep watch on the area round you and the Keep itself. Very little happens and there is no sign of the humanoids who were sniffing around yesterday. Late on in the day Dreylin and Berillia (who are watching the Keep) see the door to the donjon open and someone look out. They cannot make out much but the person appears to be a human male. The figure gazes round the courtyard for a while then closes the door again. Nothing further happens although during the night Leanna and Habib see occasional lights at the donjon windows. They also see a small glowing object moving around the courtyard but can't make out what it is. Dawn breaks and you have breakfast. A light drizzle starts.
Berillia	Getting up that cliff's not going to be fun now it's all wet... unless someone wants to give it a go right now, before it rains any more. [Tries to wrap up warmer] I'm cold. I don't like the rain.
Leanna	[Puts her arm round her] Cheer up, the sooner we get started, the sooner we get inside! But maybe we should have a hot drink first. [Turns to the others] Now's the time to work out the plan. Narond and myself favour scaling the walls and ignoring the door completely, Dreylin wants to go for the door but is willing to do so himself as a distraction. What does anyone else think? At the end of the day, perhaps Noriad and Yurini should have the final word, since they're acting in our employer's interests...
Yurini	I'd go with splitting into two groups, Dreylin trying the doors and the rest of us stay back. If they turn out to be reasonable people then he can talk to them. If not, we can go in over the walls and rescue him. [Turns to directly look at Dreylin] Provided you're alright with going to the door alone?
Berillia	Looks like it's up to Dreylin then...
Dreylin	[Nods] I'm happy to go ahead alone, although it may look less suspicious if there were a couple of us.
Shianara	[Turns away from gazing at the Keep] Maybe it would be better to find out more about them before getting up close to the door? That assumes of course that someone is there to hear any knocking by Dreylin - [Smiles lightly] - there hasn't been anyone about in the courtyard most of the time we've been here. Assuming no-one welcomes us in, maybe an advance party could scale the walls and find out more, before trying to get everyone over the top - maybe even open the door from inside? [Turns back in the direction of the Keep] Where the wall joins the cliff would seem to be the easiest route, as Leanna said, most of all since there don't appear to be any windows looking over those points. And on that side - [Gestures towards the left] - there seems to be some rubble which would provide some good cover for getting into the courtyard from the wall. That said, before anyone tries to climb in, we should figure out some way to get into the Keep itself - there's no use getting over the wall and then having a big argument about what we do next.
Leanna	Sounds sensible. So perhaps if I climb up first, report back a detailed description of the courtyard layout, and then come back down to discuss, then we all go over?
Shianara	[Again shows a hint of a grin] Maybe the Keep door is opened each day to check for disturbances, in which case if we get in there before when they checked yesterday, we could talk to the guard to persuade him to let us in - one way or another. And whether at that door or this curtain door, is there some key evidence we could show to anyone that would be commonly-acceptable proof that Noriad's family owns this land?
Leanna	[Nods] Good point!
Berillia	Right then. Let's send a couple of people over the wall, at the place Shianara suggested, to see if we can get into the courtyard that way. Once in, we can take stock of the area, see if there are any other ways into the keep, and move in. If they have to open the main door to check outside, there can't be any other way to see what's in the courtyard. So at the very least, if we can't get through the door and there aren't any other ways in, we know we're safe in there to wait until the door opens again. Shall we?
Leanna	Agreed. Is anyone other than me a good climber? [Smiles sheepishly and flexes her ankle]
Berillia	I'm terrible. I'll be with Dreylin by the outer gate. [Looks around] Shianara? You've done this sort of thing before...
Shianara	[Looks around, somewhat nervously] Really? Not sure where you got that idea...
Berillia	Don't elves climb trees like squirrels? [Looks confused]
Leanna	I should think squirrels are a bit easier to climb than trees, Beri, even for us humans! [Grins]
Shianara	[Rolls his eyes, not commenting any further on his apparent intrinsic climbing ability] [Seems to recover his composure] ...but I'll give it a go if there's no-one else, after all I think I can see the best route... anyone else?
Dreylin	Well I still don't agree with this plan, but I can see I'll not change your minds. [Turns to Noriad] Are you still planning to watch from here, or will you come down to the gates with us?
Noriad	[Thinks for a moment] I'm afraid I really don't think I can join you. Good luck though.
Shianara	[Sighs lightly] Dreylin, just go knock on the door. As I said, I don't expect a reponse in any case, but as Yurini seems to think it's worth a try too, why not? If you go far around that side of this hill, and we later emerge from the other, we can hope that any watchers don't associate the two movements.
Leanna	So what order are we doing this in? I was thinking that Shianara and I should start climbing before Dreylin and Berillia go and knock, as we don't really need cover for getting up the outside of the wall. Then we can look into the courtyard while they distract the occupants, slip back down out of sight, report back, and then we all go in together.
Narond	[Looks at the wall, then looks at his scrawny arms] You know, I don't think I will be able to climb up there, how's about you let me in the front door some time after Dreylin has done his knocking and anyone goes away.
Leanna	Well we'll have to see if that's practical, but yes.
Shianara	So shall we get going?
Leanna	Sure. [Delves into her pack for her grappling iron]
Yurini	[Examines the look of the wall for a moment] Doesn't look too hard. I'll climb with these two.
Shianara	Well maybe I'll leave it to you two then. [Indicates Yurini and Leanna] Maybe I can provide covering fire for one of the groups?
DM	You make your way down to the keep with the others then wait as they head off towards the left hand side. After waiting 15 minutes to let them get into position, Shianara, Habib and Narond head round the wall to hide while Dreylin and Berillia try the diplomatic method. Seeing no doorbell, Dreylin knocks solidly on the wooden door. The sound of the knocks echoes then fades. You wait a few moments but there is no answer.
Dreylin	Well, time to check and see if the door's locked... [Does so]
DM	It's very locked.
Dreylin	[Tries knocking once again...]
DM	You do so - harder.
Narond	[Waits for Dreylin to get bored of knocking]
DM	There is still no reply. But you can hear footsteps from the other side. You hear a voice from behind the gate. It is quiet but you can make out some words. You think it's probably Leanna.
Leanna	Heads up... ... may... ... company.
Berillia	[Readies herself, but doesn't put hammer to hand quite yet]
Dreylin	[Waits for a second and then knocks a third time and steps back a couple of paces from the door]
Leanna	[From behind the door, clearer] Hold on, and get your bows out.
DM	From the far side of the gate you hear Yurini and Leanna trying to lift the bar. It takes some time but eventually you hear it fall. However this is immediately followed by a series of crackling noises and you hear both of them grunt as if in pain. The door begins to swing open. As the gates open you are presented with a large, flagstoned courtyard. Immediately behind the door stand Yurini and Leanna, who is holding her bow. Both are looking up at a flock of reddish-brown birds that are rapidly flying towards you.
Leanna	[Shouts] Heads up, and watch out for lightning!
DM	As she does so, a long blue bolt flies from the beak of one of the birds and strikes the metal hinges of the gate. There is a slight smell of burning.
Dreylin	[Readies his bow, but does not fire] So have they actually hit you yet, or just the gate?
DM	A further bolt strikes Habib on the arm.
Leanna	[Is too busy shooting to glare at him] Yes, both of us, thanks for your concern.
DM	The flock is sweeping towards you now and you can see there are 8 of them. In a few seconds they will be upon you.
Narond	[Raises his eyes to the heavens at Dreylin's comment before attempting a dagger throw at a bird]
Dreylin	[Shoots at one of the birds]
Habib	[Throws a javelin at one of them]
DM	As the flock dives towards you Habib hurls a javelin at the nearest bird. It crashes into the point and falls to the ground, flapping briefly then falling still. At the same time, Berillia catches one bird squarely with a rock and brings it down. Yurini and Shianara move together but both fail to hit the swiftly moving targets. The flock reaches you just as Leanna and Narond let fly, each bringing down another bird. The remaining four descend upon you flapping near your faces and raking at you with very sharp claws. Dreylin is driven back by two birds but manages to fend them off. The other two fly at Shianara and Yurini who try to beat them back.
Berillia	[Puts hand to hammer and tries to swat one of the birds attacking Dreylin]
Leanna	[Shoots at Shianara's bird]
DM	There is a general melee. With four large and heavy birds flying through your group, the fight swiftly degenerates into a flailing match. Dreylin swings a bit then ducks and remains crouched on the floor as various peoples beat at the birds flapping above him. One of the largest birds scratches at Yurini's armour. Although the mail holds up, there is another blue flash and the young warrior shouts in pain. Habib swats the bird away before it can make any further mischief. Leanna nocks an arrow and shoots the bird attacking Shianara cleanly through. Now depleted to only three, the birds fly off back up the cliff face and are quickly out of range. They do not seem to be returning.
Berillia	And stay up there, or we'll feed you to the... um, crows?
Leanna	[Grins, and makes a mental note to use her bow more] Might I suggest that we have a proper look around the courtyard, since the glowing creatures were seen there? [Thinks briefly] This blue light... Could it be some form of electrical energy like the birds were using? I know the things Noriad claims he saw were humanoid, but the things moving around the courtyard last night might not have been. [Hesitates, looking at the ground and kicking at the dust] Well, just a thought anyway. [Looks at the tower for any signs of movement within] So much for the sneaky entry... Or the polite knocking, for that matter!
Dreylin	[Picks himself and his equipment up and dusts himself off] Well, I don't think we should give up on polite knocking just yet, after all the birds first attacked the two of you in the courtyard, not those of us outside...
Narond	[Looks at Dreylin] Well given we are inside the courtyard we have already given up on polite knocking. A bit pointless to lock the gate back up and start knocking again especially since you were having no response at all.
Dreylin	Well I was actually thinking we could knock on the door of the Keep and see if we got a response, but I'm sure you'd rather we just break it down...?
Narond	Yeah that would work. I'm sorry we already seem to have broken in through your outer door, but still are you in?
Berillia	Can't we see if it's unlocked first?
Leanna	[Grins at Beri and then unsuccessfully suppresses a giggle at Narond's comment to Dreylin] Agreed.
Narond	Sounds like a better idea to me.
Dreylin	[Bristles] Hmph, I suppose politeness really isn't necessary when you've already decided to kill everyone anyway...
Leanna	[Stops laughing and, for once, looks mightily upset] Who said anything about 'deciding to kill everyone'? You're implying that we're hell-bent on destroying everything when all we are suggesting is a little discretion, rather than sauntering into a potential deathtrap waving a little white flag and hoping the nice glowing blue men inside will play nice. What stupid fantasy world do you live in?
	Back to the final section of The Veiled Society Next section