Have Fun Storming the Castle

Summary

The party exits Dullspray Moor without issue and returns to the carriage Ferdinand dispatched for them. Deciding that time is of the essence, they elect to head straight back to Teldyrn, telling the attendant rabbitfolk to let Ferdinand know of the upcoming battle. Using Erevan's Fly spell, they return to the Cloister of the Ascendant Dragon where Syldara is in a war council with Sokamoto and his lieutenant Khoman. Syldara syas they have not heard from Virren in two days.
Khoman says his skirmishing parties have been taking losses in an attempt to keep up appearances and hide their alliance with Syldara's soldiers, but he is not sure how long they can keep it up. Trinn enters and informs Syldara that the wolfsbane potions have been effective, and that the last of the affected forces has just been inoculated. The collected commanders agree to make their assault on Goldenblood Keep at first light even though they are outnumbered, as the Third Champion cannot be allowed to access the power beneath the keep. The war council is interrupted by the arrival of Ferdinand, who is clad in full armor and accompanied by his rabbitfolk household guard. Ferdinand says that he felt an obligation to help in the upcoming battle, and reveals that he is accompanied by Precision due to pulling some strings with the Blooming Maiden. Bolstered by the arrival of reinforcements, the party beds down to await the upcoming dawn.
In the morning, the various forces of Teldyrn assemble to march out and the party accompanies Syldara's Dragonguard, Trinn's acolytes, Sokamoto's rebels, and Ferdinand's guard across the city to Goldenblood Keep. They encounter no resistance and suspect that their attack was anticipated. The party decides to sneak into the keep to seek out the Third Champion while the main force provides a distraction via a full-frontal assault. Sokamoto provides the party with an enchanted collar which can incapacitate the Champion if they can place it on him . The battle soon begins. Several of the Dragonguard use their newfound control of their transformations to shift into lycan forms and scale the walls alongside tabaxi rebels. Meanwhile, the party and Sokamoto sneak around a side wall and find a lightly guarded postern gate. They fight their way past the meager reserve defenses and enter the keep, but are soon met with heavy resistance inside as they push through the hallways. Erevan provides a distraction and leads the soldiers away as the party proceed to the Third Champion's throne room.
There, they are met by the sight of Virren in chains with the Third Champion standing behind him. They learn that they had been betrayed by Khoman, who emerges from the shadows. Looking out the throne room window which overlooks the battle, they see their army being outflanked. The Third Champion tells them that their assault will fail, and Erevan will soon be surrounded and made to open the power beneath the keep. The party attacks the Champion and Khoman as Virren uses what little magical energy he has to Thunderstep away. The Champion proves to be a dangerous and highly maneuverable foe, but after an intense battle Precision is able to affix the collar to him while Lethe activates it.

Chapter Forty-Two

"Have Fun Storming the Castle"

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Previous Chapter: Dullspray Moor

Next Chapter: A Power Awakened

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Ingame Date: Indeterminate
Real-Life Date: January 23, 2022
Protagonists:

• Lethe Argie
• Aberchak Haberdak
• Precision Merchantel

Featured NPCs:

• Erevan
• Sokamoto
• Ken Rylo
• Syldara Bardonne
• Ferdinand

Locations:

• Teldyrn