Episode Seventy-one - Battle for Olostin's Hold

General Summary

Prologue

Retreating for recuperation, the Champions of the defeated and deceased Destiny of the Endless settled into the comforts of the estate of Deepwinter once more. They made use of their day and found Lord Naxxremis had invited himself for supper with Arion's blessing, that evening. Kelaryn helped the cook, upon Mrs. Crestreg's request, prepare her father's favorite stew as the cook's nerves got the best of her. The supper's peace talks were anything but peaceful but all in all, the talk seemed to surround Naxxremis' willingness to betray his master. His willingness presented itself after Arion told Naxxremis the story of Sauron's defeat. He even told the local lord that his ancestors rose up against Sauron and to them he actually surrendered. In the end, Naxxremis lead them to an understanding that he would be willing to work with them if they would be willing to ignore his attempts at power within the city of Waterdeep.
After Naxxremis left, the heroes discussed what to do with the local lord and then discussed his ring and the ones Sauron created in the past. It was surmised that it would take great power to destroy one of the new rings from the Hall of Four Ghosts and that likely, there was a controlling influence on the four rings. Never the less the meal concluded and the heroes returned to their rest and work.

Story

Though Flamerule had brought with it only hardship, the Champions finally found themselves a moment's peace on the 1st of Flamerule, 1479 DR; all of them except Aldrich and excluding a rather hostile evening meal with Lord Naxxremis.
Sol started adding spells to his spellbook. He took the time to bind them carefully, handling his quill and supplies delicately. He had noticed, in his work, that the hands that penned the old scrolls were many and their skills were somewhat lack luster. He made the best of those scrolls and found that if he'd work long and hard, he'd complete his work by the morning. Taking the time to rest in the early morning he found his brain a fuss, absolutely buzzing with the possibilities of his new spells and thus he instead started to prep them for the new day. Not getting any sleep, Sol's eyes became heavy but he pushed through and ignored any sign of his weariness.
Annabelle spent a little time communing with Epione. After more battles then she thought she'd see in a lifetime, she felt her godess' presence closely as the remnants of her divine healing flowed through Annabelle like a river. After her prayers, she then spend a little time with the staff around the estate where she saw Arion doing so as well. She really came to feel like the staff truly cared for her and enjoyed her visits, particularly Liom the Groom. Eventually Annabelle tucked in for a night's rest as her Lady's Maid took her clothes to be washed. Come the morning they were returned but still in tatters from her encounter with the Sacred Statue.
Arion got the miniature civilization settled into the barn's cellar where they requested. They began to situate themselves right away and made the dirt floor of the place their home. They seemed happy and thanked Arion graciously. Once topside again, he learned that a guard had already been hired to keep an eye on the estate. Arion also learned that he and another guard, whom would arrive the coming day, would be quartering in the guest servant's room for the time being. From Farnworth, Arion learned that the architect had designed a guard house that would nearly match the city's regulatory limit. The compliment would host twenty-four strong soldiers when the mason, who'd been hired and was currently sourcing stone, was finished. Eventually, but before supper, Arion got the time to work on his gear and got rested after checking on the staff.
Kelaryn was able to get herself inside and get sat down for awhile, of course her father talked to her about all the big fights and worried for her as always but after a few laughs and a nice evening together she learned that he and Autumn cooked up a plan. He told her that the two of them had decided to move into the guest house to stay out of the party's way, as they were simply guests and that the new hire may be living there as well, pending a conversation with Arion about a job she may take for the estate. Eventually Kelaryn headed to bed and she saw Siem staring at her curiously in her dreams but alas she awoke in the morning without answers.
Aldrich had quite the evening in fact. Kneeling in the miller's field he blinked and found himself covered in mud with weird mud finger paintings on his armor. Written on his chest plate was, New Armor From Chauntea, in common. He then stood and made his way, with a stagger, over to the closest barn. As he stumbled in he realized that the mushroom he ate in the dungeon, that which belonged to the tiny civilization, must have had a delayed narcotic effect but he brushed that through aside as he found a cask of ale before him. Its tap dripped ever so slightly onto the hay below and called to him.
Putting his mouth to the spout he poured and poured until he heard giggling behind him. He turned to see a lovely young lass who was clearly the miller's daughter. She came over and took a gulp of ale and then Aldrich faded again. For a moment the two of them were chasing a goat across a field and then in another they were ringing a church bell. Finally, he found himself nude in the hay, wresting the voluptuous miller's daughter, and in the very next instant they were entwined. Her laugh was contagious and her joy wholly encapsulating. With another blink he found himself in bed being awoken by Farnsworth hanging his arms and armor. They were clean but still in tatters from his time with the Sacred Statue.
When he noticed Aldrich was awake Farnworth left and a voice entered Aldrich's head. The voice declared, "oh Aldrich, that isn't what I look like honey but I won't take offense. Take caution my sweet, the voice that beckons you hasn't been mine but heed me now darlin'. That demon may fool you in the end but incase you find sense in the darkness, remember its name, Jasgomathbogooloth. Oh and sugarplums, be sure and get your little friends to kill that wretch by the River Rauvin; once you're free of him, you'll be on the path to take your father's axe like you deserve. Call to me on that day snookum's and I'll help you take it back and make it yours."
As the words of his goddess faded from his mind, the party all met up in the common room upstairs as Kelaryn finished making a memorial of all the members of the company that were lost. With Zôrzimril hired on as a merchant and a spy by Arion, Sol took the moment to repair Annabelle and Aldrich's clothes as he had done his own. They all then had breakfast and awaited the arrival of the wizard they'd had hired. When he came, he offered to send the party anywhere and they chose to buy that Teleportation scroll and had him use his Teleportation Circle scroll instead. At Dresden's tower, they had the apprentice assist them in leaving and then made their way to a battle line that was forming outside of town.
When they approached the bridge out of town the Champions saw archetypical knights standing in formation with members of what looked like a regular town militia and a formal guard unit. Before them, in the woods, an orc raiding party awaited. When the heroes cross the bridge Arion spoke to the captain of the guard and offered to parlay. He suggested that the captain tighten his line and then went, with the party, to speak with The Cloak of Sauron. It quickly became evident that the cloaked Drow was out for blood. Back at the captain's side, the heroes agreed to take the right flank and protect it from anything coming further down the road. Arion hoped to hold it with offensive tactics and then swing in to the center.
As the orc warband grew closer the heroes made their way down the line of assembled men. They saw the troop's spears shake and their knees quiver. They heard worried voices murmur amongst the rank about their chances of success. They heard doubt in the unit's lack of missiles, doubt in their complement of equipment, doubt in their own skill, and doubt in their gods. The clicking and clattering of the unit's mail and armor permeated the air as the mild washing of the river filled the spaces in-between. There were young men, old men, humans, elves, and half-breeds. There were strong men, weak men, and soon to be dead men. It was obvious, to all observers, that the frontline's chances rested solely on the shoulder's of the lord's personal retinue. Without those plate armored knights, the entire line would likely fall.
It was easy to imagine the battle to come for those that had seen it before. Those knights would take the brunt of the fight but the rusty orc cleavers and their mangled arrows would only batter the men beneath the plate. Bruised, winded, and lacking clean air, those men would have to be peeled open to be killed but the men around them would not fair so well. The strong arms of the orcs would cleave through their chainmail like butter, links would litter the battlefield and their leather would be stained blood red. Their spears would break upon the mighty orcs and their skulls would follow. Many men would die that day and there was nothing that could be done about it. All imagined thusly would come to pass.
As the heroes reached the right flank, the captain of the guard took his position in the frontlines and closed his visor. He'd prepared for battle and without another word and he alone seemed at the ready. As he walked further away from the right flank, the heroes all saw that he would assist left of center further on. They were able to determine that the center was banked on the lord's mercenary knights, and that their task on the right would be crucial. With the strategy in mind the heroes moved in to position and a group of orcs stepped forth to greet them.
Their line was weak and scattered by comparison to their full battle line. They were no further then one hundred feet away from the heroes and their entire line curved off from to encompass a decent flank. Their forces stood ready with them and were pleased to have surround the locals. The heroes knew then that their defense would either be beaten down from three sides or forced back onto the bridge or into the river. As they examined the tactical situation they noticed that further down the road three large figures lumbered toward the battlefield but there was still some time before they arrived.
When the heroes readied their position, Annabelle found herself stood with a guard's back at her left shoulder. Arion filled the gap between Annabelle and Aldrich as Sol kept his head low behind the two hulking warriors. Kelaryn took a good ranged position behind Annabelle and Arion as they all looked ahead to the enemy. They witnessed a compliment of Mountain Orcs ready to feast on their flesh, they witnessed they beheld savagery and brutality.
As the battle began, blood reigned and rained. Death ruled for that minute and over a hundred souls met their end. Each member of the company won glory and killed in that battle but as it closed, they came to face The Cloak of Sauron.

Rewards Granted

1300xp

Missions/Quests Completed

Quest of Fate Continued, Subquest Forging Fate Continued, Sidequest Battle for Olostin's Hold Started

Notes

Notable Party Damage:

• Aldrich has a horrible burn scar on the left side of his neck in front of the ear from an azure fire elemental summoned by Seldra Tylmarande. His armor and shield are extremely claw marked from many Lizardfolk. His shield has a large fist shaped dent in it from when he was crushed by a Sacred Statue.
  Noted Effects: Horrible Scar (Neck). You are disfigured to the extent that the wound can't be easily concealed. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks and advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.
• Annabelle has a noticeable bend in her scale armor about the stomach where she was crushed by a Sacred Statue.
  Noted Effects: None
• Arion came from Arda with a scar that won't seem to heal.
  Noted Effects: Minor Scar (Head). The scar doesn't have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.
• Kelaryn has two faint hand-print shaped scars on her left arm. She has a scar from the stab of a spear that she received valiantly fighting an ice devil on her stomach. She has a scar that emanates infernal essences from a horned devil's tail above her right breast. Kelaryn has a large scar that runs down over her left breast, across the center of her chest, and then down to her right abdomen where the large axe of a minotaur split her open. She has two large gore hole scars from a minotaur on the left side of her stomach. Her back is also tweaked from the hard battering she took from the minotaur. The scales of her Khuzdûl armor are dented above the left breast from a hit she took from a lizardfolk.
  Noted Effects: Minor Scars (Left Arm, Right Breast, Torso, and Stomach). The scar doesn't have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar. Mild Limp. Your speed on foot is reduced by 5 feet. You must make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw after using the Dash action. If you fail the save, you fall prone. Magical healing removes the limp.
• Sol has tear marks across the back and chest of his shirt, as well as down the sleeve, from the claws of lizardfolk. He has a burn mark on his cheek where a water droplet seared his flesh.
  Noted Effects: Minor Scar (Left Cheek). The scar doesn't have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.

Report Date

18 Apr 2021

Primary Location

Ostenwold