Part II

After the first wave of attacks, my comrades-in-arms moved to other portions of the wall, finishing up some of the more stubborn foes who refused to pull back. I took stock of the Keep, trying to figure out a strategic edge. I recognized it as Hurstwerks Keep. There was some debate as to its exact nature and purpose. The humans of Keoland remember it as being built by the Ur-Flan to defend a junction of two roads through the Axewood forest (which was much bigger at the time). It is said that after Vecna fell, the other nations rallied and swept through this area, defeating the blackguard who took refuge here. His body and that of his men were unceremoniously dumped into the moat, and that afterwards the Keep was rumored to be cursed. Eventually, as the Axewood forest receded and roads changed, the Keep lost its significance and fell into decay. However, the Ur-Flan were not known for being great builders, and their culture was fairly primitive. The elves of the Duchy remember it as being built around -313 CY by the Keoish when they built a line of fortifications in order to strengthen their hold on the land. Much later, when the Duchy joined the Council of Niole Dra and the borders were established along other lines, these fortifications had become pointless and fell into disrepair. Whatever the Keeps’ origins [1], I could not recall anything that would help us at this point in time.

I heard another series of low deep warhorns off in the distance, and knew that we would soon be attacked again. I moved back to the wall and took my place again. Replacing Captain Watcher Tynan, who was needed elsewhere, was Watcher Gesandte Rheinheit, an old battle friend of mine from the recent events in Cragmor. I was glad to be fighting beside him, for I knew him to be valorous and courageous. Magnus was once again on the tower. He had cast a Light spell on himself, so that he could more easily peer out into the darkness. However, it had the unintended effect of marking him as a target for our assailants. The barrage of crossbow bolts stopped, and we heard a distant thump sound. Suddenly, screaming out of the air and landing right next to Magnus a barrel of debris and fire exploded. We heard another thump sound, and this time they found their target, for it landed precisely on Magnus.

As Magnus moved to find better cover, we spied more ogres at the edge of our vision. These seemed similar to the Ogre Brutes that we faced before, but this time they were accompanied by a huge Ogre Warchief. I cast Evard’s Black Tentacles to delay some of them, but our position was quickly overrun, and we were barely keeping them from breaking into the courtyard. Gesandte was fighting against the Ogre Warchief, and was holding him off until the ogre managed a deep lateral cut and almost unhorsed him. Though unconscious and dying, the rest of us had no choice but to instead concentrate on the Warchief until we could at last spare some minor healing. Fortunately, a dwarf from the Principality whom I recognized as Oskar happened to fly by. “Do you need healing?” he yelled out. We wasted no time explaining that Gesandte needed his help badly, and thanks to Oskar’s aid all of Gesandte’s wounds were suddenly healed [2].

“Skye, I need you on the outer west wall!” yelled out Knight Commander Wainwright. Nodding, I flew over to that wall and found it under attack from five harpies. Half of the defenders were enspelled or incapable of attacking these flying foes. Upon seeing me flying towards them, half of the harpies concentrated their attacks on me. I was struck repeatedly by their arrows, but Corellon saw fit to keep me alive a while longer, and I managed to cast Slow on them. Most of them found they keep could either stay aloft or fight, but not both. Eventually, we took out the few that chose to remain aloft, and the others were dispatched on the ground.

Having dealt with those foes and helped to secure that wall, I withdrew to the inner courtyard where a medic tent had been established. I found an assistant, and lending him my wand of Cure Light Wounds, I was repeatedly blessed by its power. As I stood there receiving the healing ministrations, I looked back towards the inner west wall. I could see Magnus, still outlined by a Light spell. He was now on the ground, and was caught between the tower and an ettin. Watcher Gesandte rode forward to help him, and took the ettins attention away from the mage. Just then, Knight Commander Wainwright ran by, directing Gesandte to move to another wall, and then he himself moved on again. Gesandte turned towards the Commander’s voice to indicate that he heard him, only to have the ettin take advantage of his momentary distraction and land two mighty blows that easily unhorsed Gesandte and flew him backwards [3].

Coming back towards our section of the wall, Knight Commander Wainwright suddenly realized that the man he had asked to help out elsewhere now lay perilously close to death. Feeding him a curative potion, Gesandte was brought back from death’s door. I rejoined the wall, along with Zook the halfling from the Principality of Ulek, and we once again managed to hold off the invaders. The warhorns sounded anew, and for now we still held the keep.

The diplomats and leaders meet in the courtyard, and a heated debate ensued. The Sea Prince exile Dervan Nial Cusar accused Knight Commander Wainwright of trapping us here in this Keep. He recommended a sortie to bring the fight to our foes and break through their ranks. Tempers flared, until someone cast Calm Emotion on all the diplomats and they dispersed in disgust with each other.

End Part II