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Rhys the Traveler

Rhys nods in agreement, "I agree. This is not the time to rush in with a hasty decision. I assume at some point they're going to miss the ambush party; this might put them on heightened alert. We should approach cautiously, on our own time, and not rush in because of a storm."

Thurgan, dwarf

"Aye, find some shelter out here. Scout the buildings before we rush in so we can find where to lay traps and ambushes for those orcs".

Olgbol, Orc

The orc thinks hard for a moment. "There old tower that way," he says, grudgingly, "old tower like rotten dragon's tooth. Orcs not go there, is cursed, but we may find shelter there."

Severi, Elf

"Fine. The tower it is." Severi pulls his cloak's hood up over his head, and begins packing his things.

Aquar, cleric

The combat curate is relieved to hear the others echo his concern about the wisdom of a direct assault on the orc compound. "We should create opportunity to play to our strengths by attacking the orcs outside, combining the suggested trap approach with our own spell, arrow and sword. Pick a strategic battle spot, lay hidden oil for flame walls, perhaps a concealed pit the men can dig, a flank of hidden archers, concealed mages set with their spells of sorcerous somnolence."

"If this tower is reputed to be haunted, there is likely reason for it," warns Aquar. He is not sure such a place is good to rest in. If he gave the orc scum more credit, he'd suspect a cunning counter-intuitive ploy to drive the party into a trap or orc watch-place.

Mursley, MU

"Yes, let's get to this tower, but with open eyes and caution"

Camp is struck with an air of urgency. Before long the entire party moves out, following the vague directions provided by Olgbol. The Immortals must be smiling upon the adventurers, because despite being able to see only a few yards in front of them, Olgbol's ignorance as to their exact location and the bolts of lightning striking the ground at random intervals they make it to the tower without injury or extensive backtracking.

The tower is a squat stone structure, likely no more than sixty feet in height and thirty or forty in diameter. It leans drunkenly to one side and what mortar can be seen between the stones that comprise the walls is crumbling. But the roof seems largely whole and the door leading within -- while mostly rotten -- can still be barred shut with little trouble.

The adventurers enter the first floor of the structure to find themselves in a largely clean room thirty feet across. A stone staircase winds up the far wall, leading to the second floor, which is framed with wooden beams set into pockets in the wall and laid with wide planks. From the first floor nothing can be seen, of course, of higher levels of the tower.

With the men-at-arms, their two bandit guides, Olgbol and the adventurers the first floor is packed tight with soaked, sweating bodies.

Anohir, Priest

We we should settle in and send out a few to be sure there isn't anything lurking in the dark to attack us.

Severi, Elf

"I'm damned if I'll sleep not knowing what's up above our heads." Severi, ignoring the very real possibility that he's already damned for entirely different reasons, checks the stairs for structural soundness before ascending.

Rhys the Traveler

If the stairs are sound, Rhys joins Severi.

Anohir, Priest

Anohir picks up his shield and sling and follows behind them upstairs.

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan carefully inspects the stonework for weaknesses and traps. "Maybe I should go ahead upstairs as I can see better in the dark than the sons of man".

Aquar, cleric

The Procan priest stays with the men, issuing orders.

"You four follow the others," Aquar says, motioning for four of the better sellswords to accompany the adventurers up the stairs.

"Pitch camp in here, we'll a double watch inside and out. If its safe above we'll spread the men out for comfort. You two, help me search this room for secret doors and anything unusual."

Aquar peers out the door, wondering if their presence remains truly unknown.

Wyzard wrote:

Just a thought - if the places is haunted, in terms of there being undead, I think maybe the Cleric should actually come with us.

Mursley, MU

Mursley will stay downstairs

The adventurers search the tower. The ground floor has a hearth, filled with cold ashes, but is otherwise featureless. Thurgan begins to ascend the stairs and notes that the floor above is illuminated by dull light. He cautiously pokes his hirsute head through the opening in the floor and spies a room almost identical to the room below, except for the arrow slips evenly spaced in the exterior wall. These slits prove to be the source of light as the dim morning light filters in.

The rain can be seen through the slits, as can the occasional flash of lightning; neither appears to show any sign of relenting. The men-at-arms flatly refuse to venture beyond the first floor. The stairs continue to wind along the exterior wall, piercing the floor above approximately a sixth of a turn from where it enters the second floor. The room appears to be empty.

Severi, Elf

Severi makes it known by gesture that he intends to continue and look at the above floor, if the structure seems sound enough for it.

There are three more floors contained within the tower. The third and fourth floors are fundamentally the same as the second; a large, open space with a single hearth, and arrow slits spaced around the wall roughly evenly. The impression is of an outpost or fortress and less a residence or wizard's keep. The two floors are clean and seem to be in good repair, with little evidence of dust or disrepair.

Thurgan mounts the steps once more and peers into the gloom of the fifth floor of the tower. It, too, resembles the floors below except that it is clearly the last; instead of flat ceiling joists the rafters are pitched to form a shallow, conical roof. Dangling from the rafters, in roughly the center of the room, are three bodies, by what appear to be nooses hung from the cross-ties. The bodies sway gently in the cross-breeze, but are otherwise still. No features or distinguishing marks are visible from where the dwarf stands.

Severi, Elf

"Well. No doubt that's the source of the haunt. It's daylight, now, let's cut them down and give them a funeral. We've got afterworldsmen among us, they'll say the words and the rest of us can gather stones or set a pyre. My feeling is that we might dare a pyre during the daylight hours; the orcs won't be about."

Severi looks to see if there is any easy way to release the bodies.