The party continue their progress through the secret passage to Capstan Keep.
Using a pair of daggers Edward manages to wedge them underneath the pressure plate that triggers the jet of magical flame, granting everyone safe passage into the joining corridor.
After a series of experiments, discoveries, wounds and pitfalls, the party map out the corridors that form a squared figure of eight with a line down its centre. Mornington and Fenris fall prone to some poison dart traps, while Artax falls through an illusionary floor into a spiked pit trap, later recovered via rope and some tricky timing.
The party find a series of hidden levers within small alcoves disguised by the intricately sculpted walls. Depicting honour bound knights, fantastical creatures, natural vistas and common place wild animals, the levers were often found hidden within the open mouths of creatures on the distracting stone murals. Each seemed to disable a particular trap in the corridor, but not for very long.
As the party were getting to grips with how to disable all traps and unlock a portcullis found at the far end, the civilians, including Boris "The Brewer" Stagheart, come running down the corridor. They report that a Worg saw them by the tunnel entrance, barked a few times and then ran off. They feel their presence has been discovered.
A few minutes later, loud footsteps can be heard coming from the entrance accompanied by piercing barks. A Worg and two ogres are spotted approaching the party, one of the ogres is heavily armoured with what seems to be a mismatched collection of anything and everything that can protect him, including a whole door as a shield. The Worg gets caught off guard launching itself across the first pit trap and has two legs dangling in the pit as it tries to scramble out. The Ogres try to use one of the side doors, instantly breaking the daggers under their sheer weight and recieving a jet of flame to the face, cooking the Ogre in his armour.
Crom rushes up and liberally applies his axe to the immobile Worg. Meanwhile various projectiles are hurled down the corridor, arrows from Artax, bolts from Mornington, blasts from Edward and insults from Fenris. One of the Ogres returns fire, hurling large javelins and causing a series of non-trivial wounds.
The Worg is quickly slain, and between the pit trap, a locked door and a magical fire trap, the ogres see no easy method of approach so retreat back to the main force.
With peace returning, the party - through some experimentation - figure that the switches must be pulled in a particular order. This triggers an audible ticking countdown and the portcullis at the end of the corridor raises with the clanking of metal against stone.
The party make the trek north through the long tunnel towards the castle. It ends in a room with a stone staircase and a pully-operated wooden lift. Heading up the stairs, they lead to the jails, storage rooms and other subterranean spaces beneath the castle. Moving through a series of double doors the party erupt into the bailey of the castle, where the quiet of the tunnels is washed aside by a tide of noise.
Soldiers everywhere, some manning the castle, some injured, some resting. Tents are set up in the bailey and make shift living is in place as the castle holds far more than it can comfortably house. There are also a large number of villagers in the castle, clearly brought into the castle when the village was raided.
Fenris shouts out to get the attention of the soldiers, wanting to seek council with who ever is leading the military efforts. After a few moments of confusion and individuals running off to grab those in charge, the party meet three leaders hailing from the Capstans, the Mordreds and the Minersons respectively.
Tomas Vinares Captain of the Capstan Guard, Aegheard Leofred Captian of the Mordred Infantry Company and Magnus Brenner Lieutenant of the Minerson militarian. A few questions are exchanged to ascertain the situation and clarify who the party are to these people. Then a horn blows from the battlements three times. Something is approaching the castle.
Everyone heads up to the battlements of the castle walls to see what is happening. A large wooden structure is slowly ascending the ramp up to the closed drawbridge. A rushed construction consisting of felled trees and hemp rope. It becomes clear it is protecting a unit of ogres that are slowly marching to the castle, now protected from the volleys of arrows. Edward unleashes an Eldritch blast on the structure, blowing a chunk of it off with a flash of purple energy. Almost up to the drawbridge gap between the ramp and the castle, the structure stops and a couple of ogres emerge as others are being pushed aside by a larger figure within.
A large, built, red skinned figure emerges. Bearing large broad horns, piercing blue eyes and a staff emitting a glowing smoke. Zorok stares up at the battlement as this smoke starts to surround him. The smoke, and his form, are then drawn into a central point as he phases out of reality for just a moment.
A split second later, smoke starts to emit on the battlements next to the party. It grows quickly in volume as the towering physique of Zorok steps forth from its centre. With a flash of movement, the demonic looking ogre lunges forward, reaching out for Artax. Grabbed by the arm, Artax is raised from the ground and then, in a flash, hurled towards the ramparts. His legs collide with stone and he tumbles in the air, disappearing as he plummets towards the ground out of sight.
Zorok turns to the others on the battlements as soldiers behind the party can be heard fleeing from the monstrosity. He grits his teeth and grips his staff in both hands, menacing eyes watching for the next move to be made...
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