Part 5: Retake Urah

Part 5: Retake Urah, Again

It is still closer to night. The moon hangs overhead, as the group moves from the mines towards the castle that looms over Urah city. Once, this was the seat of power for the Von Stein royalty. Now, it is ruled over by the Duivia Dukedom - headed by Reinhard von Dunkelwald. As they get closer, they group up with more Adventurers. The leader of the Rebellion is traveling with them. Gran'it Von Stein, the youthful would-be-prince is keeping his body low as they approach the water-side castle, leading them to a hidden tunnel. "We've scouted this position a few times. Their patrols don't really cover the area down below." As he ties off a rope to a nearby branch, and lowers it into an overgrowth-covered pit of sorts. "We get in there, we use the downstairs to get as quickly as we can to the seat of power, and we take out Reinhard - who has been leading the forced labor at the mines. We do not give the soldiers time to react. And with their lord defeated, some of the magic seals on the castle will fall - and our allies can get in." Gran'it explains, as he helps lower people down into the depths. As an owl coos in the moonlight night, it all seems to be going incredibly smoothly. The Princeling of course knows his former home inside-and-out. And with all of the patrols already charted out, there shouldn't be anything they can't deal with. Taking over the former Von Stein location will give the Rebellion a base of operations, as well as garnering a powerbase within the holdings of Duivia Dukedom once more. Making its intentions clear, to remove the Duke from power, and to ensure that they cannot assassinate the Prince without anyone being the wiser. After the entire group rapels down, Gran'it moves forward and steps confidently up to the bars of the rusty looking gate in front of them. They rest following him. He makes for a pull and a confident push - like someone who knows exactly how an old door should be opened after decades of aging. In the meantime, he re-iterates that they are specifically doing this as a small attack squad, because the wards on this place prevent scrying and the like. Cling. "Huh... strange." Gran'it looks down at the gate. "The scouts didn't say anything about a lock." There's naught but darkness and quiet ahead though. "Must have added it to make sure the Duivia troops didn't bother with this gate." He remarks and runs his hand behind his head. "Any of you good with locks? It doesn't look too sturdy, we can probably just bash or pry it open."

GAME: Fidget casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19

Bryn clambers on down, pretty confident that the princeling knows the place like the back of his hand. Way better than she. She moves quietly... at least for an oruchess in metal chain. Maybe? "Huh.." she breaths as she looks around. "Holes in the ground all look alot alike..." Then there's the gate, and the lock. "Um..." now her eye pans back to the others, then back to von Stein. "Can always smack it... but that'll be noisy."

"Understood," Warrick grunts as he rappels down into the depths, a plethora of weapons dangling off his back and sides. He lands with a thud, sliding on a open faced helmet that doesn't match his blackened breastplate. Large crossbow in hand that was enchanted by the very gobber with them, he loads a bolt. There's a stare at the gate, before Warrick blinks and shakes his head. "I can shoot it off, but yes, it'll be loud." He idly inspects his armored left arm, squinting briefly before rubbing his eyes and saddling up against the wall like he usually does when holding an angle.

Always willing to help out a good rebellion, Fidget had heard through word of mouth about this operation, and did a little research before replying. It sure seemed like the Duke was a bad guy who needed exploding. And she was the gobbo to help with that. "Is the palace warded against scrying? Could be worth having a peek in there, if it wouldn't set off an alarm or something?" she asks, being a bit more cautious than her usual - at least for now. "And someone else will have to handle the lock if you want it done... subtly." she adds, miming an explosion with her hands with a widening grin. "Ah, you too, Bryn, Warrick? We can be the obvious rogues together. Did anyone remember to bring a sneaky type?"

"Don't look at me, I'm not picking any locks, one of the crimes I haven't managed to commit." Zofija shrugs, looking at the lock. Could always smash it off, but that'll be real obvious, and if there's a lock there, that means they know about it, right?" "So, what's the plan? I don't know if we've got any other choice getting in here."

Carver places a kiss on Deathless's nose, the red horse giving a shake of her head as they seperate. The hole was too small sadly. She is the last to come down, dark eyes in the dark darting around nervously as the others mull over how to get past the first obstacle.

Gran'it nods and agrees; "It'll be loud, but it's a lot better than storming this place. Let's just be prepared to rush in there." He calls out to the crew. "Warrick, take down the lock. Everyone else, let's be prepared to head in. We'll be moving straight west - straight from this door - and going up the stairs when we find them. Alright? Keep your eyes peeled."

Bryn nods to Gran'it, gets her blade out and grips it firm, then gives Warrick a tusky grin. "I'm ready." Aside from bashing the lock off, she doesn't have any sneaky suggestions. She isn't the most subtle.

Warrick gives one last once over before he eyes the group. "Got it. Fidget- can you conjure acid? That would be quieter," he suggests, ducking slightly to get ready to run.

"Okay, hold on, hold on - I can't be quiet, but I can be quieter than *that*." the purple gobbo says, pointing at Warrick's massive long-range-argument-winner. With a couple of arcane gestures and a few words of power, she conjures a greenish, sizzling blob of acid, and flicks it at the lock with a finger, the goop eating into the metal. It takes her two castings before the lock snaps open and thuds into the dirt. The door, too, looks a little worse for wear.

GAME: Fidget casts Acid Splash. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18

There's a splash against the lock, and it soon begins to sizzle away, taking some of the door with it. Gran'it takes a moment to let the acid melt through and grow inert, before he pushes the door open with a bit of a shoulder-check - revealing an empty hall. "Good, just as the scouts said. There should be no patrols here right now. Let's head straight west everyone!"

"Well, that works at least. Guess the door'll get fixed later. Or filled in entirely." Zofija shrugs, squeezing into the basement area. "Careful, might still be people here even if they're not actively patrolling. Good spot to sneak off for a nap, probably."

<OOC> Warrick lets out a ioun torch to get more light

== GM Harkashan has dropped a TIMESTOP! ==
<OOC> Harkashan says, "Warrick, roll me a reflexive Stealth and Perception check as you move into that spot."
GAME: Warrick rolls stealth: (13)+2: 15
GAME: Warrick rolls perception: (6)+7: 13

Warrick chuckles as his large crossbow is pointed out, him waiting for the door to get opened before he slips in with everyone. He fans out north, leveling his crossbow in the darkness before thumbing a button on a pouch, letting a glowing dull sphere roll out upwards and defy gravity near his head, spilling light out around him. "Understood, Skyguard," the arbalest grunts, advancing and picking a corner to post up against.- He squints in the dark. A weapon glints off the light in the distance. "... aw shit. Uh. Phalanx formation squad ahead in the hallway? With a royal behind them?" he whispers to the party. "I think they see us..." He takes a half step into the corner wall, gripping his weapon tighter.

It is now Reinhard von Dunkelwald's turn! Selfish Footsoldier is next!

Straight to the west, a group of soldiers stand at the ready, taking up an entire hallway. Some kneeled down, bearing spears and hiding behind shields. A proper formation that looks all too well prepared. Potions hanging from some of their belts. Behind them, a man that none of them have ever seen. Except, Bryn has a bit of feeling of Deja Vu about the man. Warrick, being the first to be spotted though, may also spot something unusual. There's surprise on the kingly man's expression. Like, he was expecting people, but he wasn't expecting /WARRICK/. There's a mouthed 'what in the name of...' as the man takes a solid moment to recover, before pointing forward. "The assassins have arrived, just as Foretold!" He calls out to his soldiers. "By Divine Right, I bear protection over this place. No lowly rebels will take this. Gran'it von Stein! Your little Rebellion ceases right here! You will pay for your transgressions, as will that lowly Goblin and the rest of the mangy mutts you brought with you!" He then sweeps his hand outwards, as glowing pale light envelops the troops before him, as well as somewhere around a corner. "Take them down!"

<OOC> Harkashan says, "The man casts some kind of spell."
GAME: Harkashan advances the initiative order.

It is now Selfish Footsoldier's turn! Soldier Troops is next!
GAME: Harkashan rolls 3+2+2: (7)+3+2+2: 14

From the North, a Soldier suddenly bum-rushes Bryn, bringing his massive great-sword to bear upon the Orc, trying to take her out in one fell swoop. At the same time, from the West, the troops they were warned about rush in towards Warrick and Gran'it. "Charge!" They call out, forming up on their position and bring their weapons to bear as they surround the two of them from all sides!

It is now Carver's turn! Anxious Footsoldier is next!
<OOC> Carver says, "step, full attack rapid shot at the big troopers."
GAME: Carver rolls weapon7-1: (11)+15+-1: 25
GAME: Carver rolls weapon-1: (14)+0+-1: 13
GAME: Carver rolls weapon7-1: (7)+15+-1: 21
GAME: Carver rolls weapon7-5: (7)+15+-5: 17

It is now Anxious Footsoldier's turn! Fidget is next!
<OOC> Harkashan says, "Anxious Footsoldier attacks Warrick."
GAME: Harkashan rolls 3+2: (19)+3+2: 24
GAME: Harkashan rolls 2d6+3: (12)+3: 15

It is now Fidget's turn! Puzzled Footsoldier is next!
GAME: Fidget casts Fireball. Caster Level: 9 DC: 21
<OOC> Harkashan says, "Troops:"
GAME: Harkashan rolls 9: (17)+9: 26
<OOC> Harkashan says, "Foot Soldier:"
GAME: Harkashan rolls 1: (17)+1: 18
GAME: Fidget rolls 9d6: (43): 43

"So much for empty tunnels" Fidget complains aloud as the guards rush them, "And what was that about 'foretold'? Were they scrying on us on our trip here?" Seeing a mass of people rush around the corner, she abandons subtlety and calls out loudly the magic words that draw fire forth, creating a whirling gout of flame between her outstretched hands, "Warrick, duck right a bit!" she yells to him, and lobs the fire forth into the empty space behind the formation, the explosion consuming those closest entirely.

It is now Puzzled Footsoldier's turn! Bryn is next!
<OOC> Harkashan says, "Puzzled Footsoldier runs around and attacks Warrick as well."
GAME: Harkashan rolls 3: (6)+3: 9

It is now Bryn's turn! Zofija is next!
<OOC> Bryn will smack Selfish back selfishly. "Swift for Arcane Strike, standard to to attack."
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon1+1: (12)+6+1: 19
GAME: Bryn rolls damage1+1: aliased to 2d4+4+1: (8)+4+1: 13
<OOC> Harkashan says, "They fall before your might"

"So much for sneakin..." Bryn is ready for a fight, though. Unfortunately, she's ready for a fight with the folks to the west that Warrick mentioned; not so much with the one running at her from the north. Her bum is rushed and the rest of her takes a heavy gash from the sword. -That- gets her attention. "Ey!" There's no rousing call, except maybe for herself, as she turns her focus and ire upon that one. It's swiftly followed by a heavy swing in kind; she'll worry about bleeding later. The greedy soldier winds up the one more worse for the effort, starts bleeding immediately, and collapses. "Don' give whatcha can' take!"

It is now Zofija's turn! Warrick is next!
<OOC> Zofija says, "moves and rolls power attack on puzzled before Hark returns"
GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20+9+1+1-2: (15)+9+1+1+-2: 24
GAME: Zofija rolls 2d6+6+6: (7)+6+6: 19

It is now Warrick's turn! Gran'it is next!
   It is now Warrick's turn! Gran'it is next!
<OOC> Warrick says, "attempt to acrobatics out of the threatened area"
GAME: Warrick rolls acrobatics+1: (8)+7+1: 16
<OOC> Harkashan says, "CMD is 20."
GAME: Harkashan rolls 2d6: (10): 10
<OOC> Warrick keeps moving to get into the cover of the rocks there from the main guy and shoots the troop
GAME: Warrick rolls weapon16+1: (11)+12+1: 24