Legions of Mistmoore
by Olred

Olred sat on the grassy slope overlooking the Sisters Camp in Lesser Faydark, watching his niece Sylphrune charm the brigand sisters against one another and gain experience of live combat. From the corner of his eye he caught some movement, so he stood and peered down the darkened path. From out of the gloom come the two familiar faces of Dairitor and Szabo.

"Hammers High!" he shouts and the two respond in kind. A flock of faydrakes\par takes flight, spiraling into the night, startled by the noise.

"Oy, mates!" said Olred, offering a hand fer a hearty shake. "Whot brings ye inte this neck o tha words, eh?"

"Well mate we were here te kill tha creature called Xicotl... for it be rumored he has the Soulfire Hilt of the mighty Paladin's Sword," replied the quite naked Dairitor. "But, as fer right now, Olred, this be a corpse run. An we kin sure use yer help."

So Olred joined the two worthy paladins and they entered the corridor that leads to Castle Mistmoore. Immediately inside were the corpses of Dairitor and Szabo, they looted up and suited up and were ready fer battle with a few blessings and magicks from tha old Priest.

There was, however, another fella with them, an inker wizard named Flimflamm. Initially, Olred had to suppress his desire to blast the inker on principle, for it turned out that the wizard was a friend of Szabo's, and had also died in attempting to slay Xicotl. "Then as ye be a friend o' Szabo's, ah will rez ye as well, Flimflamm," said Olred reluctantly. "Where be yer corpse?"

And to this Flimflamm replied, "In the bath, on the top floors of the castle."

Olred just stared at im a moment, then hung his head and slowly shook it side to side. "Mates, this is no gonna be easy..."

Busy dusting and cleaning in Fort Hammerblock, a house keeper notices a scroll has unravelled as tha twine came undone. Frowning the lad reties tha twine, noticing that tha scoll was written by tha Thane. It's topic "Castle Mistmoore Crusades" and dated several years prior. Being a long and lengthy scroll tha clerk shuddered at tha thought o such hard won knowledge. He carefully replaced tha scroll on tha shelf and decided it better ter dust tha weapons room instead.

After finishing a couple resurections for some other unfortunate souls caught by Mayong Mistmoore's guards, Olred meditates upon the coming rescue mission. Reaching into his backpack he produced a map and refreshed his memory.

"Mates,whot we need te do is fight our way in tha front door and head straight in and up tha right hand staircase. But first, at tha graveyard here," he pointed to a spot on the parchment, "we hang a left and head fer tha cliffs in front o tha castle."

"Oy! Heh, we been goin in tha back, door Olred," said Szabo, indicating the secret entrance behind the tomb in the graveyard.

"Yar, but iff'n ye go that way ye have further te fight afore ye reach yer target here," and again Olred stabs at the map, this time showing where the library connects to the bedroom.

"Ahh!" said Dairitor, his eyes lost in a faraway look. "Ah jes received word that Qrom kin join us! He he on his way."

"Excellent, mate!" said Olred. "T'will be a grand time o'slaughtering these Mistmoorites. And will be good company having Qrom along."

After a short time Qrom appeared in the Mistmoore entrance and joined their party. "Alreet then, mates," said Dairitor, hefting his sword. "Lets rescue Flim's corpse an see if Xicotl is taking his daily bath yet. Hammers High!!"

The Mistmoore guards and gargs at the entrance paid them no heed as they ran past, but in the corridor right before the graveyard a whole swarm of them jumped from behind a rocky wall and set upon the would be recuers. Dairitor and Szabo laid into them with full force while Olred beat them black and blue with his hammer and the wizard Flimflamm blasted them from the rear. Jockying for postition, Qrom snuck in behind them and artfully removed their livers with quick, twisting stabs. Before the dust had even settled the band of five were on their way to the winding path leading up to the castle door.

At the drawbridge they encountered another group of guards, this time more alert. Barely had the crew set foot on the topmost landing, than they were set upon and fell into pressed combat with a full half dozen guards. After the plate clad enemies were dispatched, Olred turned to Flimflamm and said, "Render me invisible, lad an ah will scout our path. It has been many a year since ah were here an ah dunnae wish te put ye all in jeopardy util ah know fer sure where we be goin, map or no map."

Flimflamm cast his spell and Olred faded away. Across the drawbridge and into the castle went Olred. But no sooner had he slipped past the guards at the entrance than he was immediately set upon by a foul hunched over creature that once was female. The undead creature had seen past his invisibility and began to cast poisonous enchantments at the old priest. Luckily, Brells blessings were upon him and the spells could not breach the magick wards.

Olred raised his hammer high and smote the rotting wench between the eyes, then brought her out to his mates so they too could have some fun with her. His invisibility having been broken by the traces of the poison spells, the entrance guards also spotted him. But even these fearsome fighters couldnt save their undead companion. After the fight, Olred asked Flimflamm to again invisible them and all five ventured into the castle.

Up the stairs they crept, around the corner then down a hall. Olred, gently tugged open the library door... and inside were more undead. The crew was spotted again and there was nothing for it but to fight. This time there were only two and the mates were able to kill them quickly and quietly. After this they rested a bit, recovering their magickal energies.

When all were again prepared they went to the south door and Olred peeped out. "Oy!" he whispered, "There be tha Advisor... an looks like a mighty fine robe he has on. On three we rush him... one... two... THREE!!" They flung open the door, charging into the room with blades flashing and magicks crackling in the air. The Advisor put up a good struggle but was ultimately no match for the four dwares and the wizard. Again they rested and recovered a bit.

"Now mates, ah ne'er been this far in afore... how goes it from here?" said Olred, wisely askin fer counsel when his own wisdom ran out.

"Ah have been here afore, Olred," said Dairitor. "Through that door to the south lies tha bedroom and bath. In there be the corpse of Flimflamm and the soon-to-be-corpse of Xicotl." Dairitor's beard tugged up his cheeks and his eyes sparkled as he smiled a wide grin.

"Well then," said Olred. "Sharpen yer blades mates. This look te be no easy fight."

Qrom the Miner peered though the keyhole into the bedroom of Mayong Mistmoore. "Ah, dunnae see anything but a guard on tha far wall and nother near tha door. but, like as not, they got more hidden round tha corner... and tha Huntress be in there mates. We're in fer a right nasty battle."

Olred whisperd his final prayer to Brell and a Heroic bond setled over the companions. "Reet then... Qrom, yank open tha door when yer ready and follow us through, we'll draw their attention so's ye kin knife em good." Taking a slow calming breath, Qrom flung open the door and Daititor led the charge into the bedroom.

As expected there were more than just two guards and the human Huntress joined the fray early with great ferocity. She was a necromancer or shadownight, and her sleletal pet locked on to Szabo almost imemdielty raining blows upon his helm with its bony fists. The Huntress, too, tried to turn her attention to the paladin but Dairitor's axe brought her focus back to him. The battle raged hard for a few everlasting minutes with Mistmoore guards pummeling the crew from every side, but the Huntress proved no match for the dwarves. A final burst of magick from the wizard Flimmflamm brought her to her knees and she choked her last breath upon the bedroom floor.

Hurriedly, Olred called upon the healing powers of Brell and blessed the crew once again with the Heroic bond, refreshing the magick defense and healing the lot of them at very little cost to his dwindling supply of mana. Sensing the presence of a grat healer among them, the Mistmoore guards turned their attention to Olred and began to pummel him mercilessly. Only the blessing of a Divine Aura saved the grizzled priest from certain doom. One by one the paladins, miner and wizard picked off the remaining guards.

Then, from the halway outside two more undead creatures rushed into the room, called to the fray by the noise and commotion. Before Olred could utter one word of healing they killed the wizard Flimflamm where he stood near the door and turned upon the dwarves. Another short battle ensued, draining Olred of his last reserves of mana and the paladins were forced to expend their healing touch upon each other. After the fight they all rested, and when Olred had the magick once again he called Flimflamm back from the grave.

Qrom bandaged the wounded and the paladins shared heals among the crew as well. While they meditated upon the glory of Brell two more guards wandered in on regular patrol and attacked them. These were quickly dispatched but again the toll upon their magickal reserves casued further delay.

"Mates," said Olred rising to his feet and using the bedspread of Mayong Mistmoore to wipe a smear of blood from his chestplate, "Ah'm afraid we must go. We shall continue to be set upon without mercy and we jes cannae prepare fer it properly. Let us find young Flimflamm's corpse and be gone. Tis fer tha best we escape now and live te fight another day. " The others were in agreement, though reluctant to leave without causing further destruction in the castle.

Flimflamm, led the dwarves to a secret passage and out to the main castle turret. there upon the bridge lay Flimflamm's other corpse. Olred sent the rest of his dwarven companions to hold the escape path clear and remained behind to perform the final resurection upon Flimflamm. This accomplished, he waited until the inker wizard had gated out before himself running to the rocky pass that would see his mates and he safely away from the lands of Castle Mistmoore.