Battle at the Sentinel Tower

We say goodbye to two comrades and hello to a new member in the Fellowship.

12th of Reaping, High Summer

With some of the party on the wagon and some walking, the Fellowship head south skirting the Lost city of Herodia and are on their way towards their next goal, to reclaim their flying tower.

With Gothi riding Morsel, her cavebear out front, the party make good time even with the slow wagon and some of the Fellowship walking. The ranger is able to find a safe haven amongst a large stand of trees so the party can rest.

The party decide to rest [DM all have 1 level of exhaustion]. A smokeless fire is setup by the experienced ranger, and then Gothi heads out and does some hunting. No luck involved, she brings down a deer as well as three rabbits. Bringing back the kills, she prepares the meat and all eat well. Even a nice stream with fresh water to parch dry and smoke filled throats.

The party have finally got ahead of the smoke and it appears the wind is blowing Eastwards at this point.

Tibaltuous and Kantif take 1st watch. The rest of the heroes rest and and some gentle snoring starts. An hour before midnight, the two hear the flap of large wings above. In the star-filled sky, the large forms of what appear to be a wyvern flying to the West. Appearing at this point heading towards Marlbridge.

The two note humanoid riders on the wyverns before they fly out of sight. Both know the forces of IUZ

use wyvern for the airforce. Overlord Romack use griffons, although either side use other flying creatures especially amongst mercenary crews. Then a large creature with at least double the wingspan of the wyvern floats over above. A few moments pass and then a screech floats back echoing across the land. Both know from discussion with Overlord Romack's forces that this area is probably No-Mans-land, neither empire in control of the area.

 Kantif and Tibaltuous a while later, start some conversation during the 4 hour stretch, Kantif seems troubled and finally mentions his father, an assassin of some renown. This brings up Tibaltuous' bounty-hunter interest. Mentioning his true name - Varis Kaleer, the bard/bounty-hunter does not know if but once an alias is mentioned - Harland Keer - Tibaltuous knows that one! With a 10,000GP  bounty for assassination of a prominent merchant of Greyhawk. Tibaltuous takes out a small well-worn leather tome with heavily thumbed pages and with quill and ink makes some notes on this with a gleam in his eye, talking about hunting him down. Kantif feels a great need to find his father and appears to come to a decision in the night.

The rest of the night passes without incident, and the party move on, the horse slightly refreshed but heavily laden with the heavy wagon and load - Cube. With Gothi on Morsel ahead, the party moves out.

They are able to travel, making good time for a few hours. Then Gothi smells smoke. She recalls there is a village - Waverly - ahead. Having spoke to other rangers, she knows a little of the area. There is a valley ahead where the village is and there is one of the beacons - Sentinel towers, used for communicating over long distances - on the far side of the valley. There is probably 2 or 3 hundred people. She thinks it is forest fire but something else as well. The Fellowship come over a rise and see what was the village is now burned to the ground. On the far side is the beacon and what

appears to be a rope bridge from another promontory where there is a small tone and wood building. a zig-zag path climbs up to the building.

The party hear the shout and laughing of large creatures.. GIANTS. 

Then they see what appears to be a hillgiant confronting a wagon on a small road, as well as a firegiant up by the building. The hillgiant grabs what appears to be a human by the leg and with his other hand, brings down a tree trunk club onto what looked like a gnome crushing the small creature. As the party discusses strategy, the hillgiant swings down again, crushing the rearing horse in one blow.

The party jump into action each knowing the tactics and capabilities of the others. Doc, aims his long musket at the hillgiant while the rest of the party move up the steep path to engage the firegiant.

Kantif moves up quickly nimbly moving up the paths to the building. The rogue/monk sees a demon flying under the rope bridge. He notifies Gothi in the party with his ear ring of messages. Demons and giants. 

Gothi marks the firegiant and looses multiple arrows at the firegaint, each one doing effective damage to the massive giant. The blast of Doc's musket echoes around the valley, the musket ball doing critical damage to the hillgiant humanoid. His divine energy form the Raven Queen empower the shots even more.

 Graxxuzazz invokes the power of his sorcerous god and blasts the giants. Tibaltuous' voice rings out empowering some of the Fellowship to health  as well as being able to move
further and closer to the giants and demons. 

A figure up by the beacon appears to be engaged in battle with a demon. The heroes engage all as they make towards the beacon. 

Fighting back and forth against demons and giants, the Fellowship are able to finally overcome the forces of IUZ. The rope bridge cut near

the end of the battle, the party had a difficult climb  - or use magic - to gain the high height of the sentinel tower. There looks to be a large crystal or mirror that is cracked and broken.

The party greet the cloaked figure near the beacon. A tanned-skinned and furred humanoid named Hester. Mix of a human and a tabaxian. Wearing dark blue scalemail, shield [heraldry; Dark circle with starts in it] and a mace in the other hand.

Hester agrees somewhat reluctantly and suspiciously to join the Fellowship for now, after learning of the party's overall plans and fight against IUZ and the BlackRunes.

Kantif at this point decides he must follow his heart and advises the party he will be leaving to find his father - last heard to be in the town of Fax on the Wildcoast in BlackRune territory.

Thogra, who has plans and more of his own decides to accompany Kantif as his goal was to travel to Fax as well. The two part with the Fellowship, somewhat emotionally as they had become quite close comrades. Heading Northeast, the stealthy two rogues, one a monk and one a priest of the god SET, fade into the distance.

The party with a new ally now, head towards their next objective. recovering their Flying Tower!