Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 531106" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chinese Take-outChapter 60, “Strategies”, September 27, 1018, 7:15 P.M. Barthrock continues to tell of Morgarth’s devil bodyguard, saying “While we were all on your island, and the anti-magic shell was there instead of surrounding this castle, a mage from your continent’s Zalpar Lordholding attacked Morgarth in his library.  Morgarth felt vulnerable to further attack at that time, so called on his Liege to send Notrathar to protect him.   This devil guards him when he sleeps, and accompanies him during any travels outside of the Mage’s Wing.”  “So he is with him now?” asks Cassie.  “No,” Barthrock answers “Since Morgarth was only going to the adjacent tower Notrathar stayed to guard Morgarth’s tower.  While in the Mage’s Wing he feels safer, with Ashemmi there, and two more mages living on the first floor immediately below the library.  Still, given that he was recently attacked there, he has my team be present when traveling through or reading inside of the library.”Narg begins to strategize about the best way to take out Morgarth.   Mojo points out that “He’s old, so we just need to set up an ambush at Denny’s for when he comes for the early bird special.”   Barthrock asks if the group would again be able to get in contact with Hendry.   “Why would we want to do that?” Aradyn asks.  Barthrock says that Morgarth has recently logged a journal, adding “My mage and I suggested that he do that, in the event that he be assaulted mentally, to remind himself of his own plans.  He thought that unlikely, until we reminded him that it was unlikely for him to have been attacked in his own Library.   In reality, we just wanted to find out for ourselves what his plans were.  My mage has now managed to read this journal.”    “So what exactly is his plan?” Serita hastily asks.  “World domination” Barthrock answers.   “Yeah, that’s standard,” comments Mojo.  “How does he plan to do that?” asks Cassie.   Barthrock answers “He has this preposterous plan of expanding this anti-magic shell to conquer lands, projecting it from several key points on this world, one of which is your island, and then modifying the spell projected by the sphere to something other than anti-magic, such as sleep, charm person, or even disintegration.”  As the group ponders this, Barthrock continues “As I was saying.  The journal also speaks of Hendry, and Morgarth describes how he was responsible to having Hendry’s wife killed.  If you could get this journal to Hendry, chances are he would then try to kill Morgarth.  Then again, since Hendry died trying to capture her (gesturing to Cassie), I wouldn’t count on him being able to successfully eliminate Morgarth.”  Narg suggests to Barthrock that the Silver Moon attack Morgarth in the library, when he is being escorted back through there by Barthrock’s team.   Barthrock does not favor that idea, as his team would get caught in the crossfire, adding “Since we’re supposed to be his bodyguards, we would have to fight you, and at least make it look convincing.  I also doubt that Morgarth or Notrathar would be at all concerned about accidentally killing my team to get to you..   Even with my team not a factor, the library would be a really bad place to mount an attack.  As the mage Oterel attacked Morgarth there he has now made sure that his other forces are situated to get there quickly.”  “How long would it take for others to arrive?” asks Narg.  Barthrock replies “Reinforcements would be able to get to the library very soon.   Here let me draw you a diagram of the castle.”  “You mean like this” says Lannon, and he pulls out the detailed map.   Surprised at seeing this, Barthrock says “My, you are a resourceful group.”   “I said that we're good,” comments Mojo. He shows them where the library is, explaining that the high level mages from Roger’s team reside in the rooms immediately below the library.  He points out on the nearby rooms where his own party resides, and the nearby exterior tower that is Roger’s home, where he could fly there quickly on his Chimera.   Next they are shown where a group of ten armored giants are on the  third floor, which could easily get to the library by the main staircase.   Finally, Barthrock reminds them of the devil, who could gate in from Morgarth’s tower above.  [DM’s Note: Had the party actually initiated a fight against Barthrock’s team in the Library, all of the above mentioned reinforcements would have then come at them.]“OK, that’s a lot.” Says Narg, “Why don’t you run through exactly who else is in this castle?” .    Barthrock says that there are at least three of the purple flesh golems, possibly more as they can turn invisible, a total of thirty of the elephant-footed giants, and around two hundred bugbears.   He adds that Morgath also has a dozen captured Hengeyokai that are directly under Morgarth’s control.  Narg says “We’ve met all of your team, right?”  Barthrock answers “Well, you’ve met four of us during our two negotiation sessions on your island, and saw the bodies of those who died and have since been resurrected.  My magician remained invisible during those times.”   “Why?” asks Cassie.   Barthrock answers, gesturing towards Aradyn “Because my mage was the one who hit both of your elvan archers and their pegasi with fireballs during the initial assault.  When I brought Narg to check the prisoners during the first negotiation he saw his wounded and scorched girlfriend and he said he wanted a piece of the man who did that to her.  My mage overheard that comment and decided it best to remain invisible until after we had left your Island.  I imagine he will do so again now that he knows you are here.”  “Sensible,” says Fiona.Narg asks for more information about the other team.  Barthrock explains that the other team consisted of Roger, his Chimera, and six others, two of which the Silver Moon have just slain.  Of these, the two wizards and Roger serve as the “Day Guards.”  The other four act as the “Night Guards”.  Barthrock says that he and Tokrah are scheduled to meet up with them in about twenty minutes to patrol the castle grounds.  The problem now is that two of these four are dead, so their absence will be noted.”   This causes some panic, with Cassie suggesting using the Belt of Shape Change to impersonate one of them.   Narg asks “Can’t you come up with an explanation for the absence of the other two?” Barthrock stops and thinks about it for a minute, saying “I have an idea.  We could say that the pair tried to molest the servant girls when they came to collect the dishes from supper.  Since these girls can change into humanoid animals it is feasible that they could have transformed and fought back, killing their attackers.   That explanation should work with the other two guards and Morgarth, as they tend to believe the worst about people.   I doubt it would work with Roger, who is overly suspicious of everyone.  Tell me, did those two who get a good look at you?”   “Yes, definitely” Narg answers.   Barthrock replies “Damn.  I imagine that  Roger will cast a Speak with Dead on the bodies to confirm my explanation.   Still, the story would buy you some time.   I will have to tell Morgarth  when we escort him back to his tower, but we can keep from notifying Roger until breakfast.  You’d therefore still have until around seven in the morning to do whatever you need to do.”   “Where will this night guard be?” as Narg.  Barthrock explains that the normal schedule is that  he and Tokrah join the night guard for to do a perimeter walk on the castle grounds followed by an interior walk of the castle.  After that, each pair of guards take stationary positions on the first floor near the two castle exits.  Barthrock then says  “Once we leave them following that patrol I then reassemble my team to escort Morgarth back to his own tower.   My team is then dismissed for the night and I have a short briefing with Morgarth regarding his next day’s activities.  I then leave and am off duty until the next day.”Fiona ponders “I wonder what Morgarth does after that?” Fiona asks.  Narg replies “He’s old, he probably watches Wheel of Fortune and whatever show comes on after it.”  “That’s it,” says Mojo, “We wait to attack him while he’s watching Diagnosis Murder.”  “But not until after that show puts him to sleep” Lannon adds.  “No,” says Narg, “That would put us all to sleep too.”Barthrock finishes by telling the party that “There is no activity in the castle between 11:00 P.M. and 5:30 A.M.   The only ones awake at night are the four night guards and the bugbears on duty outside of the castle.  At dawn the girls begin preparation for breakfast, which is served at around 6:30 in the morning.  I will fill in the rest of my team about your group, and tell them to stay out of your way.  If you do run into us, please don’t blow our cover.  The only safe place to talk, other than this tower, is on the spiral staircases, as there are no mirrors there.  Good luck, we have to get going.”   Barthrock and Tokrah then leave.</blockquote>

Verification