Rise of the Runelords

A few seconds past as you assessed wounds and worked on deciding how to go after Mammy when you heard a scream of anger or anguish from somewhere in the house - probably from below.  You started to head to the stairs down when several vary large rats started crawling out of holes in the floorboards and walls. You also noticed another of the deformed half ogres in the dining room.  Malloric took a shot at him and he withdrew out of sight. The group made their way into the dining room, some ignoring the rats, others hacking at them along the way.  The half had withdrawn to the kitchen.  Wolfgar moved in first only to find himself flanked by rats when the half ogre stepped out from behind the door and landed a mighty blow with his great club. Golian, Bach and Herick were pushing to get through to help.  D'Argo and Pirozzi were bringing up the rear. Malloric suggested to Edwin that they run around and enter the kitchen from the other side.

About this time, Mammy reappeared and provided additional flanking opportunities for Hucker.  He laid waste to Wolfgar in short order.  Golian and D'Argo were able to enter. Golian's training prevented Hucker from landing continued vicious blows. D'Argo started casting and Pirozzi lobbed a few spells when site lines allowed.  Bach and Henrik pushed their way to Mammy. When they reached her, she cast a grease spell at their feet.  It took them the rest of the fight to extricate themselves.

With the front door open, Malloric headed to the kitchen door only to realize the porch was heavily trapped with springing spikes.  After making a bee-line off the porch he warned Edwin and continued. Edwin, with his heavy armor, was not bothered by the spikes.  They made it to the other door and after getting it opened started aiding those inside; Malloric by shooting arrows, Edwin by curing those he could see.  Mammy soon moved to the door and closed it.

Golian had to withdraw and hoped to draw Hucker into line of fire of more people, but he stayed and cornered D'Argo.  A few blows later, D'Argo crumpled hard to the floor.  He was dead before he hit the ground.  Bach was able to get up and helped drop Hucker to one knee, but he still didn't die.  Several blows later he finally gave it up.  The remaining rat or two fled when Hucker fell. Mammy had resorted to using only a wand (of vampiric touch) in combat.  With her displacement she was healing more as each round past.  Until her displacement ended.  After that she was hacked to pieces.

Some of the last heals were cast and you decided to finish exploring the house.  Most of the rest of the house was empty with two areas of note.  One was a room with a trapped chest and the other was a large basement room with molds and fungi on the floor and walls.  The quick consensus was "No way are we going in there!"  However, a detect magic revealed something beyond a door in the far wall.  You cautiously crept to the door when a gigantic pile of mold animated and swung a couple of tendrils toward those in the room.  They fairly easily grabbed Bach and Golian and then tried to swallow them whole.  It was hacked apart quickly and a few fire based spells just be sure as it appeared to regenerate its wounds at a remarkable pace.  You looted the closet and left the building.

Not sure if the house was really a safe place to hole up, you decided to check the barn.  You nearly surprised three younger half ogres who first debated whether they should let Mammy get you or leave you to 'Biggun.'  It didn't matter much as they were no match for you even in your tired state. The barn was split in two with a set of double doors on the floor and two single door on a suspended walkway.  Seeing that the double doors were spiked shut from 'your' side, the group split in two and approached the single doors.  All except Bach who was so exhausted he could barely move.

Golian and Pirozzi opened their door first and saw that the entire back half of the barn was filled with cobwebs. No sooner than they made a few steps the webs quivered and a gigantic spider came toward them, biting Golian on the shoulder.  He felt the weakening poison coursing through him.  The barn was filled with a panicked scream and Wolfgar started rushing to their aid.  Malloric, Henrick and Edwin moved through the other door and took what shots they could through the thick webs.  The spider quickly wrapped Pirozzi in webs and went after the three on the other side.  You were all laying down the hurt on the giant spider, but it was wrapping people up almost as quickly.  With only one or two people remaining mobile, it was killed.

In the back of the barn you found three individuals shackled in a make shift cage that kept the spider from getting at them.  Edwin went to administer to their wounds and notice on of them has a striking resemblance to Henrik.  He asked his name. He replied, "Vale, why?"  Your surname if you please.  "Wealwood, what's it matter?"  Edwin smiled and said "I think there is someone here you know."

After freeing them from their cell and extricating people from web-bonds, you recovered and tended to wounds.  You were spent.  From the three you learned that Fort Ranik has been completely overrun by ogres.  These three, Jakardros, Vale and Kaven, are the last of a scouting group that returned after the fort had nearly fallen.  They tried to lend aid but it was too late and they were run off.  Only these three survived. They had the misfortune of running across a couple of the half ogres and that's how they ended up here.

Shelelu and Jakardros converse and she informs you all that this is her biological father - her reason for coming to Fort Ranik.  You spent the night and distributed a good number of lesser restoration spells the next morning. After everyone felt 100 percent, you started to decide what to do next.

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