Renegade's Castle

February 2nd 2007

Players: Tikk, Taymon, ShadowHawk, Hogle, Siriel

Each member of the group finds themselves in the sitting room of the White Hart. Each was brought here by a letter that was delivered to them. The letter requested their appearance at this time on this day by a Mr. Renegade. The sitting room is currently deserted, strangely so as it is dinner time. The only figure in the room sits at the table in front of the huge fireplace. The figures cloak is pulled about his head and his back is to the door, the only sound in the room is the crackle of the flames in the room.

Taymon stands in his vest of crimson, his hair shining in the light of the inn, watching and waiting as he rests upon a pole with a wrapped end. He seems to be rather bored, waiting as he yawns, his hand covering his mouth. "Well, how interesting." not sounding sincere, yet.

ShadowHawk walks in and looks around seeing only the one person already in the room walks over to hims straightens up shoves out his little had and says"Hi my name is Shea Hamilton Alleyne Dunham Oberon Wendel Harken Aerynn Weylin Keegan of the Skyye Clan in Meloria pleased to meet you. Whats you name? whats in your pouches? why do you have a cloak covering you in this warm room so close to the fire?"

Hop, Hop, Hop, thud thudthud. These all announce the arrival of Tikklen Oean Baer Little cloak Gaerfen Glittergild Turen, as well as her mount, Fluffy Duffy, and her familiar, Fuzzy Wuzzy woosy Cat. "Hello!all!" she calls out to the room.

Siriel walks in through the door way and looks about the sitting room, she sees the others who have a arrived, she decides to quietly step in and just take in the goings on.

Taymon just blinks, a classic moment where he thinks, his brows straining with the thought before the cuteness of the two who just walked in, no not the elf, but the gnomes. Yes a look of utter disgust and, well how shall we say this, panic over comes him as he does a bunch of rash and jerky movements, much like the modern day dance of the robot. "Ok, this is going to be a long ordeal, isn't it!" he says to the sky.

Hogle arrives shortly after the Tikk, still slightly sedated by the drugging the bartender slipped him earlier, but he at least retains the impish grin on his face as he looks around, surveying the scene and pondering if the kitty cat Tikk rides likes cat nip... a test he must surely test soon.

The figure stands up slowly and pulls back his cloak, revealing an aging man with travel worn clothing on. He smiles down at male gnome and chuckles, "I am Aleran Renegade and I had my cloak on because I was still rather cold from my travels." he glances up as the others enter the room and smiles warmly at each one, "Please, come and sit at the table. I am glad all of you could make it. We have much to discuss."

ShadowHawk Looks up then waves at Tikk "Hiya". He then turns and walks over to Taymon "Hey I know you weren't you at the Library a couple weeks ago when I turned to stone? did you get stoned too? It was fun don't you think?"

Taymon shakes his head as he seems to calm, straightening his vest as he tries to look as dignified as he can with that previous reaction. "Alas no, it may of helped me find piece with the wilderness, or well the birds." he muses. "I was lucky enough to avoid such things...skin of my teeth." he admits, moving to join the Renegade.

Siriel still a little leery about it all, she crosses the room to the table, she pulls down her hood her long golden hair falling down around her, she does not sit but stands at one of the chairs that was across from the man.

ShadowHawk walks over to the table climbs up on one of the chairs and swings his legs back and forth. He leans forward and leans his chin on the table. Then since he can't see all that well from the chair jumps up on the chair and sits on the table looking at Mr Renegade/

Hogle blinks as he hears this, "You got turned to stone!?" He moves to sit in the indicated table, listening and speaking, "So what did it feel like? Did you get tired of staying the same way all the time? Why aren't you stone now?"

Tikk waves to ShadowHawk, 'Hi!" she offers and motions to Hogle, "Hogle. ShadowHawk." she introduces across the room before moving to sit at the table next to the aging man. She doesn't bother with a chair, rather, she climbs onto the table and sits down happily. Siriel can't help but chuckle at the gnomish banter going about the room, she seats herself, but keeps her bow across her lap rather than laying it on the floor.

ShadowHawk turns to Hogle "It was fun I got to stand there really still, then a bird landed on me, then some people came and dragged me away, then these clerics in really nifty robes chanted at me, then I wasn't stone any more, then I took a look around the temple, then some other people in robes grabbed me and threw me out!"

The man waits for everyone to get comfortable, whether it be on the table, a chair, or standing. He sits and asks of the group, "Would any of you like some refreshment?" he carries himself like he is a noble or someone of high importance yet he dresses like a peasant and he seems to be in no hurry to stop the friendly conversation going on.

Taymon shakes his head with a small sigh. "Alas no, I would like to get to the point and figure out why were here. I do not like pleasantries when he unknown hangs in the air."

Hogle shakes his head, "No refreshments for me please. My tea made me sleepy earlier and I don't want that to happen again." He tears his attention away from the stoner (with great reluctance) and focuses on the man.

Tikk giggles lightly and reaches out to pat Hogle, "I am fine, I am told if I have any more cocoa I might burst. and I don't think people want to clean up Tikk bits, because while I am small I am sure I have a lot of shit in me."

Siriel shakes her head no, but doesn't say anything.

ShadowHawk is bouncing on the table with his feet swinging back and forth off the side of it, upon hearing refreshments he perks up and looks over to Renegade "Refreshments sure what can we have? I've never been in here before? Can I get some Coco or something /really/ sweet?"

Aleran nods to each in turn then turns and calls to one of the servers waiting in the shadows, "Please get my friend here a cup of cocoa." he then turns back to the group and watches them quietly, saying nothing else for the moment.

Taymon lets the mans pause hang uncomfortably as he has said what his intentions are, yes...he is here and will listen, but no need to speak where words can be harmful or wasted.

Siriel pulls a wineskin out of her pack and takes a drink from it and waits for the stranger to say what he's come to talk about.

Tikk looks at Mr. Renegade, "You know if you get us hyper things tend to explode, and its not because we mean to but we tend to get impatient with small explosions so we amplify it, and forget to do mathematics, because Math, as we all know, Is the root of evil in the world, that is why good people don't like to study it. So if you know someone who knows math, shoot them, they are evil." Tikk nods her head slowly, "that said, what do you need done."

ShadowHawk takes a sip of his Coco and then, since sitting on the table is getting boring, jumps down walks over and gives Fuzzy Wuzzy a scratch then heads over to Taymon, looking way up at him then at the polearm and says "Hey thats a really big stick can I try playing with it?"

ShadowHawk gives Taymon an utterly Innocent look

Aleran nods his head slowly to Tikk and says, "Well, then we will just get right down to business." he pauses a long moment looking over each in the group before talking again, "I have asked each of you to meet me here because I have a problem that I believe only each of you can solve. My family owns a rather large castle a few weeks ride from here. It has been left empty since I was a small child and I have heard rumors that there are certain things living there.

One man said that he saw two rather large bear looking creatures enter it but never come back out." he pauses a sighs, "I am to old to travel there and check it out myself so I want to ask you guys to do it for me. Of course anything of value that you find there you can keep for yourselves."

Taymon smiles as he tries not to chuckle, watching the man at the table still as he replies to ShadowHawk. "No no, it is a weapon that I do not like to see out of my hands, a rather strong blade." he admits. "An heirloom." pausing as he hears the adventure. "I am sold...I will depart soon, if the others accept as well."

Hogle ponders seriously, "How long of a time do we have before you will need for us to depart?"

Fuzzy Wuzzy was an alley Cat. Scratching Fuzzy Wuzzy might lead to your own scratches...but hey. Tikk Claps at the idea of cleaning out a castle. "Ooh I can cast sleep on myself and someone can kiss me awake like." she thinks. "Oh what was her name. Oh yeah. Pochontas!"

Siriel arches her eyebrow at the man sitting at the end of the table "wait" she says looking slightly confused "you want us to go to your family castle, kill anything that may have taken it over and then ransack the place?" she asks now frowning.

Taymon laughs as he looks to Siriel. "He means keep the treasure they may have on them. I highly doubt he wishes us to pillage his belongings and birth rite."

Aleran nods to Taymon then answers Hogle, "As soon as everyone is ready." he chuckles to Tikk and says softly, "I believe in the stories my mother told it was Cinderella." he then turns his attention to Siriel and says seriously, "Anything of value in the castle would be what they brought in there. We removed all valuable items long ago." he glances to Taymon and nods, "Exactly."

Siriel turns to Taymon "he didn't say that he said anything worth value"

On hearing the words "old castle" and "empty since I was a child" ShadowHawks interest is once again turned to Aleran "An old Castle? is there ghosts there? what about secret doors and room?" he is quivering in joy at the prospect of this great adventure. "count me in, it sounds like it will be great fun!"

Taymon blinks. "Oh well then...treasure hunting we will go!" he teases with a wink to the elf. "Lets save this mans house and see what trouble has befallen the vacant walls."

Tikk looks at Aleran, "Wasn't she the woman with club feet and the glass shoes that she kept breaking?" Tikk looks at Hogle then at ShadowHawk, "Come on...lets go burn it down that will get all the baddies out."

Siriel says "oh I"m in but I just wanted to clarify what you were saying"

ShadowHawk grins "Fire? hey good idea!" he turns to Aleran "is it made of wood? can we burn it? or do we have to blow it up?

Aleran smiles at Shadowhawk and says, "Tons of ghosts." he then looks to Siriel again and nods, "I do not blame you." he then shakes his head at the talk of fire and adds, "I would rather the house be kept standing if at all possible. It is the last thing I have of my family."

Hogle frowns over at Tikk, "No burning castles down! ... We have to burn down the park first!"

Siriel nods at the confirmation that the place was empty of the family's belongings.

Tikk frowns lightly, "Okay no fire." she offers and looks at Hogle. her eyes go ablaze again when he mentions the park. "OH YEAH! OKay lets go..." she offers with a beaming smile, "I wanna see some ghosts."

ShadowHawk pouts "We can't burn it" then turns to Hogle "burn down the park? well we could do that first? but why would we want to burn down so many really nice trees? did they do something to you? They can be tricksters jumping out in front of you when you least expect it"

Hogle ponders this seriously and then looks back at Tikk, "Hey he's right! The trees are nice trees, but they are oppressed by the large ones in charge of the town! Let's burn the town down instead!"

Tikk blinks for a moment and things about this, "maybe, but we would have to get the people out first....we will talk about it later. Lets just clean out this guys home, and formulate our plan."she beams at Renegade, "How do we get to your house?"

Taymon sighs as he takes his lance, his mirth gone as he looks to Siriel as he stands from the table, growing serious as he tends to do. He is fun and games, but work is different. He never takes that easy, it nagging at the back of his mind. It seems for some reason he is driven in such ways, and grows from the playful mood as he speaks. "Well, it is more than treasure. We promised to help this man and we shall...now then, Siriel, shall we prepare and depart with these littles?"

Hogle tilts his head at Tikk, face growing blank and distant before he asks with genuine forgetfulness, "Umm.. what guy's house?"

ShadowHawk grins at Hogle "hey thats a great idea. lets start here!" he then walls over to a table leg pulls out some tinder from his tinder box and places it around the leg then pulls out the flint and steel and starts trying to get a spark

Aleran pulls a map out of his cloak and hands it to Taymon, "Here is the directions on how to get to the castle. Good luck and thank you." he says with a grateful smile to all before standing and shuffling out of the room.

Siriel looks to the man at the end of the table "is there anything else we should know?" she asks before standing

Tikk moves to take shadow by the back of the shirt, "come on, we are going to get paid for this, we can burn down the Inn later."

Taymon sighs as everyone seems to be taking there time, but alas he is one to just get the details and only ask questions when things go amiss.

Hogle looks around, "I need to go and purchase some equipment before I go. It shouldn't take too awful long Tikk."

ShadowHawk puts away his tinder box "well it would have been fun" he looks up at Aleran as he walks out the door. "I guess its time to go, shall we?" then walks over climbs up on his chair and downs his coco, wipes his mouth jumps down and heads to the door stopping just before he goes out

The group meets outside the gates to town, ready to travel to the castle and any adventure it holds. It is early morning with a light sprinkling of snow falling from a cloudy sky.

Hogle covers up as best he can from the elements, but even so he keeps his weapons readily accessable. Some might think this is from prudence and precaution.

They would be wrong. His only reason for wanting to be able to get to them fast is because they are new and amuse him.

ShadowHawk walks along with the group muttering "** ****** ****** *** ******* ***** ***" He appears to be speaking in a language you do not understand.

Siriel arrives at the gate her hood up, bow slung over her shoulder, looking ready to go.

Tikk moves out of the Inn and points a wand at her riding dog. It...grows to say the least and she looks at the other gnomes with a nod. "It should be able to carry us all now."she beams. The question must be posed though, where did she think of that?

Taymon stands outside the gates as he waited for the others, his calm look from before still upon his face, no words spoken as he seems to be waiting for the others, a sigh escaping after a moment. "Shall we?" comes his tone.

ShadowHawk climbs up on the dog behind Tikk and looks around waiting to start "thank you for the ride"

Hogle climbs up behind ShadowHawk and gets ready. "Tikk... just so we're clear... your cat doesn't like meat right? Cause... we're bite size for it now..."

Tikk looks at Hogle, "we are riding the dog." she points out, "but no the Cat doesn't eat meat. Just fish. And toes."

After two long weeks of uneventful travel the group finds themselves at the entrance to the castle. It oddly looks very well kept but quiet and dark. It is dusk out, the sun just starting to set. There is no noise from inside the castle or even from around it, the area is very quiet except for the noise the group makes.

Siriel never trusting some place she's never been immediately takes her bow off her shoulder and carries it now as she scans the area all around them for anything.

Tikk looks around, "Hmmm. should we knock on the door?" she asks the group and beams." It works with hotel rooms. You know if you lock yourself out naked and have to go roll in the mud to keep yourself modest."

ShadowHawk looks at the Castle his mouth turning into a little "o" "This place looks like it may be haunted." he pauses as he looks around "This is going to be fun! Lets go in"

Taymon never lets his glaive leave one arm or another as he then looks to Tikk and shrugs as he nods. "Well then, we can knock." a wave of his hand and the knockers move on their own and a loud sound as it collides with the thick wood of the doors. "Now we wait?" he teases.

Hogle looks at Tikk strangely, "So if I want to get you muddy I'll lock you out of the room on 'accident'?" He takes out his bow as well, rubbing a cloth over it for a bit to warm the wood a bit before strings it and shifts his quiver on his back. He himself lingers back a ways, looking around the area just in case something decides to be sneaky.

The house remains silent and still, nothing moving on the inside that anyone can see. The loud hollow echo of the knocker can be heard for a few minutes afterwards. The double front doors are each 15 feet wide and 20 feet tall. They look very solid and sturdy.

Tikk hmmms quietly and slides off her mount before going up to the door to look it over slowly.

"Shall we just try to open it?" Siriel asks of everyone.

Taymon hrms as he moves to the doors his arms pressing against the hard wood as the one he presses on gives and begins to open as all of his strength is taken, muscles straining as he lets it sway open, his weapon braced against his shoulder as he stands at the now open portal.

Still looking around and craning his neck he looks up to the top of the house ShadowHawk looses his balance and falls off Fluffy Duffy. He picks himself up and brushes himself off muttering "I meant to do that" then pulls out his hammer

Tikk is looking over the door slowly, and then Taymon starts to open it before she is done and Tikk yells out, "WAITT..." she stops and shrugs, "okay go on its not trapped." she says quietly.

Hogle steps off the beast and hrms, starting to search his mind for any knowledge of this place that he might have heard gossip of... "Should we prepare some sort of lighting before we go in?"

ShadowHawk wanders over to one side of the entry way trying to stay where what ever is inside can see him since he doesn't want to get stoned again

Taymon hrms as he moves in with a shrug, his hand again beckoning something, this time a stone. It levitates and comes to his call as he looks to the others. "Can someone cast light upon it. It is not a strain upon me to keep it like this while we are here. However if I am felled or injured I could lose a connection with it's will."

ShadowHawk walks over and touches the stone as he mumbles a few words under his breath you see his finger start to flame then stop so quickly you may think you had not seen it when he moves his hand away th stone is glowing

ShadowHawk looks around the door and yells "Hello any one here!!! Its rather rude to leave guests standing at the door!"

Hogle hrms as he moves forward. setting the bow down to rest against his legs for a moment, he pulls out a set of thin leather gloves before getting the bow again and setting an arrow to the string, "I seem to recall hearing something about this place..." his brain has gone to serious mode for the time being.

Perhaps a good thing, "A child disappeared here right before the owners moved out..."

Without any prior warning the door suddenly slams shut, hitting poor little Shadowhawk right in the face and leaving Taymon trapped inside.

Tikk screams suddenly and moves to attempt to open the door, "I told you we should have set it on fire!" she states trying push with al her weight.

ShadowHawk falls back and lands on his tush rubbing his nose "damn door hitting me in the nose... just like those trees that jump out in front of you"

Inside the castle Javelin's are being thrown from in front of Taymon, a lot of them to be exact but only three hit with four of them thudding loudly against the door.

Taymon winces in pain as he lashed out in return for the exchange, missing softly.

ShadowHawk stands up brushes himself off again and knocks on the door.

Five of the goblins attack with their morningstar's some missing and some deflected by Taymon's glaive.

Hogle goes about the area, looking, feeling, and generally searching but ends up frowning and calls to Tikk, "I can't find any other way in, we'll have to do something about the door. Got anything explosive?" He is about 10 foot from the door at this point.

Siriel starts a search with Hogle trying to find a way in or how to unlock the door and unfortunately also finds nothing.

Well, Tikk isn't able to pick locks yet, So she tikkifies this situation, "back up." she offers and points her wand at it. Casting Enlarge at the door she watches it crack and splinter, but nothing big enough for them to get through appears. "Damnit." she curses. "note to self, Learn how to shrink things."

ShadowHawk steps back and to the side hoping to get away from the door then stops and starts quietly speaking some strange words as he speaks eerie flames start dripping from his hands and glowing in his eyes. a shimmer surrounds him for a second then is gone.

Taymon lashes out at the goblins with two well struck blows, one gashing one into oblivion as it clutches it's gut, another being cleaved and sent to fall wherever it will land, his blade ever searching for the enemy.

As two of the goblins drop two more step forward to replace them but Taymon's glaive takes them out before they even get a chance. The three still next to him attack but their hits bounce off of his armor.

Hogle moves to the door, setting his bow in one hand while he takes fist, foot, shoulder and elbow to the area of wood around the cracks and splinters. The wood is shifting audibly but the hole doesn't appear any bigger... "Come on. If we can't open it we'll just have to break it."

Siriel shrugs, she knows that she has nothing up her sleeve to help open the door spell wise, and has no lock picking skills or door blowing up skills so she steps back and runs at the door throwing her shoulder into it. "Ow" she starts cursing in elven as she walks away from the door again rubbing her shoulder "well that was stupid and somewhat brutish"

Tikk pulls out her wand again and points it at teh door, This time, when she casts the spell, the doors explode. Its at this moment Brilliant Tikk becomes Idiot Tikk. "SHIT! DUCK!" she shouts out but doesn't move fast enough herself.

ShadowHawk gets hit in the chest with large chunk of wood he looks down with a stunned look on his face before his eyes roll up and he falls over with a loud thump!

In an explosion, wood splinters and impales all around him, goblins falling into death as Taymon carries on in battle, his mind oblivious to all things that do not directly affect his health, such as an explosion right behind him. A miracle he is not felled with the fragments as not a one touches him, luck of the gods? Two more falling to his blade.

Goblins fall from the exploding wood but yet more step forward to take the ones that fall's place. Two attack but their blades miss the man they are aiming at.

Hogle turned when Tikk yelled, and then he heard the door straining in it's doorway. As the cracking grows louder the thought: RUN! sounds out inside of his mind and he starts moving, just as the door explodes. Had he not been wearing his armor under his clothes, he most certainly would have died, but as it was most of his injuries stem from minor abrasions and impact damage. For a moment he is hidden from view in the rubble, but soon he is moving again, uncovering himself.

Siriel hears the cracking of the door and jumps back in time to not get hit by any debris, as she looks up after the door explodes and sees her new friend ShadowHawk laying there with a large piece of rock on his chest, she quickly scoots over to him and takes the rock off and stabilizes him as quickly as she can.

After noticing Shadow is okay, Tikk steps up, and imitating the best, baddest ass Magic User she can, Tikk shouts out, "LUCKY...I AM HOME!" and as soon as she says 'home.' she fires off a magic missile at the goblin 40 feet away from Taymon killing it in one blow.

ShadowHawk lays sprawled out on the ground eyes rolled up in his head with his feat twitching doing his best imitation of a throw rug.

Taymon is being flanked, stepping and thrusting as one attacker falls into death, the one to his back still alive as he looks to the begins to turn to fight the last one.

The last goblin takes another swing, its eyes going wide as it realizes its the only one left.

Hogle takes his bow beside him, sights the goblin and wearily pulls the string back. Taking special care to not risk injuring his companions, he looses the arrow... only to miss, the shaft of wood landing further on and sliding along the floor audibly.

Siriel more worried about ShadowHawk then she is about the last Goblin, decides to try to help him out some more, suddenly the small elven woman is whispering in her native tongue as she lays her hands on the little gnomish man, she closes her eyes and a glowing starts radiating out from under her hands as she heals him the best she can. After she has finished she moves her hands and opens her eyes to find the small gnomish man looking up at her from where he lay.

Tikk is one bad ass Gnome. Or, rather she should say, One mean ass gnome when she is upset. "DIE." she commands of the last Gnome and points at it. Her hand shoots out another magic missile. The gnome falls over dead, and Tikk straightens out her dress. "Alright." she says quietly. "You got my outfit torn."

ShadowHawk sits up still dazed looks around Seeing her there with her hand on him say "thank you so much" then stands up saying "did anyone get a look at the mule that kicked me?" then walks over and picks up his hammer from where it fell.

Taymon smiles oddly as he calms from the flow of battle, blood running down one of his arms and down the shaft of his weapon. The man killed half of the goblins before the explosion, but the aid is not a bother, but something of a relief, looking back finally to chuckle. "Glad to see you made it to the party, guys."

-The Next Day-

The sun is just rising, weak rays of light trying to break through the dark heavy clouds in the sky. Camp is cold, the fire having went out long ago in the

middle of the night. The silence of the area is unnerving, nothing can be heard besides what noise the group makes at their camp.

Siriel reaches into her pack pulling out a small loaf of crusty bread, she pulls off and piece and hands it around for everyone to share.

Taymon smiles as he pulls away the bandages with a stretch and flick of his hand. "No thanks lass, I have my own provisions and it would nae be right, but a great thank you." comes his chipper remark. Yes, an odd man.

Tikk slowly wakes up and looks about. The little gnome starts to go about her daily tasks. Making sure Fluffy Duffy is okay, Making sure fuzzy wuzzy is okay, and then, looking about her area.

ShadowHawk yawns and stretches. looks around a little blury eyed sees the offered bread, walks over and takes a piece "Thank you" he says with a big grin before eating.

Hogle stirs slowly after Tikk did, mind only registering that the warm body had left at first before looking around, taking the piece of bread and passing it on after he takes off a piece. "Where are we?"

Tikk shivers and rubs her arms, "Shall we go on." Tikk asks and looks at Hogle, "We are cleaning out that one guys house, remember, I blew up the door yesterday."

Siriel chuckles "and a fine job ya did at it too" she says between bites of bread.

ShadowHawk quirks an eyebrow a Hogle "We're were we went to sleep last night don't you remember?" at Hearing Tikk's words he gets a huge grin "yeah and a whole bunch of pieces went flying, one of them hit me and sent me flying it was sooo much fun. What fun are we going to have today?"

Hogle oh yeahs, "Right..." he rubs a spot on his arm that got gashed pretty bad. "I love armor, and I love magic." He takes a distracted bite of the bread and nearly gags. After swallowing he frowns, "This bread however... I do not like. Oh well." He takes another bite, wondering if it'll make him throw up cause he hasn't done that in a while and has forgotten what it's like.

Tikk pulls out Her wand and kisses it lightly, "What ever we want." she offers and hmms, "If you don't like it, then why are you eating it." she asks as the wand disappears. Moving about the room again, the woman is looking for exits and the like.

Taymon moves and gathers his belongings as he listens to the others with a shake of his head, sword and bow in their place, glaive at hand. "I think we had better move into the manor after meal. I think there may be much to this."

Siriel nods "I agree Taymon" she says looking around outside just incase.

ShadowHawk finishes his bread then heads back to the little hole he dug in the snow and gathers up the rest of his belongings. He settles his pouches then walks over to the entry way sits down and lights his pipe.

Hogle hrms, "Maybe we should prepare for the darkness again... do we have any torches or lanterns?"

Tikk pokes her head into the room and taps her chin, "Guys." she calls out, "We....have aproblem." she looks back at the group. "someone cleaned up...." Tikk frowns lightly and moves to carefully step into the castle.

ShadowHawk says "I could cast light on one end of Taymon's big stick"

Hogle looks at Tikk curiously and shrugs, pulling out a longbow, getting his arrows ready.

Taymon hrms as he heads towards the doors as he looks to the others with a shrug. "Isn't this what I said." seeming to just bewaiting on others. "There is definitely something more to this."

Siriel stands and slings her bow over her shoulder for now and closing her pack, she looks around again before starting to head to the door "Taymon can ShadowHawk cast light on your polearm?"

Tikk nods at Taymon, "Lets get moving. the faster we get moving, the faster we can kill these things." She yawns softly and looks over at the room slowly.

ShadowHawk walks over and tugs on Taymon's tunic "can I, can I, can I!"

Hogle moves over to get closer to Tikk... the one person he trusts out of this person... and the one person who needs somebody around to perform physical restraints before she does something dangerous...

ShadowHawk give up trying to light the big stick says "well maybe it will be bright in there since its day time" then walks in through the blasted doors

Siriel sighs and walks towards the door more, ShadowHawk catching up and passing her. She walks in the hole in the wall that used to be the doorway.

Tikk looks back at the group, and then at Hogle and shrugs as she heads into the castle. No good comes from a gnome that ventures off alone, None at all. But Tikk has never been one about planning.

ShadowHawk gets just inside and just out of sight starts screaming and runs out the door grasping his chest before falling on the ground

Walking into the castle the group finds themselves in a rather large entrance hall. It is very clean and tidy, no dust to be seen and amazing for a deserted castle it is even decorated nicely, a vase of fresh flowers on a table against the wall and priceless paintings hanging at 30 foot intervals along the hall.

The hall itself is 90 feet long and 50 feet wide. There is a door way to the left 40 feet ahead and 50 feet to the right the hall branches off. 90 feet ahead the hall branches off again to the right. The castle is still deathly quiet.

Taymon laughs as he almost falls over. "Well that is hilarious...I see now what is going on." musing with a shake of his head with his glaive. "Wow, thats a riot."

Tikk looks around slowly before offering to the left, "Its closer, but I am not so attached to it I won't entertain other directions." she admits and rubs her nose slowly. "You know, I made a spectacular mess the other day and someone gone and cleaned it up."

Hogle taps Tikk on the shoulder softly and points at the paintings, "Tikk... I thought that guy said that his family had removed all the valuables... but those look like they might pay a pretty penny if they were stolen..."

ShadowHawk stands up and heads back in "is it safe now?" he says with a grin. "Well I'll go where ever everyone else is."

Taymon shakes his head as he looks around the room. "You really do not get it do you?" he says to the gnomes with a smirk. "I just...I will not ruin the surprise." he says with a smile. "Oh yes, this is something I am really interested in now."

"Squatters..." Tikk admits and frowns gently. Tapping her chin lightly, Tikk moves to look over the paintings slowly, carefully, Looking behind them and everything. "What is going on?" she asks to Taymon and frowns, "I hate surprises...they tend to shout surprise and toss em into doors."

Siriel takes a moment too look around, her brows knit together forming a frown "You're righgt little man" she says to the gnome "if he took everything out, I doubt the goblins would have taken the time to decorate"

Taymon smirks as he takes his glaive and strikes out at the painting, cutting a gash across it, look to the furniture, lashing out at it but then his glaive soon slides right through it. "It is illusions!" he laughs again.

ShadowHawk bounces and claps his hands "Surprise I love suprises. Are you going to jump out from around a corner yelling Surprise Taymon" He then takes a look around to see if he can notice anything

Tikk blinks at this and smirks quietly, "And I don't know how to dispel it." Tikk admits with a frown.

Hogle nods a bit, "Right then. I'll go outside for a moment and collect some rocks. When I get back I'll hand you each a few, throw them if you need to test for illusions... like the floor or if we suddenly see a dragon... just to make sure." He turns and starts to head outside towards all the rubble.

Tikk looks at Hogle, "If we see a dragon, Illusion or Not I am running my small little ass out of here." she states and looks back towards the door they were heading to. "Where to?" she asks.

Siriel wonders quietly "who would have cast it?"

Taymon shrugs softly as he moves his glaive into a ready stance. "The ones who are actually behind the goblins? I mean it was a small band and I think someone bullied them into their service."

Hogle starts to pass out the stones, "Alright everybody." He smiles brightly, "Tikk... do you have any way to look for where all the magic is strongest?"

ShadowHawk looks thoughtfully around. "Maybe Renegade's family cast it to cover the fact that they had run out of money and only had cheap furnishings in here and couldn't keep a servant to clean any more?"

Tikk looks at Hogle and shakes her head slowly, "I could cast Detect Magic, But I don't know if that will really tell us more then we already know." Tikk points out to Hogle, "Its worth a try though"

Tikk mutters under her breathe quietly and starts to look around, "Whoa.." she offers quietly,"Every, thing...." she offers and purses her lips, Well, This might help when going against something they aren't sure is Magical or not at least.

ShadowHawk looks at the stone that Hogle gave him then at the vase over by the wall. He grins and throws the stone at the vase... then runs over and picks up the stone again when the vase doesn't break.

Taymon laughs at the gnomes who take forever as he moves towards the stairway in the distance that leads up. "Mages like the comfort of the lavish rooms, and monsters the dark depth. So up I go to kill these mages, and then find down to fight the monsters...isn't that how it works?" he muses.

Hogle frowns, "Umm... Mister... shouldn't we check out the rooms downstairs first so we don't... you know... get surrounded on our way out?"

Siriel quirks and eyebrow at Taymon "riiiight and just this time the mages will be in the basement" she muses "and I thought we were going left up there?" she points to the doorway up ahead on the left.

Taymon looks back over his shoulder. "Gnomes....quiet..were on the prowl."

ShadowHawk gives Taymon his best grin then starts to follow "isn't it pet the mages and tickle the monsters?"

"I am not a gnome, thank you" Siriel says sounding indignant.

Tikk narrows her eyes at Taymon,"I have a /name/." she points out, "And if we kill the magic users first they won't be able to heal the monsters." she points out. Tikk Shrugs at Siriel. "It doesn't matter where we go, Lets just tickle someone."

Taymon makes a funny face. "I am mostly playing, but my method is to clear top to bottom...so nothing comes down on you, just up." he muses. "Now we need the....then I wasn't talking to you, Siriel." he muses as he caught her words, winking.

"I am I am I am!" Hogle calls out loudly at Taymon in case he's somehow gotten confused and forgotten he was a gnome.

Siriel shrugs and shakes her head getting slightly annoyed she heads to the stairs.

As the group gets to the second floor everything is still quiet, perhaps even quieter then before. The hallway you find yourself in is rather large, long enough to disappear from view in either direction and about 40 feet wide. It is just as clean and decorated as the lower floors.

ShadowHawk takes a deep breath and pinches his lips together then starts to prowl towards Taymon lasting all of 3 seconds before he starts laughing "I tried to be quiet and prowl but I can't its too much fun to do quietly"

Suddenly the hall is plunged into complete and total darkness. No light is able to shine through this darkness.

"We are surrounded." Tikk shouts and moves to disappear quickly. Here is hoping they take that to heart. But why did she disappear?

Siriel reaches out and grabs ShadowHawk and whispers something in his ear, since he's the closest to her "Be very quiet" she says in s low whisper to everyone.

Taymon shouts as he moves backward,s trying to force the ones behind him back down the stairwell. "Get back down! We will hold them off as they rush out of the spell! I will tell you once, this is a death trap, get down the stair well!"

Siriel whispers "two behind us and at least one big in front of us, if you're good at hiding I suggest you do it." to ShadowHawk.

Hogle grows exceedingly more and more terrified... he's terrified of the dark. Being the rear of the group, he feels around behind him, using the railing to help guild him as he heads down the stares.

ShadowHawk tries to hide and moves to go down the stairs as quietly as possible hoping it may get lighter as he goes down

Taymon fights off the spell of sleep or slumber, or whatever has caused him to drowse. He glances back at the other, still not out of the darkness. "Casters, hurry and go down the stairs, I cannot fight here like this!"

Hearing Taymon's words ShadowHawk has a moment of confusion thinking 'does he just want casters to run or all of us' then decides to run either way. He hugs the wall and starts to run down the stairs.

Tikk is starting to movie down the stair case rather quickly, well as fast as her little feet can carry her. ~This isn't good. Not good at all!!~ Tikk thinks to her self on the way down.

Taymon tries to back up, something in the darkness moves. Something inside him a flicker on the back of his neck knows threat is near as he lashes with his reach, scoring a hard blow. "They are coming!"

Siriel shakes her head in the darkness "they can't back up they're behind us as well, or didn't you hear that part"

Tikk stops where she is, and calls out, "OKay, I hate to do this, But Roarty Toary my Dragon is really hungry and You are all the meal!" Of course as she says that, the woman whispers quietly, and the sound of a dragon Roaring out fills the hallway...Gotta Love ghost sounds.

Taymon lashes out with his glaive once more as it's blade sinks deep again into the creature, causing it to let out a scream, bellowing in pain as Taymon hisses. "Come to your death!" his demeanor hardened, his stance, even if it is not seen, ready for battle like soldiers in a file. "Damn, it is Ogres!" seeming to know their sound.

Hogle dashes down the stairs and looks around the area in a near panic still, breath coming in panicked gasps as he checks to make sure the area is cleared and then proceeds to look up towards the stairs again, pulling out his Ocarina.

ShadowHawk hears the roaring and tries to get down the stairs even faster still hugging the wall hoping to get out of the way before everyone else piles down at the bottom he bounces off the wall and then slides to a stop.

Footsteps can be heard retreating followed by the sound of guttural commands. The commands can be heard coming from infront of you but unknown how far infront.

Siriel steps up beside Taymon in the darkness, far enough away so he won't hit her with his weapon, takes her bow from her shoulder and notches an arrow, she has nothing to aim at so pulls back on the string and fires a flaming arrow down the hallway.

Tikk moves as fast as she safely can out of the darkness, which means she is going down the steps, "DAmn it.." she mutters under her breathe not liking this at all. "I want fireballs." she complains.

Taymon moves backwards towards the srtairwell, his weapon at the ready as he seems to wonder and think upon himself. "Regroup at the bottom of the stair well." He says calmly to those who may be near him, his turn taken as he tries to guard the front.

Hogle places the Ocarina to his lips, breathing in deeply once, and then letting all his tension seep away from him before he begins playing a flighty, capricious tune that could inspire all who consider him a firend with enduring courage.

ShadowHawk looks up the stairs moves over to clear the way for those still coming down the stairs, then begins to whisper. Flames seem to leap and play behind his eyes then there is a shimmer around him for a moment.

Siriel tries to use her elven hearing to see if she can figure out where the ogres are in the hallway she hears them regrouping and fires off another arrow in their direction but doesn't hear the familiar sound of a thud of the arrow hitting a body.

Out of the darkness an axe suddenly lashes out and hits Siriel hard. There is a grunt of surprise from the darkness as the creature is shocked it actually hit anything.

Pulling out her cross bow, Tikk takes aim into the darkness, thinking she got, a chance at hitting something, the little woman taks a shot and misses horribly.

Taymon lashes out into the darkness with a step back, his guard still trying to help Siriel getting out of the way as his blade bites deep and causes the beast to collapse into death in the darkness.

Hogle abandons his music and puts the ocarina back and picks up his longbow, taking aim(with prayers that he doesn't hit somebody on his side, and lets loose an arrow... hearing the tell-tale sounds of the arrow missing. "We need to get somewhere where we can see them!"

ShadowHawk knows that there is still two friends up the stairs, he reaches for his crossbow then shakes his head knowing it is more likely he would hit friend then for so readys his hooked hammer for use if the battle continues on the ground floor

Siriel wastes another arrow by firing off into the darkness "not used to not being able to see" she mutters under her breath.

The soft sound of something swishing through the air near the two at the top of the stairs can be heard, one weapon bounces off of taymon's armor as well as one bounces off of Siriel's, neither getting hurt.

Tikk loads her weapon again and fires it off into the darkness, Well the good thing is that, she doesn't hit her own group with all of her missing.

Taymon lashes at the darkness as he yet takes another step out of the darkness onto the stairs, his waist down visible.

Hogle pulls out another arrow as he heads a little further back in the room, "People! We /have/ to pull back!" and another arrow flies out, hitting a wall out on the 2nd floor.

ShadowHawk stands off to the one side of the stairway with his hammer held in a death grip looking around the room and straining to hear if there is anything

sneaking up on him from the ground floor. Unfortunatly there is too much noise upstairs for him to hear if there is anything down stairs.

Siriel moving towards the stairs now she decides why not one more shot just incase before heading back down the stairs, she wastes another arrow firing off into the darkness.

A weapon bounces off of Taymon's armor, not hitting hard enough to hit him but suddenly the stairs under Taymon's feet give way and he disappears from view. A loud thud can be heard at the bottom of the stairs

Tikk thinks she sees something, You know just that thing that you need in order to hit something. And inher mind the dramatic music starts, going in slow motions(mentally) her bow rises, and she fires off a bolt. IT flares through the air, and the woman is leaping up and down thinking she is true to her mark, then, In a snap back to reality the world speeds up and the arrow thunks into the wall, "Damnit."

Taymon it is crazy, but with the sound of snapping timbers and Taymon disappearing, it is only further humored that there is no hole in the floor where he fell. It takes a moment, but a hand comes off the other side as he clambers out near the party. "Shit, run!"

ShadowHawk looks over at Taymon then at Siriel still on the stairs. He though he heard run but no one else is moving, so he decides to stand here and pretend he can fight with the hammer in his hand.

Hogle decides to take aim one more time... third time's the charm... and the arrow shaft launches on it's merry way! After singing in the air for a moment, he hears a rather squishy sound of a positive impact on the beasties!

Siriel takes note of the top stair being broken and steps down to the second step and then turns and comes down the stairs a bit gimply seeing as she has a axe in her thigh still.

Out of the darkness comes three ogres, they are running after the party, looking pissed off at first. Suddenly their faces turn to shock as the ground disappears under their feet and they fall, a loud thud can be heard from under the stairs as they hit.

Tikk growls as three Ogres go past her line of site, she fires again, and this time it hits something in the dark solidly. IT doesn't kill but it does lead to Tikk's but dance. That is right the Little Gnome is shaking her booty.

Taymon stabs down into the hole with a loud roar coming from the hole that cannot be seen, created by an evil that shall not be named as he is just a muggle.

"We should retreat." he says to Tikk.

Hogle raises another arrow to his bow and frowns, "We're having problems here..." and he shoots and misses.

ShadowHawk starts to slowly back towards the door way staring intently at the genteral area the the ogres went through the floor hoping to be able to give warning if they start to climb out.

Siriel frustrated at not being able to see her foe she starts walking to the front door, mumbling as she goes. She puts her back to the door when she gets there, not opening it, she raises her bow with an arrow notched in it ready to fire if she sees anything move around the others.

6 ogre hands appear through the stairs. They grab ahold of the stair Taymon is standing on and suddenly it collapses, Taymon manages to fall backwards down the stairs, barely managing to avoid getting pulled down to the ogres.

Upon Seeing the Hands, Tikk goes what Tikk does best. Two magic Missiles come from her fingers right at one of the hands stricking it soundly, "I hate this place."

Everyone agrees with Tikk's statement and decide that Renegade can find some new lackeys to come and clean his place and they leave the 3 ogres to get themselves out of the hole.