(017) A closer look at the Gatehouse

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:39 pm

eris wrote:
"So, okay, let's follow your crazy uncle's advice then." Olaf says and he moves toward the door on his left.

He glances up a the walls above the roofs of the buildings to see if the rest of his companions are paying attention to what is going on down here. If they aren't prepared to provide firepower, he is going to be very nervous about...just the 3 of us...doing too much down here.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:09 am

coffee wrote:
After scanning the interior of the gatehouse for potential enemies, Dieter turns to see many more of his comrades on the wall than he expected.

"What is this, a convention?" he whispers with a shake of his head. "Fine, whatever; cover us. I'm going back down.

"Last one down, bring me my grappling hook. Or it will be bad for you."

And with that, Dieter climbs back down the rope so he can be where the fighting is. (If there is any.) Once he's down, he'll draw his sword and join the rest of the party.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:43 am

tombowings wrote:
Seeing Dieter climbing down the rope, and Pelenwin, halfway up, he realizes that the fighting must know something that Pelenwin not and decides to follow suit.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:44 am

verhaden wrote:

waysoftheearth wrote:Pelenwin continues to scale the wall... distracted half-way up the wall, perhaps, by the distant echoes of singing angels?

Meanwhile, Olaf, Desmond and Gustave stride (more of a stagger, in the case of Gustave) into the courtyard, while Dieter, Ulric and Highbough cover them from up on the wall...

The courtyard is messy and overgrown. Ahead, the heavy portculis which blocks off the bridge arch is closed. On each of the left and right sides of the courtyard are a door and two small windows -- all leading into the buildings. In the far left corner is a pile of junk atop the ruin of an old broken down cart.

Olaf spies a rat scurry for the cover of the junk heap... but other than that, the place is quiet and still...

verhaden wrote:Mads the Fair

Mads makes his way through the gate along with Olaf, axe drawn and moving with purpose. "To the courtyard, I presume?"

"Left? Very well. I suggest we continue turning left, when the option arises, so that we might trace back our steps at a later point in time with certainty of our direction."

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:05 am

eris wrote:
"That should work." Olaf says with a nod and moves up to the door on the left side, "Desmond, it might be best if you open the door and stand to the side while, Mads and I take on whatever piles out after us."

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:18 am

ehiker133 wrote:
Desmond nods and runs up to the door. When Olaf and Gustave are ready, he'll open it up and stand back out of the way with the follow-through.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:57 am

mushgnome wrote:
Highbough looks for a good perch where he can keep an eye on both the party below and Ulric on the opposite wall.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:00 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
Upon the rooftop, Ulric takes the left tower, and Highbough the right. Between them they see that there is a closed trapdoor in the center of each tower, which must presumably lead into the buildings below...

Pelenwin scampers down the rope before he had fully reached the battlement, making way for Dieter to likewise descend. Going downways is much easier that upways!

Meanwhile Highbough, and then Ulric spy a small company approaching the keep... they are some hundred yards off yet, but already Highbough discerns that they must be Wibert the Halfling, Nidhogg the Dwarf, and another follow... A Man...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:13 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
Down in the courtyard, Olaf, Gustave and Mads make ready to repel any threat as Desmond boldly sets up to open the door to the left.

The door is not locked, and in fact is in rather weary condition. The door knob is rusty and beaten, and the timbers cracked and weather worn. Desmond thinks it a rather light flimsy thing, as he turns the loose knob and then, standing as far out of the way as his short arm will allow, pushes the door inward...

It creaks slowly inward on its ill-kept hinges, beginning to reveal a spartan room within when THWANG!

An arrow tears out of the room from within, making a brittle crack as it hits the stone wall opposite. It passed right through the space in which Desmond's chest might have been if he were a Man opening the door normally...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:36 pm

ehiker133 wrote:
Heart racing, Desmond presses his back against the wall near the door and takes two deep breaths.

Then he smiles...

... and shouts, "Yep, the rats are still in the cellar! Get that oil over here and we'll just burn them out!"

He steadies his grip on his sword and dagger and waits...