Calista gripped her short sword and prepared to strike, just as Grumner stood on the other side of the path, his axe at the ready.
They had spied the gnolls only moments earlier when Grumner had rounded a corner and spied the two mangy hyena-men marching down the path. With a wave, the ranger had sent the entire party into hiding. Now, Calista and the dwarf were hidden on either side of the trail as they waited in ambush.
The gold orange of her blade glimmered in the evening light as Calista wondered again at the nature of her sword. In her inventory, her weapon was listed as an [Emberblade] but with no stats given. Surely it was the same sword she had taken from Severin’s dungeon, but was this sword one of her three ‘Boons?’ And if so, what had that cost her under ‘Afflictions?’
Her thoughts were cut short as the footsteps grew near. Crouched beside the rock, she gave a glance to Grumner who nodded in return. A second later, the first of the gnolls rounded the bend and in a step, Calista rushed forward and drove her blade through its throat. The monster let out a gasp, looked at her, and died. As Calista pulled her sword free, she watched Grumner’s axe fall as the head of the second gnoll fell from its neck and rolled to a stop by her feet. The confrontation was over.
Calista pulled a rag from her belt to wipe off her face while Cat’s Eye slunk up and snagged a spear off the nearest dead gnoll. By human standards it was a short spear, but in the hands of the little goblin it looked like a lance. Cat’s Eye gave the spear a good practice thrust and said, “Okay, so listen up. We’re almost in view of the fortress, so I recommend keeping quiet. There are a number of tunnels beneath this place, most of which haven’t been explored in a very, very long time. Rumor has it, once upon a time there was a tunnel that led straight down to the valley floor, but that’s been lost to time. What we do have access to is the old smuggler’s tunnel that has an entry point at the base of the north tower, which is almost surely full of guards. So if we’re going to get in there, we’re going to need some way of getting past them that doesn’t involve a lot of combat.”
“I have a sleep spell that might work,” Lefty said helpfully.
“Save your sleep spell,” Calista said as she stuffed the rag back into her belt. “Grumner and I can likely sneak in and slit their throats.”
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“Hrm, depends on how many there are,” said Grumner.
Feathers interrupted with an assertive quack.
“Feathers also says that whatever we do, we should wait for nightfall,” Lefty said.
“Agreed,” said Grumner. “Which is for the best since we probably need a good look at this north tower before we go any further.”
A moment later, they set off again. Walking at a crouch, they sneaked their way up the trail as it wound its way toward the fortress. Grumner stayed in the lead with Calista right behind, her sword in hand. Ever since leveling up, she had been hoping for an opportunity like this. Unlike other rogue-based classes, Delvers did not gain a stealth attack ability until level two. So ever since she had gained the ability, she had been plotting on how to use it. The gnoll she had just stabbed through the throat had been the first test. Now, with her Emberblade at the ready, she prepared herself for her second trial. In a way, she was just now feeling like a real rogue for the first time.
Crouched and following Grumner up the path, Calista toggled to her stat block just to inspect the ability one more time:
Stealth Attack 1: Add +3 to the damage code when making any stealth attack – ranged or melee – with any weapon in which your character is proficient.
She tabbed out as Grumner dropped to a knee and signaled her to get into position. She carefully leaned over Grumner to steal a glance up the path. They were near the top of the pass now where they could see the ancient walls of Rumadrane looking down on them. Carved from the gray rock of the mountain, the fortress walls were tall and imposing with ramparts shaped like dragon spines. Between the stones, she could see the shadows of armed goblins walking atop the battlements.
Just as Cat’s Eye had said, there were goblins and gnolls everywhere. However, if the little goblin was right, there was a secret passageway just inside the north tower that would lead down into the catacombs where they could sneak beneath the fortress unmolested. They just had to reach it. Given that they had just felled two of the gnolls guarding the path, they would have move soon before they were missed. Fortunately, the sun had nearly set, giving them the cover of late evening to move. If they were going to get into this fortress, it was now or never.
As she watched the shadows march across the walls, she thought back to the dragon she had seen flying over the hoard. That was surely Vevic. I remember her from Severin’s dungeon. How in the name of Yanar did she escape? And why did Concept allow her in here? She didn’t know the answers to those questions, only that she was here now. Silently, she felt at the pouch along her belt that held the Emerald Rose. Would the nymph’s trick work? They could only hope.
Two towers were visible. The southern tower was mostly in tact, while the northern tower, their target, was half a ruin. Holes and crumbling rock marred its walls while the top of its rampart was collapsed, revealing two shadows that stood lurking against the fading sun.
Luckily, the goblins atop the walls didn’t appear to notice them at all. The closest pair were talking casually, while another goblin dozed near by. Daring to peak over the rock, Calista got a good look at the base of the northern tower. No door or bars blocked their way, as a ruined door stood open and guarded by only a pair of gnolls. At least it looks like Cat’s Eye’s intelligence is good. That’s about as easy a way in as we could ask for. But even as she sat hidden behind the rock, she found her eyes traveling up to its windows all the same.
Then Grumner tapped her on the shoulder and she sat back down as they gathered around to plan their next move.