Pip's Misadventure

After some discussion, the group split up. Alorian, Pow Duc and Schweitzer traveled with Pip to Southkeep. Iam, Leopold and Potenzia went south to Seavering. Despite some hesitation and numerous inquiries by Schweitzer into the true nature of the task Pip had for them the four hatched a plan to break into a wall guard post, subdue the guards, break out Pip's boys and a man named Rebald Fath and use magic to make a quick escape. Riding a nightmare, Pip and Pow Duc placed themselves inside the guard post and awaited the signal. Alorian and Schweitzer approached the guard post door where Alorian provided cover with an obscuring mist and silence. Schewitzer proceeded to break through the door. The silence hid from them the fact that someone was screaming that the guard tower was under attack. Pip and Pow Duc dismounted and started subduing guards inside. The door gave way and the other two entered and did the same. The presence of the nightmare inside the tower prevented many of the guards from apporaching. Pip and Pow Duc headed down to the cells.

The obscuring mist dissappeared to the surprise of Schweitzer and Alorian. Moments after it did, the two could see that three small demonic creatures had appeared in the street outside the tower. They ambled off to attack some approaching Southkeep reinforcements. Busy inside neither gave it much thought. Pip and Pow Duc continued downward. A spritiual weapon (dagger) appeared and attacked Schweitzer. He stuck his head far enough out of the entry to notice a Black Hag as the source. He decided to leave Alorian and deal with the Hag. Luckily he noticed a Minotaur with a large great axe hiding around the corner in time to prevent a vicious attack of opportunity. Schweitzer and the Minotaur started trading blows. Alorian was quickly wrapping things up inside. Pip and Pow Duc met additional opposition downstairs and were followed by several guards from the upper floor.

Several of the approaching Southkeep reinforcements now approached ambling along instead of assisting their comrades. As they approached the tower entrance, many of them turned to stone. The rest continued on oblivious to the battle. Another group of reinforcements now approached from the opposite direction, only to have most of their rank distracted like those that just walked by. Schweitzer and the Minotaur were dishing it out with the Minotaur scoring one devastating blow. Alorian had cleared much of the main floor including the guard captain. The cause of the stoning became apparent as a Medusa now approached the tower trying to get Schweitzer to look at her. A caster from the second group of reinforcements dispelled the silence. Schweitzer was instantly captivated by an eerie yet melodic song being sung by a Harpy flying around the tower collecting straggler Southkeep guards. With Schweitzer out of the way, the Hag moved in and stabbed a guard that Alorian was attacking. He was dead from the poison but didn't yet know it. Alorian withdrew to the lower level to inform Pip and Pow Duc and to help wrap things up. He was unsure of where Schweitzer had gone off to. Alorian was followed by the Hag, Medusa and Minotaur. Nearly each and every guard still standing in the tower was turned to stone as the Medusa entered.

The fight had mostly ended downstairs where Pip started unlocking cell doors while ignoring a guard that was trying to prevent him from doing so. Pow Duc cleared the stairs of the remaining guards. Pip found his boys and Rebald Fath. Pip doled out some potions and told them all to flee. Rebald went to the back of his cell and searched around for something. Before he and Pip's boys could drink their potions, the Medusa approached, turning them to stone. Pip, Pow Duc and Alorian closed on the Medusa. The Minotaur and Hag were not far behind but were having a tougher time negotiating the hallways. The Medusa told the "heroes" to leave Fath to them and flee before they met their fate. Not a group to take threats seriously, the fight continued. Now hurt, the Medusa cast invisibility and fled. The Hag took her place and was beaten to where she too withdrew back up the stairs.

Meanwhile outside, the Harpy continued to round up straggling guards when another group of reinforcements approached. All three heard her song, but shrugged off the effects. Inside the group pursued the Hag who ordered the Minotaur and Medusa to retreat. Outside, those two conveyed that message to the Harpy. As the three new reinforcements approached they ordered all to stand down lest they suffer the consequences. The Medusa, Mintoaur and Harpy fled.

Inside the Hag was nearly totally surrounded and in a last ditch attempt grabbed Pip with both claws, bit him on the shoulder and was preparing to rend him in two. She was put down before she could. Just after she hit the floor, a man in a green and gray cloak with arrow knocked in a large composite bow entered the tower only to be surprised by the sight of all the statues and three people he knew standing in their midst. Sir Quai ordered the three to stand down and drop their weapons. Pip started to explain and the order was repeated.

Schweitzter, having been released from the Harpy's song headed back to the tower to be met by Sir Skovin and another individual he did not know. He was escorted back to the tower with several of the other once captivated Southkeep guards. Once there he faced Sir Quai and said "I would like to report a crime." as he offered his wrists for shackles.