Skill Check As Xerxes steps into the strange workshop he hears a click from overhead. Razor sharp caltrops fall from a rusty bucket held by a series of ropes. He barely jumps out of the way as they clatter and impale the wooden floor. Growling, he looks around for the perpetrator.

The party turns and heads north, crossing over a rickety wooden bridge. Workbenches and tool-filled pegboards line this trashed workshop. Half-finished carvings and wooden apparatuses are strewn all across the floor. Along the eastern wall, several shelves have been knocked over and piled with detritus to form a sort of nest. Doors to the north and south lead out onto rope bridges. To the northeast, a staircase spirals up around a tree trunk in a bulbous antechamber. As the party moves forward Xerxes triggers a tripwire and caltrops fall from above. Razor sharp, the little metal objects stick to the floor and puncture the minotaurs flesh above the hoof, causing bleeding and pain. Eerie chuckling can be heard from further back in the room and two fey crawl down from their perches to watch the minotaur suffer.

Moving back to the defensive wall Xerxes begins to tear the supports down. He works quickly, knowing that time is of the essence. Soon a small gap is made and he gestures for Fianara to come through. We can proceed towards that high point Xerxes finger centers on the second story where a canvas-sailed windmill slowly turns on a norther tower. Picking a crossbow up he hands it over. Perhaps you can use this until more arrows are found?

Panicking the druid remaining drops his crossbow and twists his fingers in a complex motion. Arcane words spill from his mouth and he weaves a spell together. Combat ActionAction 1,2: Ray of Frost, Strike, 9 to hit, nat 1. Action 3: Run Icy blue energy spills from the man's fingertips but is brushed away by the paladin's backhand. Whimpering, he turns and seeks to flee back across a bridge.

Xerxes jumps over the wall. Both druids fire their crossbows at him. One bolt goes wide but the other impacts directly into his chest. Landing heavily he snarls and attacks. Combat ActionAction 1: Drop down Action 2: Titan Strike, 26 to hit, critical, 16 damage. The man already injured screams in pain as Xerxes gores him. The minotaur lifts the flailing druid aloft and gives a might bellow. Justice and fury!

Running up the stairs, Fianara finally gets a view of the guardhouse walls and her companion climbing up and over the top. Drawing, she sights down the arrow. It would be a tricky shot through the viewport, but she believed she could do it. Combat ActionAction 1: Movement Action 2: Strike, 8 to hit, nat 1. Action 3: Strike, 23 to hit, last arrow. 6 P Damage Her second arrow strikes one of the druids in the stomach. Smiling she reaches back to grab another shaft but finds an empty quiver. Xerxes! Im out! Get that door open or I cant help anymore!

Both druids hold their crossbows ready, aiming up where they suspect the giant to emerge over the guardhouse walls.

Initiative

Barely avoiding a massive bolt fired at his head, Xerxes slams into the wall and looks around. This wall was thick, reinforced with green timber. It would take a while to break through. But looking up he realized he might be able to climb over and drop in on the defenders. Sheathing his sword he began to climb. Combat ActionAction 1: Sheathe weapon Action 2: Sheathe shield Action 3: Climb 15 feet Moving to the top of the barricade he waits for a moment to gather himself and then throws himself over.

A wooden staircase spirals from the ground up to a gazebo-turned-pillbox twenty feet above the forest floor. The structure’s windows are completely boarded up except for a few small murder holes. To the east and west, steep rope bridges ascend ten feet from the landing to larger buildings. Alert! A reedy voice calls out as the white minotaur rounds the corner of the stairs and heads straight for the turret door. The attackers are here! The druid shoots his crossbow wildly at the paladin. Combat ActionAction 1: Strike, 8 to hit, miss Action 2: Reload Action 3: Reload Go! Alert Bolan to their arrival! ORACLE

ORACLE Xerxes looked up into the canopy. He had heard shouts from on high. They had been spotted. Running to the base of a tree where a staircase started he called back to Fianara. Keep that bow out and shoot anything that moves. We need to move fast so they cant prepare more defenses. With that said, he draws his sword and shield and begins to pound his way up the stairs. Holding his shield high in anticipation of ambushes or traps he sets his mind on the task. Find Bolan. Kill him.

Scene 9 Just ahead, the forest thins to reveal a chaotic network of brightly painted wooden houses high above. The structures are all several stories tall and interconnected by swaying rope bridges. In the southeastern corner of the enclave, a wooden staircase spirals upward from the forest floor to a suspended gazebo. Atop a tower at the enclave’s northern end, a small canvas-sailed windmill creaks in slow circles. The whimsical houses are contrasted by recent fortifications: the trees’ lower branches have all been shorn clean, and the bare trunks shine with grease and are studded with downward-pointing wooden spikes.

-- End Scene 8 --

Xerxes nods slowly. The gnomish folk were a fierce group to reckon with. If they could be convinced to help then this very well could be a fair fight. He shudders. Angry gnomes were no thing to be trifled with. Do it. And let us convene outside the village today on the north side. Xerxes gathers his weapon and ensures his armor is in place. They had a mad man to kill.

Perhaps I could help with that? Lemma moves to stand with her two companions. I am familiar with the village that druid spoke of and have some contacts there. Perhaps I could sneak in and arrange some sort of revolt or uprising. With their help perhaps that would even the odds for us?

If he does then I will hold him down while you cut him to pieces Xerxes rumbles. Now. About this gnomish village. It sounds as if we will be outnumbered and facing an enemy who is expecting us. That doesnt bode well. Any suggestions? He had no issue with dying, but being cut down in ambush in a lonely forest was not his idea of a glorious death in the service to his faith. No, he would survive this and discover who was behind the Missing Moment that had stolen his memories.

Wait. Just wait a moment! The man is frantic as he tries to sit upright in his bonds. Fianara's masterful knots only cinch tighter, making the druid wince and choke. I will tell you everything! Bolan was using this ritual to bring the obnubilate curse back. He said it was his way to restoring the world back to its rightful form, as this time the curse would kill anyone and not just the elves. Once the ritual preparation was complete we were to send a runner back to him. He has a key to use on the gates which will open them up to us. He is hiding in a gnome village not far from here. But he will know you are coming and has plenty of allies. Leshy and fey have also joined the cause and seek to help him drive out the civilized folks. And there is one more thing. The druid looks down before continuing. I have overheard him speaking with some creature, some entity, who is not from this plane. Someone called Kaneepo the Slim. I do not know more than that but this being appears to be directing Bolan and lending him power. That is all I know. Now please, let me go! ORACLE Fine. I wouldnt want any more blood spilled here in anger anyway. This land will take some time to heal from the hate which has leeched into it. Go, human. But if I see you again, or if you alert Bolan and his forces, I will make sure I send you down to hell if its the last thing I do. The druid nods hurriedly and is quickly up and running once his bonds are loosed. He only looks back once before disappearing into the forest. Shame Fianara says softly. Humans have such short memories. I hope this one does not decide to betray us once we are out of sight.

His vision slowly comes back. Lemma's worried face peers down at him. I need to sit up. With a snort he sits up and closes his eyes again as waves of dizziness wash over him. That had been close, too close. The creature had been much more dangerous than he thought, but he did not regret allowing it to flee. Even if it meant he now had a throbbing headache. What else did he have to say? Xerxes stands slowly and faces Fianara. I am suddenly feel less gracious than before. I will not harm him, per our agreement, but I will not stay your hand either. Xerxes watches the druids face fall at this and smiles. Good. He needed to be afraid. Often fear would loosen the tongue of even the hardest man. Speak, worm. Or I will set this elf loose upon you. ORACLE

Scene 8 With the ritual stopped, the shadows overhead begin to fade and sunlight quickly burns the fog away. The open field is unnaturally quiet. Lemma runs to the downed Xerxes and quickly pulls a red ampule from a small leather pouch. She pours the fluid into his mouth and waits, breath held in anticipation. Fianara approaches, dragging a bound Oaksteward behind her. I caught this one trying to escape through the forest. She cuffs him in the head. He was saying something about having a deal with our new friend here, but I explained the deal doesnt extend to me. How is her? Her concern for the downed Xerxes shows across her face, but as the healing potion does its work and his eyelids begin to flutter open she smiles. I knew your skull was too thick to let that little pony take you down. Welcome back, big man.

-- End Scene 7 --

Fear has broken the unicorn's mind and it has no sense left about it. Turning in place it charges Xerxes again, hoping to impale him. Combat ActionAction 1: Powerful stride, 24 to hit, 11 P Damage Action 2: Hoof, 20 to hit, 10 B damage The creature gores Xerxes. Rearing back in a spray of blood it slams the minotaur with a hood to the head, knocking him unconscious. Seeing no other threats, the unicorn turns to flee into the surrounding forest.

Be still! Xerxes drops his sword and holds a hand up to the beast. What little time he has to seek cover he instead uses to calm to frightened animal. You are safe, friend. Look around you. Flee if you must, but be at peace. Combat ActionAction 1: Nature 11, fail Action 2: Nature 9, fail Action 3: Nature 16, fail ORACLE

ORACLE Rearing up the fear-crazed beast kicks wildly in the air. With a lurch it runs forward, trampling everything in its path. Combat ActionAction 1: Strike, 11 to hit, natural 1, Miss. Action 2: Move to Druid Action 3: Strike, 14 to hit, miss Its movements are sporadic and foam flecks the beast's mouth. Missing the large minotaur in front of it, the unicorn dashes past to run the druid through. The man is barely able to move out of the way and avoid becoming skewered on the razor sharp horn. Put off by the sudden attack the druid screams out. You idiot! She will kill us all now that she is free! ORACLE He quickly moves to place a large stone arch between him and the mad creature. Kill it! He shouts. Kill it or it will kill us!

The shield never drops, but Xerxes considers the words. They would need inside information to guarantee success, but did not need it. This man might also lie to them. Annoyed, he lowered his sword and addressed the man. Speak, whelp. But do not lie to me. I will grind your bones to dust if you do. Where is your master and what did he have planned here? The frightened whinnies of the bound unicorn now becoming too much to bear, Xerxes stomps over to the creature and attempts to soothe it. Skill Check Slicing through the ropes with his sword the minotaur greets the animal. Be still little brother. You are safe now

ORACLE The last druid takes a step back, sweat beading down his brow as he holds his staff overhead. Truce! He yells. Truce! I have no wish to die today, and have information you want. Me dying will serve you no purpose.