All nine individuals seemed to be heading toward Highdell Keep. Just what was going on- and what did it mean for Highdell Keep?
~
Silver and the slavers ran along the winding road, ground neither gained nor lost. While that chase continued, the others took a cursory glance at what they were facing. Barren land covered the hill leading up to the Keep- loose gravel and bare dirt, save for the singular winding road. At the bottom, a massive iron-reinforced wooden fence, some fifteen feet in height, stood. Currently the gate, the only way in or out, stood open. Unspoken yet understood, the other five decided the best course of action, carve a straight path up the hill. Get up to the southwestern tower, before scaling the walls and possibly let down the gate. Or at least throwing ropes.
From the get-go, the gravel would prove to be a problem for Jordan, Asriel and Thorin. Sera slipped a few times as they climbed, but was careful to make hand and footholds for the others on their path. Violet, naturally a climber, found little trouble with it. However she kept pace with Sera, Jordan and Asriel; Violet helped Jordan, while Sera helped Asriel.
It was a perfect plan. Until the bastilla fire began.
Heavy iron bolts whipped down at them- missing by less than an inch in some cases. Deep indents in the ground made climbing easier in some places- but it also made ascension much harder.
"You three... Keep going. Thorin and I... will come later." Asriel pulled Violet out of the way of a bastilla bolt. "I can take the hits. You can't."
Jordan pulled Violet further up, nodding. "If we need to, we'll come back for you!"
With that, the three of them went ahead. Dodging bastilla fire easily- being light and nimble helped. When they got to the tower, Violet climbed it easily while Sera managed to make their way up. Jordan couldn't get a hold, so he stayed pressed to the wall. Two sentries fell to the ground dead in seconds- and within a minute, a pair of ropes fell to the base.
Climbing up, Jordan brushed himself once he got to the top. "Thanks, there was no way I was getting up here without assistance."
"Yeah... We know." Violet grinned at Jordan's raised eyebrow. "The others can join us later. For now, let's get inside, see if we can't thin the ranks out a bit- or at least find out what's around."
Silently winding their way along the walls, the trio stayed low- and managed to climb down into the courtyard. Noting the eerie silence and crossing the courtyard, they ducked into the building ahead of them. Large tables graced them, plenty of seats- all of them empty. They found the Banquet Hall. Beyond the head table off to one, another door. Crossing quietly, Jordan opened the door- Sera and Violet's weapons at the ready... Only to find a kitchen. And three people inside- terrified kitchen staff, staring in wide-eyed shock at the newcomers.
Lowering the weapons, the trio slipped in- careful to close the door behind them.
"Well. Seems we found the kitchen." Sera and Violet shook their heads. Jordan had a talent for pointing out the obvious.
"You three don't... Look like the black-cloaks." A rather portly man spoke- the one holding a meat cleaver, eyeing them warily. One of the chefs.
"No, we're not. In fact, we're here to deal with them. What's going on?"
"Oh thank the gods, it's been terrifying since that... individual came. You can find him- and the others he associates with- in the Grand Tower. The knight may also be in jail in its basement."
"Thank you, we'll keep that in mind. Do you mind if we take a quick look around?"
Shaking their heads, the staff stepped aside to let Sera, Jordan and Violet pass. Slipping through the door, the trio found themselves in a servant's quarters. Nothing really important here- the next room over proved to be a barracks. A thankfully empty barracks- the main forces were still all the way over in Albridge. Suddenly the gravity- and insanity- of their impulsive decision weighed down upon them... Moving on, they ended up back in the kitchen- a seeming dead-end. Except this time, there were a set of double doors. Crossing over to them, Jordan quickly looked back to the terrified kitchen staff.
"If anyone asks, you saw nothing and nobody. Alright?" The three nodded. Slipping outside through these new doors, they snuck around and found a building with very small windows. Too small for even Violet to enter. Eventually they found the entrance- a pair of double doors with black handles. Just before they crossed, Violet put a hand on each of the genasi's arms.
"Wait here a moment. I see something, in the bushes. Over there." Sera and Jordan nodded, settling back. Creeping across and out of sight, Violet could see them. A trio hiding in the bushes near the entryway- but on the other side. Facing away. Whispering in near-silence, Briarthorne appeared in her hand. Drawing it out, she went in for the kill...
~
While Sera, Jordan and Violet ascended the tower and explored, Thorin caught up to Asriel- and together, they helped each other ascend the hill. By the time he did, the bastilla fire had stopped. Together they followed the path set out before them, grateful to get to the top- and seeing the ropes. While they finished the climb, the Iron Ring slavers made their way in through the gatehouse- but managed to lock Silver out. Growling in frustration, he did notice Asriel and Thorin waving to him- and went over to join them.
"Looks like the others left us a way inside. Thank the gods. Yeh coming, Silver?"
"Not like I have much choice." Climbing the rope, two dead sentries greeted the men. That certainly explained the ceasefire... However they didn't see a way down off the wall.
"Perhaps they managed to get down through the gatehouse?"
"Seems possible." Walking along the wall, the entry to the gatehouse was a hefty iron-banded oak wood door. Thorin tried the door. Locked- either the others didn't come this way, or Violet locked the door behind them. Given the latter wasn't likely... All three tried to force their way in- but couldn't penetrate its defences. Stranded on the walls, the trio looked around. Independently, each came to the same conclusion: We'll have to traverse until we find a way down.
Creeping along, Thorin led them- followed by Silver, then Asriel. Going through the corner tower, none of them found a discernible way down. Moving on, another section of wall led them to a different tower... One with a much easier-to-infiltrate door. Especially since it was unlocked. Slipping inside, the group found themselves in a study of sorts. Bottles and instruments filled shelves on the walls, parchments, ink pots and quills all over.
"This looks like an alchemist or a wizard's tower. Should be a door heading down somewhere."
Thorin lifted the rug, finding the aforementioned door. Spiral stairs went down to the ground floor, a small library awaiting them- with a door to the courtyard. Perfect. Opening the door, Thorin took a quick look about. The slavers walking the walls hadn't noticed them... Yet. Conveniently nearby some fairly-tall bushes provided an excellent place to hide in- careful to close the door behind them. Facing them, a new set of double doors with black handles. Asriel felt uneasy, just looking at it.
"Maybe we should look in that building, see if the others are there?"
Silver nodded, while Asriel hesitated. There was something about that building, that he really did not like. While the group discussed their next move and watched the slavers on the walls, they missed the approaching figure, poised to strike…
Chapter 17- Chaotic Assault On Highdell, Desecration