Magister's GAmbit part 7

Much of anything done in greed usually ends in death-Unknown Sage of Silverymoon -1029 DR

Ambitious Revenge
5th of Tarsahk 1479
In an abandoned ruin of a forgotten city within the Shaar Desolate, the Daring Daggers scout around the city as Na'hris holds up using his knowledge of arcane to study the rod stolen out of Jessibel Trueblade's home. Only managing to uncover one of the rod's powers, Na'hris angrily slams his fists against the table," Thrice blasted to death item and its creator."
Wallking in as Na'hris loses his temper in the ruined tavern, Rasik says," Na'hris,  don't lose your temper, if the arcanist had that item enscrolled so that only she could use it," the shadow thief jests as he adds," then we'll just get her to tell us how to use it."
Na'hris angrily states," That witch Aishia won't likely tell you and I can tell the rod has many abilities, but I could only figure out one of them and it's some sort of charm spell and with my gloves," as he points them out adds," I can force her to tell us."
Walking over to the tavern's broken out window and looking out into the desolated city, Rasik says," From what we learned before we stole the rod and left Wayward Na'hris, was that she was sent to some Hold between Derlusk and Wayward, we'd need an army to assault the place and all the details on the hold."
"Well Rasik," Na'hris says as he stands up to strecth,"that I may be able to help you with as I can use the rod to coerce other groups to follow you."

"That said Na'hris," Rasik remarks," could only come to being if I had knowledge of other groups of thieves and tribes of humanoids to bewitch."
"As far as the details of the Hold," Na'hris says," what about your man sent along with Aishia and her little tramp of a half elf?"

"Lerik De'shar  is clever enough to learn everything he can before he secrets himself away to report here," the Shadow thief replies.
"Which will amount to almost nothing, without an army being the Coinguard are counted at two hundred," Na'hris says as he returns to studying the rod in hopes of unlocking more of its power.
*****
7th of Tarsahk 1479
Lerik grins as he studies the layout and half of the Fyghran's Hold's secret passages. Biding his time before he leaves through one of the passages, Lerik thinks to himself that watching the wizards amongst patrolling between the Hold and Derlusk is boring until he finds a map in the Hold's Library containing notes containing known bandit camps, slavers and humanoid tribes. "Rasik will love this," the rogue silently states as he folds the map up and places it down one of his boots.  Turning around as he hears voices heading to the door, the rogue silently heads to the wall where he came in.
Lerik leaves the library through a secret door, as a woman and man enter the library chatting with each other."So Grandmother, " Randar asks," How hard would it be to get Alustra to accompany me and leave the Border Kingdoms behind as my consort?"
"Randar," Aishia smiles replying," Be yourself around her and ask her about it, and eat some meals with her."

"In otherwords, Lady Aishia," Randar says while looking over Aishia's body and then adds," ask her and find out."  Looking around at the library and getting the feeling that something is wrong, Randar says," Not to change the subject, but something is wrong here, and hopefully not as bad as bringing distant family members to justice at a sword's point before they sacrifice another relative.
Putting her hands on her hips, Aishia shakes her head remarks," Pointing that at me and your great grandfather huh?"  

Laughing, Randar says," That and he and the group he was in were conspirators against the crown, Mistcloak."
Looking at the young man Aishia shrugs," If you want a chance for that, you'd have to get me out of a dire predicament," and stops looking at a shelf and adds," Randar you said something was wrong, well , there was a rolled up map right here."
Looking smug, Randar says," So in other words save a life," and then looks at where the woman is looking and says," By the letter of the law, that map had locations to several known hostile groups around here."
"How many total," Aishia asks," And is it going to be an issue to the Hold or Wayward?"
"Fifteen groups, about 350 total combined inhabitants," Randar says with a serious tone and continues," Yes and no; if combined into a single army they would be but most of them don't get along and won't stand united without coercion or a highly skilled diplomat."
*****
"Damn I only know half of this place's secret passages," Lerik complains as he sneaks down the dark corridors. Turning the corner and heading down another hall the rogue makes it outside the barracks.
Entering the chamber and picking up his journal and gear out of his assigned footlocker Lerik says," Still it's enough to carve a barony for the shadow thieves and corner the market on the pearls here." Heading back out, Lerik enters a different set of corridors and eventually exits a distance outside the Fyghran's Hold's walls and makes his way to the preplanned ruins to rendezvous with the rest of the Daring Daggers.
*****
The Shaar Desolate is arid and lifeless. A lone wanderer travels south as a dry wind blows across the man's tracks. Grinning to himself, he quickly looks over his shoulder to make sure he is not being followed. Not seeing anyone following him, he says," Cut, dried and cleaned," before continuing his path toward the south and east.

9th of Tarsahk 1479

The abandoned town's crumbling gate looms in the distance, as a rogue approaches the barred shut gates. Knocking on the door, Lerik says," The Shadows pursue the darkness of Shar," and awaits the return phrase.

"The Lord of Thievery will return and steal back what's his," a voice on the other side of the gate says and continues," Welcome to the middle of nowhere Lerik."

Opening the gate, one of the Daring Daggers, ushers his comrade in shadows inside. Closing the rotting gates after the man, the gate watcher says," Welcome to where ever this was," and points toward an abandoned inn saying," Lerik, Rasik will be in joining you there as soon as he returns from scouting the place."
Nodding Lerik heads off toward the inn to await his boss's return.

Inside the inn, Lerik sits at a table and converses with Na'hris the renegade member of the Twilight Arcane. " Rasik was not overly pleased that the rod will only grant me use of one of its abilities," the young wizard says," but it can still be potent to compel multiple groups into following Rasik."
Taking a swig, Lerik says," You mean follow you wizard, as the rod will not work for anyone not trained it the arcane or can fool the item."
Shaking his head," I'll follow Rasik if it gets me at that witch."
Laughing at the young wizard, Lerik claims," You have some hatred at that one boy, and from what I've see of her, a lot of individuals have it for that one," and with a slyful look adds," I think the head of the Coinguard also wants her apprentice."
Slamming his fist on the table, Na'hris angrily says," I don't want her body, I want her humiliated!"
With a sly look, the rogue smirks," Why are you blushing then or are you not certain what you want when that wizard is concerned, and besides the assassin Jangor desires her flesh too."

Blushing and calming down from his own outburst, Na'hris says," The rod will convince him to let me have her until I can figure out whether or not to kill her or bed her." The door slams getting their attention and turning their heads to the door, both men face Rasik as he comes in laughing at the two scoundrels.

"You plan on having  Jangor bewitched into letting you take the girl he's busy lusting over," Rasik amusedly asks before saying," He's here you know wizard, but it's a good thing I have him on the south side of this Moander blessed town or he'd be really insulted." Looking at the young wizard Rasik sits down next to Lerik," Report on the Hold."
Lerik pulls out his journal and the stolen map from his pack and recounts how to open each of the secret passages. Looking impressed, Rasik smirks," So we could sneak our way into the hold, steal whatever isn't nailed down and fulfill our issues with Jangor and part the with shadow-kai."  Unrolling the map, the chief rogue looks at Lerik," Now what about this regional map?"
"Well from what I can tell boss, is that it's a map that shows the location of several groups that we might be able to find a way to aide in taking the hold for ourselves." Lerik says.
"Hmmm,"Rasik says," Our superiors in Amn didn't give us the gold to build an army and with that many passages, I doubt we would be able to hold the place for long."
"The Grand Temple is a suitable fortress," Na'hris claims," You would still need an army and a way to pay them or.."
"Torm and his fellows would take offense to that," Rasik laughs," Shar would love it, the Shadow Thieves would promote me and thus each of those under me." Turning his head to the young dark haired wizard Rasik says," We'll use the rod but whatever we can take from both places to pay the army assuming we can rally them to our cause."
Lerik bloodthirstily remarks," Just hope the rod will work Na'hris or it will be a short fight."
"I suggest we get Jangor to do the leg work on each of the group's leaders," Na'hris states," and bring them here."
Rasik and Lerik laugh and then Lerik says," Rasik and I are thinking it and I'm just saying it, you want him out of the way just so that you can have first dibs on the witch." Turning a shade of red, Na'hris admits to it to himself and laughs along with them.


Ambition without Caution will lead to disaster-Erik  Blackshield warlord of Amn
Taking Of the Hold

30th of Tarsahk 1479

The crumbling old city, mumbles to life as 350 hired swords prepare for a march north with the rising sun. The massive camp breaks down and the mercenary army of various humanoids and criminals pack their gear.
Looking out from the inn's balcony bald Shadar-kai rubs his chin overlooking the multi bannered army. Smirking Jangor says," I get the girl and they get a barony, good tradeoff I think."
****
Heading out of the lover level of the inn, Rasik and the Daring Daggers, they are greeted by the leaders of each group. Going over the latest reports, they inform Rasik that the hold is looking for a deserter. Dressed in his leather armor and toting his weapons Lerik smiles," Seems like they noticed me gone, but with the knowledge of the passages it will still be a blast."
"Our plan has not changed; we enter through the tunnels and take them out," Rasik orders," and do not forget the female wizard is to be taken alive."After ordering them to march, Rasik silently says," In the end, I think I agree with Na'hris about Jangor, but we are in too deep with him right now." Moving out with his gathered army, Rasik is surprised to see Na'hris behind him.
Looking troubled Na'hris looks at the experienced rogue," You know despite outnumbering the Coinguard, this can still end poorly."
Nodding Rasik agrees," The assassin may be a liability; I regret even siding with him."
"Regardless boss, what's done is done," the wizard says," and I thought you might want to know that if we fail and get captured by Wayward they will throw us into the underdark." The Shadow Thief nods and continues with the army toward the hold.
*****
As the travelers follow the Thornwash River between the Winterwood and Thornwood forests, they notice that the fauna along the riverbank are not silent. Smiling to herself with a bit of homesickness Faeril whistles a tune causing Drendar to hum along. Shaking his head with a warning look, Hat says," Don't get to loud with the tune now."
Finally arriving in sight of Ankapur, the slender eladrin monk says," It appears that now the majority of our travelling is about half complete, "pointing towards the city Sheita adds," After we get supplies we follow the lake east around to Derlusk."

Nodding, Hat says," I can cast shadow bridge to lessen the journey again, after I see about purchasing components."
Gareth  laughs," A short cut for the journey would be welcomed otherwise we could see about purchasing a boat trip to the east side of the lake over the foot travel."
Piping in, Drendar gripes," Let's go get supplies first, our rations are dwindling and we waste daylight standing around doing nothing," and then starts marching to the city.
*****
The Metropolis of Ankhapur is bustling with business as the travelers enter the city's merchant district. Eyeing supplies and being watched themselves,  the group splits up allowing Sheita and Drendar to shop for rations as Faeril and Hat sell the few pearls taken from the merrow.
Meeting back up at a tavern, they purchase a quick meal and drink before heading to the docks on the south side of town.
***

The Lake of steam is alive with large predators and fish going about their business in the yellow water. The lake smells of sulfur as the group silently travels along the dock trying to find a ship to hire.
Pinching her nose, Faeril says," Last time I was here, I can't remember it smelling this bad," as she travels behind the dragonborn paladin.
After  an hour spent talking with several of the boat captains, they purchase travel to the east.
******

Rasik follows his scout as they arrive at the entrance to sneak into the fortress." Hope the others made it to their passages," Na'hris smirks while hoping that Jangor gets himself killed during the assault.
Each warrior enters the various tunnels that lead into the Hold. Finding a large room underneath, they wait for Rasik to arrive. Not wanting to wait, Jangor goes off into the secret corridors and finds several of the secret doors into Fyghran's Hold. Peeping inside a few of them, Jangor catches a few of the Coinguard and drags them inside the passage and slits their thoughts.
Returning to the underground chamber, Jangor overhears Rasik give the order to attack. With bloodthirsty shouts the massive army departs the room and into the maze of secret corridors.
**

Snoring emits into the secret passage as a group of fifty near a hidden door. Entering the night barracks they find 25 members of the Coinguard sleeping until evening. Before any of them can wake, some of slavers that sided with the Daring Daggers; kill half of them and bind and gag the rest.
***
A group of hobgoblins make their way to where they are supposed to sneak in, and find the door jammed and half underwater. Shaking his head, the group's leader says," Luckily Lerik told us of an alternate route."  Backtracking they find a large pit with an opening above and massive amount of rancid smelling liquid below. Climbing up the loose wall, the hobgoblin leader curses," Stupid humans and their latrines," and looks below and spits into it.  

At the top of the latrine, a Coinguard hears them and looks down at them. Running out of the room, the man yells," To arms, we are under attack!" Running into an armed Shadar-kai, the Coinguard barely manages to draw his sword before being cut down by the assassin.
****
The Coinguard alerted to the intruders take up their arms and attempt a counter attack against the invading army. Not realizing that they are being attacked from inside the fortress's secret passages, the mercenary company takes massive casualties.  Retreating to other corridors, a hundred members of the Coinguard manage to evacuate the fortress.
***

Far to the southwest, a ranking Lieutenant looks toward Fyghran's Hold saying," Nobody listened to us when we said that Fyghran's Hold was a death trap," and looks around at his fellows and says," Company report in."
The 100 members of the Coinguard call in their name, rank and squad. With many squads now in pieces, the Lt. has the broken squads link up with each other and then orders ," Move out to a safe  distance and keep watch of the hold to see if our Captain escapes with more of our brethren."
*****
Running through the Fyghran's Hold, Rasik's army forces the remains of the Coinguard up into the upper chambers. Looking around the fortress's main hall Rasik says," Report, how many are left and where is this spellcaster?"
Jangor smirks," I've killed 8 on my own budy and showing it off," the humanoid licks his lips,"  I saw her and a half breed woman enter a room on the east side," the hobgoblin chief continues," She and the half elf took out 5 hobgoblins while fleeing there and I left a group to try and enter that room after them."
*******
The library, once full of tables and bookstands decorating the room, is now almost unrecognizable as the furniture is barricaded in front of the library's door blocking entry. Bashing sounds from the door, still tell of the hobgoblins trying to break their way into the room where to tired wizards soaked in blood and sweat holed themselves.
Heavily breathing and showing her fatigue, Alustra says," Lady Aishia,  I take it we're doomed when the goblinoids break in?"
Trying to calm her apprentice, Aishia stands up leaning on her staff and says," Only if they have orders to take us alive and come on, we're leaving," as she uses her staff of thunderwave as a walking stick and heads to the wall on the eastern side of the room.
Looking at her apprentice still laying out on the floor, the wizard says," Now Alustra, if those goblins have a brain they would remember that there is another way in here and the one most likely shown is the north side's hidden door."
Struggling to get off the floor, the half elf woman grabs her spell book saying," Randar gave you the grand tour of other passages Lady Mistcloak?"
Smiling Aishia pushes several bricks to open the door. With the door opening slowly before they escape, the northern door opens as Alustra stumbles over to the opening door . Looking at the 4 hobgoblins Aishia sighs," Guess they have half a brain after all," and hurls a magic missile at one of them while Alustra casts a spell altering the room's appearance.
Wounding one hobgoblin and killing another with their spells, Alustra puts her spellbook away and draws out her dagger as Aishia uses the properties of her staff injuring two of the three humanoids. Being grappled by an injured hobgoblin, Alustra slashes her dagger into the humanoid while Aishia brains one of the hobgoblins as the goblinoid raises his axe.
Bloodied with dagger wounds, the hobgoblin grappling Alustra, grabs the half elf's other arm and forces the woman against a wall forcing her to drop her dagger. Bashing his head against the  half elf the hobgoblin releases the young woman and she falls to the floor groaning in pain clutching her bruised midsection.
Taking on the second humanoid Aishia uses a magic missile and finishes it off and the final wounded goblinoid sneaks up behind her and attempts to grab her. Avoiding being caught as she avoids the creature by dropping to the floor and kicking the creature in its groin. Howling in pain as the eastern passage door opens completely, the goblinoid pulls out a hand axe and rushes at the human wizard and stops midstride holding his hand up to its neck and looks at its own blood.  Waving her dagger at it, Alustra says," Time to say good night creep," as Aishia gets to her feet, Alustra thrusts her dagger into the hobgoblin's neck killing it.
"Well Alustra," Aishia says as she picks up her staff," into the passage before we have more unwanted company," and heads into the passage with her apprentice right behind her. Closing the door, behind them, Aishia says," Don't touch the walls, the only thing holding the fortress up are the wards left behind," and heads down the empty corridor unopposed.
***
The top most floor, is in chaos as the 15 remaining Coinguard barricade the door. Looking defeated one of them asks," So boss, how do we get out of this?"
Randar says," Hold yourself together and hope they don't find the other  passages." Going out to lookout over his besieged command, Randar looks down at the army in the fortress putting his men in chains. Shaking his head, the Captain of the Coinguard walks back inside the tower. Looking around at his beleaguered men he says," Good news is that from what I can see below is that they don't have enough of our fellows in chains or dead."
"What of the two lady wizards," one of the Coinguard asks.
"I don't know and looking below for details will be risky" The Capt. replies," as I'm sure you know that since they came in through the tunnels they likely have them patrolled too."
A sergeant looks below and shakes his head saying," By Every Watching God and then some, the passages that are kept secret don't link to the outside."
Sitting down in a chair, Captain Randar sits on a chair as his men start to keep watch over the door and the balcony. "Well, at least if they do take the room, the old wards left behind from the Thayvian Red Wizards are the only thing holding Fyghran's Hold up," Randar says while looking upset at the thought of losing the ancient fortress under besiegement.
Jumping to his feet as the hidden trap door opens, Randar shouts," Intruders," and his men come with their weapons drawn. Holding their weapons when they see two women come up and they relax as a few help them up and seal the door back after they enter.
Taking the pale skinned woman's hand, Randar says," I'm surprised you two didn't try to escape."
"And leave the fun to you and your group, Randar," Aishia sarcastically says and then adds," If they knew where to enter they likely had patrols in them."
Passing out to exhaustion Alustra silently slips to the floor while a cleric serving the Coinguard catches the fatigued half-elf. Watching her apprentice being put on the floor and tended to, Aishia says," Give me a few hours and I can make use of a shadow bridge and we can leave here to seek reinforcements."
****
The grand hall still contains a few mercenary humanoids conversing between themselves about what they tend to do with the land.  Approaching Lerik down in the grand hall, Jangor asks the man," Was there a secret passage to the library?"
Nodding the shadow thief smirks," Yes, you want to go check on your woman I see?" Giving Jangor the evil eye, Lerik continues," Lets get some muscle and go."
The stone bricked corridors are cold and empty as Lerik leads Jangor and a patrol down several corridors. Finally arriving at the one to the library, Lerik looks ahead stating," The door's open, Rasik had patrols and guards up and down the exits but just the same be cautious."
The library with its still blockaded main door, its scrolls and papers now all over the floor amidst the dead goblinoids only cause the rogues to shake their heads. Entering the room, Jangor smirks at the dead hobgoblins, and says," Look around boys for other doors."
Lerik starts to object and then thinks better of it and starts searching the library's walls and floors. The rogues hustle in the room, as Jangor starts to pull the bookshelves and tables away from the doorway. As he clears half of it, one of the bandits exclaims," Found it." Watching the door start to slowly creak open, Jangor has them help him clear the doorway.
"That door is going to open slowly from the looks of it and we are going to tell Rasik, unless any of you want to go scout it out," Jangor mockingly states.
With two of the bandits volunteering to scout out the passage, they get started moving the furniture out of the way.
With both sets of doors open, the two volunteers head into the passage, while the others return to inform  Resik.
****
Reaching the keep's main chamber, Lerik hears commotion going on as what they hear is awards granted that was removed from both the treasury and armory is being passed out amongst the army. Entering the chamber, they hear the clanging sound of metal on wood sounds; as they witness a great sword being awarded to a hobgoblin and Rasik sitting at a table. Getting their attention, by coughing Rasik says," Ah greetings Lerik, what news do you have to share?"
"Lord Rasik," The rogue says," We have gotten into the library where Aishia was seen entering and we located another passage that was previously unknown."
Looking concerned Rasik says," That wizard and her apprentice may give those upstairs a fighting chance, " and then the shadow thief stands up from his and says," It seems we can't sit around and wait for them to screw up."
When the various humanoid leaders shout in agreement, Rasik says," The female wizards are to be brought here unharmed and I might let you have the apprentice later." Given ambition, the leaders take their men and head up to the  room where the last of the free Coinguards have hold themselves up.
Arriving at the long hallway, a few of the hobgoblins amidst the various criminals start to hack away at the doors with mauls and axes. Looking at the attempt, Na'hris turns to Rasik," This will take a while; let me take a few men and head up though the passage from the library."
Looking at the solid oak door, Rasik nods," Go ahead, but I warn you to use extreme caution." Tuning to 7 of the bandits, Rasik has them accompany the wizard and travel up through the passage.
******
After resting a brief time, Aishia begins to set up for the shadow bridge ritual. As the last of the items necessary for the casting are put into place, Randar comes in and says," Aishia, if you haven't heard they have started to axe at the many doors that we shut behind us when we  fled here."
Standing up, from the tracings on the floor, Aishia says," It'll take 5 minutes to cast the ritual, and it'll last for 10 minutes Randar, and I'll need you to make sure Ravensong gets out of here." Turning to the materials on the floor, Aishia begins the casting of the ritual as Randar heads back to inform his men.
***
Traveling through the undecorated passages up, from the library, Na'hris clutches the stolen rod as he and the bandits with him reach the floor below the Coinguard. Tapping the trapdoor above them with his staff, he determines that the door is blocked from above.  Heading back to where they previous found another ladder up, the young wizard taps the trapdoor with his staff and pushes it open.
Turning to one of the rogues with him," Take a look if it's clear or not." Not liking the idea, the bandit climbs the ladder and gives it the all clear. Climbing up into the bed chamber used by the resident wizard, they all can hear the bashing of the doors by Rasik's main force. Deciding to head for the chamber, Na'hris says," They will break through the doors soon enough, come lets go after the Coinguard."
******

As she finishes casting the ritual, Aishia turns to the Coinguard," Get moving through it now." As the Coinguard runs through the bridge, Captain Randar and another pick up Alustra Ravensong and carry the exhausted half elf through the bridge. Turning around to escape through it herself, Aishia feels a  man's hand grab her robe. After elbowing her unknown assailant, Aishia slips out of her robe and the man's grasp. Not looking at the intruder, Aishia bolts into the Shadow Bridge while being followed by an unknown assailant.
Picking up the woman's discarded robe, Na'hris shouts," Don't go after her," and fails to stop the rogue as he enters the bridge." Well that is one dead thief," the wizard claims as he turns around facing the remaining rogues," Lets start removing the blockades out of this hallway before the others break down every door and make the floor worthless."
***
The moons are up in the air as the last of those escaping emerge from the ritual. The wind blows through the uninhabitable wasteland as they all emerge from the shadow bridge's exit. Running to the west as the rogue shows up out of the portal. Swords drawn at the man, he tries to back into the shadow bridge.
Not finding it there, the man surrenders as the Coinguard surrounds him. After watching the man being tied up Aishia asks," I take it this one is going to be interrogated when we make it to Wayward?"
Looking at the woman, the leather wearing bandit remarks," Jangor is going to eat you girl, so you might as well surrender."
Looking amused, Aishia places her hands on her exposed waste and playfully walks forward to the bandit. Close enough to him, that the bandit could touch her, Aishia deviously grins at him," Is that so, maybe you should tell us  their plans and what Jangor's plans are for me."
Placing his hand on her exposed midsection, the bandit smirks," I think I'd rather show you," and eyes down her torso to her waste as 1 of the 12 members of the Coinguard sneaks behind the man.
Occupied with trying to unnerve the woman, the bandit fails to pay attention to Randar as he walks behind the man and knocks the bald man out." Search him for weapons and take him with us," Randar orders before asking Aishia for a moment in private.
***
After conversion with Aishia, Randar approaches his men on the arid landscape. "Well men, it seems we have lost what we were being paid to hold up while protecting a trade route." Randar looks at his 11 men with him and continues as they boo," I know we will find a way to get it back, but now I need a runner to go to Derlusk  and seek out Draq there."
As one of them volunteers for the trip, Randar gives the man specific details of where to find him. As the man salutes and leaves to the northeast, Randar turns back to the other Coinguard," We need to get to Wayward and inform them that the Hold was taken, and we need to get going, as Aishia mind you with the loss of her  robe will freeze on the trip." Acknowledging their captain the Coinguard heads west carrying the half elf wizard and the bandit.