Storming the Castle

3rd of Fireseek,
Witchwood, Vraath Keep

In the morning the group scouts the keep to get as much info as possible before entering the keep to attack its inhabitants. The old keep seems to be on disrepair, looming out of the shadows of the tall trees. The keep sits on a small hill covered, strategically by the shape of the hill and the trees. It appears that the trees were planted to give the keep maximum camouflage. The gate house is partially collapsed, as is a section of the south wall. A small wooden shack sits behind a forgotten vegetable garden. The walls around the keep are 15 feet high, with a two story tower on the corner. This keep was clearly built for giants to live in. There were large boulders strewn all over the courtyard and several skeletons of Giants about the keep.

Some of the answers that they got from interrogating the hobgoblins at Jorr's place said that raiding/scouting groups come and go from the keep at all times of the day. Their leader is a huge bugbear named Koth. They didn’t know very much other than their base is Vraath Keep and that Koth took his orders from someone else, though who, they did not know. The party watched for a few moments to see if anyone was coming in or out, scouted by an invisible Kulin. Two guards were spotted in the front and some growling monster was in another part of the keep behind some heavy wooden doors. Worgs were stabled to the opposite side of the keep and in the main house were stationed some hobgoblins.

The attack ensued and the party stormed into the main quarters of the keep and shut out the goblins and worgs that were stationed outside. The manticore, hobgoblins a minotaurt and what had to be Koth joined the fight. Dodging tail spikes and lightning bolts, almost falling to the combined effort of the manticore and Koth. The party succeeded in capturing Koth as the manticore flew away, nursing its wounds.

Putting Koth to the question revealed many disturbing facts. It appears that the band of the red hand in an army and they are amassing behind Cinder Hill to the north. According to Koth, the army numbers in the thousands, consisting of war priests and sorcerers, hobgoblin elite warriors wielding masterwork weapons and armor, confirmed from your own findings. He knows that there are four commanders that lead the the Red Hand. Himself, a goblin assassin named Saarvith, another hobgoblin bard named Ulwai, and a monstrous hobgoblin named Haverek Kharn a “Chosen” of Tiamat. Kharn controls the horde itself, Saarvith has been sent on a special mission to the ruins of Rhest, and does not know where Ulwai is. The Highlord who rules them all is Azarr Kul. The army consists of all the tribes of the surrounding mountains for hundreds of miles around, united by Azarr Kul himself, calling his people "Kulkor Zhul" which translates to the People of the Dragon. Several dragons serve the Highlord as advisors, messengers, sub commanders and mounts.

Skull Gorge Bridge is a major key in the advance of the horde, destroying it would delay the army many days. The dragon Ozzrandion was coming and going from Vraath Keep to Skull Gorge to obtain updates and deliver orders from the Horde.

Ultimately, Koth tried to escape and was killed in the process. Upon scouting the ruins and Koth’s quarters more is discovered. A map drawn by Koth appears to have the Hordes travel directions and time table. The map is approximatly 8 feet wide by 6 feet tall. Among Koth's belongings was an old scroll written in magic writtings that appeared to describe a summoning. Brandar grabbing and examining it concluded that it is a summoning/binding diagram, keyed to a specific creature or individual. The writtings appear to mention Tiamat, the goddess and creator of all evil dragons. This is looks to be very old and is one page of many, how many is unknown.
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Spending some time and searching the ruins reveals a secret passage that clearly was unknown to Koth. Opening the hatch pushes gusts of stale air into the open. Descending below, a secret storeroom reveals the obvious remains of Emery Vraath, a massive arrow protruding from his ribs and a sparkling bastard sword in his hand. Found in this room was a staff of white oak carved to resemble braided bands of holly and oak leaves, topped with a unicorn horn. A pair a huge very primitive gloves made from animal hair, boar's teeth and bear claws. A small fortune in gold, silver and platinum. Lord Vraath had kept his office in this room as well, among his things were several diaries and notes of credit and in addition the deed to his keep, naming the possessor the rightful owner.