Tombs of Scoria: Episode 83

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== Synopsis ==
The Brothers begin their assault on Crownhold, teleporting to an open field a mile north of Crownhold, but are quickly detected as an invisible assailant rains Fireballs down on them. The Brothers narrowly escape with their lives moments before the killing blow can be dealt. The Brothers reveal their return to Shine, and they debrief on what went wrong. The Brothers take a few days to recuperate and reattempt their assault, deciding to teleport into Mistrya a mile south of Crownhold. The Brothers fly to Crownhold Keep as bats and successfully breach the Keep's interior by disintegrating a window. A nearby guard moves to investigate, but retreats before seeing the Brothers. The guard attempts to rouse his three sleeping allies at their post, but the Brothers ostensibly manage to kill the four guards without raising any alarm. 
==Recap==
===Ambush, 12th February, 1515===
After some last-minute deliberations, the Brothers set out for Crownhold. The Brothers decide to to an open field a mile north of Crownhold in the evening, and Anton a safe arrival. The Brothers arrive, where they see a ruined village about half a mile away and the ramparts of Crownhold off in the distance. With some focus, the Brothers can see the defenders on the walls as small specks moving about. 
Imrik casts spells to buff the Brothers, and Anton casts on Imrik. Approximately 15–20 minutes go by while Imrik sleeps. Then, without warning, an invisible, aerial assailant casts , causing Anton's to fizzle. 
Combat Start: The Brothers vs Crownhold Guard
A explodes on the Brothers, dealing 33 damage, Anton takes half. Tyrael scans the horizon, seeing two bats but no sign of their attacker. turns into a raven and flies away.
Anton casts into the air attempting to strike the source of the Fireball, but fails to hit the assailant. Tyrael swaps rings to the Ring of True Seeing. Another Fireball explodes on Imrik. 
 Imrik takes another . Anton casts on the spot where the last Fireball went off, but nothing happens. Tyrael activates Ring of True Seeing and covers Imrik with his body, but Tyrael is unable to spot the assailant.
The assailant casts another Fireball, dealing 39 damage. Imprick returns to the party. Tyrael switches rings to the Ring of Spell Storing.
Tyrael casts from the Ring of Spell Storing before the assailant casts another Fireball.
Combat end. The Brothers are back at The Capital.
The Brothers arrive in their home with ghastly wounds, but are alive. Anton calls upon Velthara to heal their wounds. 
===13th February, 1515===
The Brothers return to to debrief on the debacle and decide to reveal their return to Shine. Shine is relieved to learn the Brothers are alive and takes a knee before them.
The Brothers, Arc Sombar, and Shine deduce that it is unlikely Scoria or Mistrya knew the McGarys were the ones in the field, and that the assailant was also likely unaware that the intruders were the McGarys. They assume Mistrya had not been aware of the Brothers’ arrival because, if they had, the response force would have been far greater, or the traps laid would have been directed at the Brothers in the field. The group concludes that the Brothers may have simply lingered too long in an area Mistrya was prepared to rapidly mobilize against and defend. The group also concludes that Scoria and Mistrya could thereafter reasonably deduce that the Brothers have returned, as few individuals are capable of teleporting into the heart of Mistrya, being struck by a number of Fireballs from a powerful spellcaster, and still manage to teleport back out.
Anton casts :
What is the consequence of our Teleportation into Crownhold?
* The enemy is more prepared for your assault.
They continue the discuss the events that lead to their attack.
=== Infiltrating Crownhold, 18th February, 1515===
The Brothers take a few days to recuperate and return to full fighting strength. The Brothers decide to buff up and Imrik before teleporting, with Anton and Tyrael into a bat. Imprik assumes his raven form and Imrik safely the Brothers a mile south of Crownhold. Imrik polymorphs into a bat, and the Brothers waste no time fluttering into the night towards the top of Crownhold Keep. While flying over Crownhold, the Brothers see heavy patrols of guards throughout the city, but no civilians moving about. 
The Brothers make their way about 400 feet above the Keep and slowly descend. About 200 feet above the Keep, Anton finds he is illuminated by magical light. After a pause, the Brothers descend down towards the Keep. The guards either fail to notice the Brothers, or think nothing of the bats and raven flying about.
Imrik finds a window and reassumes his human form. He casts on the window with some concealment from the surrounding architecture, removing the glass and iron bars. The Brothers fly through, landing in a stairwell spiraling up a tower, and reassume their human forms; Imprik returns to his Imp form. Anton casts on a stone and returns it to a bag of holding, then casts on Imrik. Imrik casts on himself and directs Imprik to turn invisible and scout up the stairs. Tyrael, wearing the Ring of Invisibility, turns invisible. 
Imprik sees a guard looking concerned with a drawn dagger. 
Combat start: McGary's vs The guard
Tyrael makes his way up the stairs to slay the guard, but the guard turns around and goes back up the stairs, closing the door behind him. Anton follows.
Tyrael enters the room, where the guard is attempting to rouse his three comrades. Anton quickly follows behind, producing the Silence stone.
Tyrael quickly slays two guards and wounds a third. The remaining guard strikes what would otherwise be an excellent blow, sacrificing his life to eliminate a charge from Lord Tyrael McGary. Imrik shoots the guard bleeding on the bed 6 times.
The battle ends, the ordeal enveloped in Silence. The Brothers do not immediately perceive anything indicating they have been detected by Crownhold’s defenses.
Category:Tombs of Scoria Episodes