Fort Aytysos

* Artwork
* Map

Fort Aytysos is a Rydooni outpost in the Bristlebacks.

The Flails of Nargus held control over it for a few months in 134WD.

## Description

Located on the eastern edge of the Savage Creek Hills, Fort Aytysos is a forward outpost of the Hollow Concord nearly 150 miles from the nearest major settlement - that of Mightmoor. According to Tinia paa Wormswoe, was constructed several decades ago, shortly after the Bristlebacks first emerged, wrought from the stone of the mountains themselves.

Dotted with arrow slits, the exterior of the castle is highly defensible, although by the time that the Flails of Nargus had come to occupy the fortification, its security had been undermined by the presence of tunnels beneath. Seemingly mined by the monstrosities created by gnoll pack lord Irbel Glutburst, the creatures had linked the underground storerooms to the outside world by means a submerged cave entrance, allowing for the ingress of adventurers in 134WD.

Under Rydooni control, the fort had featured well-managed armouries, storehouses and living chambers, although this was found to have fallen into much disrepair under the tenure of the gnolls, save for a pair of rooms high up in the construction that appeared to serve as a meeting hall and study of sorts used to create poisons for use by the Bitterbrood Warband.

Troublingly, it was also noted in the basement a haze of conjuration aura lingered in a room outfitted with gemstone-laden stone depictions of the Demon Prince Yeenoghu and a similar arrangement of glyphs and runes as that of the portal inadvertently used by Kelun and the Green Quill Troupe to open a route to Tinaemortum. The arrangement was far more primal and animalistic, most likely owing to his allegiance to the brutality and violence of Yeenoghu compared to the misleading beauty of Acherontia, and seemed to have been more of a prototype that a full construction.

## History

Alongside the Rydooni warrior Tinia paa Wormswoe, an adventuring party assaulted Fort Aytysos in 134WD while on the trail of members of the Flails of Nargus. By chance, they discovered the tunnels beneath the castle, and in doing so managed to avoid a headfirst strike against the might of the fortification. By equally good fortune, they discovered the gnoll pack lord Irbel Glutburst in the tunnels, feeding his pet Dogmole Juggernaut - the seemed creator of the tunnel network, and did battle with the gnoll. Tinia delivered the killing blow, claiming his head as a victory token, before the party pushed further into the castle by means of the basement.

After an extended battle with gnoll marauders after pushing into the castle proper through a trapdoor, the party stumbled across a meeting between Elhorn, Eula Charcrackle, Makaria Urilius, Ignar Lockfang and Grablag Bitterbrood when Rynros burst through a reinforced door using his newly purchased *Festerwood Handaxe*. With a shrill laugh, Eula Charcrackle engulfed the adventuring party in *Maddening Darkness*, and between the shrieks and cries, Anivia Reman recognised fragments of the Conjuration-incantation to cast *Teleport* - finding the room subsequently empty once the party managed to free themselves. In the end, it would be the Atral spellslinger that dispelled the haunting magic, allowing the party to take stock of their surroundings and rest their wounds.

After returning to Rydoon victorious, Tinia paa Wormswoe would petition the keep re-garrisoned, which has subsequently been achieved after a series of repairs were made to the damage dealt by both the gnoll's occupation, and the subsequent battle to liberate it, in particular that of the use of the spell *Storm Sphere* by Anivia Reman.