12/09/2023 Highpoint Keep (4)

Stopover in Goe Keep

Despite the stunning suggestion by Banquo’s uncle, the Companions decide to not question him further as the gates are open and they resume their pursuit of Gordon.

Malcolm begins to realise that they will need a change of horses if they do not want to hurt their horses. He points out they can stop at Goe Keep in Laphroaig lands and he can arrange a change of horses. After a quick discussion while riding, they agree to do this after it becomes clear Logan’s horse is struggling.

They approach Goe Keep and the guards recognise Malcolm, which he uses to persuade them to give them fresh horses. The guards confirm a rider in a hurry went this way some 15 minutes ago.

Logan does some tracking while they are stopped and thinks from the hoof prints that Gordon is not pushing his horse so hard now and has slowed down.

Prince Edmund asks about the Old Man at the bridge and is shocked by his attitude. He says when he is King, he will not allow noblemen to behave that way. He also mentions the Guilds in Cariere are running amok in his country and his father does very little about them. He has spoken out and made very few friends amongst the Guilders. He wonders if some of the guards he is travelling with have been bribed. The Prince is given his own horse to avoid over-burdening Malcolm’s horse.

The guards take about 15 minutes to get the horses ready and the Companions set off again, following the road as it rises into the mountains. They continue up into the mountains, slowing down as their horses struggle with the elevation.

They approach an old, ruined keep to one side of the mountain road. It’s in darkness and they realise that only Malcolm has a torch. The ruined Keep looks creepy and unwelcoming.

Sam has them gather some wood from the bushes and uses his fire magic to ignite them into a light source. They approach the Keep. The walls are mostly intact, though crumbling. They find an entrance on the side, which has long since lost any door that was supposed to keep people out. In the Keep, the buildings are in a poor state and falling down.

They can see a horse standing just inside the keep, eat grass. Prince Edmund recognises it has his horse and has the horse come over to him. He leads it out and ties it up with the others.

Banquo and Sam go in through the main entrance, while Logan, Malcolm go around the back of the keep to identify any alternative exits and cut off any possible escape.

Banquo and Sam see some stairs leading up to an old door and decide to head up there and check it. They hear someone behind them and spin round. It is Prince Edmund, returned from tying up his horse. He draws his sword and follows them up the stairs. They enter an old, empty room with rotting wooden table and chairs. They explore carefully, but there’s no sign of anything in the room. It does have another door leading further into the Keep.

Logan and Malcolm head round the Keep and the walls of a corner tower has crumbled down, as well as the curtain wall in two other places. Logan decides to enter into the tower that has a crumbled inner wall too. They enter the Keep this way.

Suddenly, they all hear a man cried out in horror. They all move swiftly towards the source of the noise. They converge in a hall in the middle of the Keep, to see Gordon under attack by a person who is clearly dead yet still moving around.

Gordon is struggling to draw his weapon with his left hand while the creature moves towards him. The site of the creature shocks a number of the Companions, especially Banquo who is stunned, shouting “that’s not right” at the idea of the dead walking. Prince Edmund screams in horror and stays at the back.

Logan does nothing as he is not that bothered if Gordon dies. Malcolm draws his bow and fires at the zombie, but the arrow appears to have little effect. Sam starts shouting to distract the creature, though he mainly distracts Gordon, allowing the dead person to grab him and drag him to the ground.

Banquo snaps out of this stupor and steps forward, slashing the zombie across the back of the head, but it does not seem that bothered about it. The zombie then bites Gordon in the arm.

Sam grabs the zombie by the leg and tries to pull it off from Gordon. Banquo slashes it again, but Malcolm, after drawing his mace, swings badly and hits Gordon by mistake.

Banquo finally cuts the zombie’s head off and it slumps to the floor, thrashing around for a while until it finally stops. Sam pulls Gordon out from under it. Banquo says to burn the fowl thing. Logan agrees, making a joke that they can then dispose of the zombie, reminding them that Gordon killed his sister.

Malcolm gives his torch to Banquo to burn the dead body, while he attempts to treat Gordon’s wounds. Banquo attempts to burn the body, but he lacks oil or wood. He kicks the zombie and abandons the idea.

Logan proposes staying in the Keep overnight, as they have ridden through the night and they are all too tired. Sam suggests exploring some of the ruins first to make sure there are no other surprises.

Suddenly a female-like figure with a horrible double mouth lined with pointed teeth jumps down from the rafters and lands on a table near them. She has long, clawed fingers, tiny points of white shine from her eyes and makes a hideous shriek that echoes around the ruins. The horrified Companions back away.

Malcolm is caught off guard and runs away, screaming in horror as he can feel its evil from the Shadow Realm Prince Edmund follows him, whimpering in fear.

Gordon Left to his Fate

Banquo has to summon all his courage to step forward and attack the creature. He slashes, but the creature ducks out of the way and slashes at him, but he blocks her. He attempts to feint her and kick the table out from under her, but she leaps back up to the rafters in response, shrieking at him again.

Banquo decides it is time for a tactical withdrawal, as the creature appears to be very fast and powerful. She watches from the rafters as the Companions retreat, then jumps down and attacks the helpless Gordon on the floor. He screams in terror as she does so.

The Companions and Prince Edmund rush back to their horses and flee. They ride back in silence until they approach Goe Keep, where they pull up, exhausted. They realise they need to rest and return to Medenie in the morning.

Prince Edmund is in shock and can’t help asking various questions about what happened that the Companions are not sure about themselves. He nervously apologises for running away.

Malcolm again uses his influence to get them lodgings at Goe Keep for the night. They fall asleep quickly, though they are haunted by visions of the female monster.

They wake up around midday and eat. Sam wonders if they want to go back to the Keep in the daylight, but Logan says he’d be happy to never go there again.

Malcolm wonders if there is a portal to the Shadow Realm in the Keep. He thinks it is likely that it will be safer during the day but is it worth the risk?

Banquo is keen to return to Simon Montrose and report back. They consider whether to mention the monster or not. They decide to use the story of wolves attacking and killing Gordon, but will tell the truth to Count Torien.

Logan wonders if the monster was there to kill Gordon. Prince Edmund suddenly wonders how Liddell Baird-MacGregor knew that Gordon was heading to the Keep. They are left with a number of unanswered questions.

They head back to Medenie in the afternoon. They ignore questions from some of the wedding guests and say nothing until they reach Sir Simon Montrose, Count Torien and Minister Greenwood. They tell them the truth and they resolved that Gordon being killed by a pack of wolves being the official story. Prince Edmund agrees to support this story as a witness.

Minister Greenwood wonders if Gordon is dead and points out there are fates worse than death where the Shadow Realm is involved.

Simon Montrose says a return to Highpoint Keep will be required in the near future to find out what is happening there and deal with the monster.

Count Torien thanks them for their help and welcomes the site of the clans working together, especially Allardice and MacRuaidhri. He asks them to go back to their clans, sooth their concerns and support the story of Gordon being a crazy, lone murderer.

End of Episode Four