As I crept toward the south-facing gatehouse of the Double Raven Castle, I spied at least six orcs on the parapets and another four or five milling about behind the portcullis. "This won't be easy" I thought, "but I'm fairly certain that the group must have been captured in the sewers and imprisoned in the dungeon, just like Lynn was. I am their only hope!"
I floated over the castle wall, fully expecting one of the crossbow archers to shoot me. I felt very exposed, even though I had been practicing my indetectability skill (poofing).and knew how well it works. As I floated toward the manor house, I noticed a huge tower standing behind it nearly twice as tall as the house. I also noticed that the stables were full of horses (on my left) and the forge in the blacksmith's building (on my right) had its bellows working full blast.
Some of the sparks from the forge drifted a little too close to me. When I dodged them, I ran into the wall of the manor house near a third floor window. Since the window was open, I decided to go inside. It must have been a princess's room once, judging by the frufru, pastels, and floral motif; but, the current residents seem to be using it as a weapons storage room. I immediately barred the door and began scrounging around for anything that might be useful. Before long, I had located two dozen flasks marked "Sleeping Gas" and another five marked "Petrification". I also cocked and loaded a couple dozen crossbows.
It took several minutes, but I was able to place a dozen sleeping gas flasks in strategic locations around the bailey -- hidden from sight, but an easy target from the princess's armory window. Then I quickly scouted the castle grounds, finding all of the doors, stairs, and guardposts. There were two gatehouses and baileys: one for the manor house, one for the huge tower. Both were inhabited by scores of orcs, a few goblins and hobgoblins, and a dozen or more barbarian men. I quickly placed a few more sleeping gas flasks around the tower's bailey and gatehouses.
Then I waited and listened.
