Session 5
The Butterflies chased Admar through the jungle, following him back to Fort Karzin where they see that he is let in to the fort without challenge. They watched the fort for a while and ascertained that they must have been established for a while; there were between 4 and 16 people inside, but the amount of trapping and cultivation going on nearby would not have been able to support them for long, and wagon tracks indicated some form of supply delivery. Sassani was despatched back to Otgon Sum to report in to Shava, whilst the other three remained to keep watch in case Admar returned.
After murdering a boar in the jungle en route, Sassani reported to Shava, who instructed her to stop by the Grey's camp to collect Tolli, Mana, Mida and Jendrayana, and return to Karzin to eradicate the fort. On arrival, Sassani discovered that Jendrayana wasn't with the others. Apparently she'd told them she had been given a secret mission by Shava and had left shortly after they had departed Otgon Sum. The other three, however, agreed to come to Karzin with Sassani to assist.
Whilst observing Karzin, Ryo caught sight of a figure sneaking through the trees towards the fort. He alerted the others to their presence, and the remaining Butterflies watched as the interloper, Jendrayana, approached the fort and was accepted in. Whilst they waited for Sassani to return with news from Jendrayana they hatched a plan to find out more about what was happening inside. Ryo was despatched into the jungle to hunt a boar, on the theory that the boar's tusks could be used to torture a captive from the fort. Whilst he was gone Kathra and Chae-rin-shen set about making a number of fire arrows in the event they were needed to burn the fort down or smoke the inhabitants out.
Ryo's hunt was successful, to an extent. He tracked two boar down, but when he took a shot designed to fell one of the creatures a last-minute movement from the animal caused the blow to become glancing. They both wheeled and charged him, forcing him to scramble bleeding up a nearby tree. From this vantage point he took pot-shots at the animals below, wounding them enough that they started to back off, and finally finished one off with a shot between the eyes. As the other fled he descended to claim his prize and return to camp.
Once there they decided that Chae and Kathra would haunt one of the routes between snares that the bandits in the fort periodically travelled to capture someone. They successfully ambushed two bandits as they patrolled, killing one and quickly threatening the other into submission. They returned to camp with their prize, a surprisingly talkative bandit called Gahr He who, after seeing the fate of his comrade, was very eager to switch sides and join the Butterflies. Given how talkative he was, the group didn't actually need to use Ryo's boar tusks in the interrogation at all.
Deciding to let Gahr live, the Butterflies tied him to the top of a tree (out of reach of tigers). From him they learned the internal layout of the fort, and the exact number of bandits inside. Acting on his tip that people would be sent out to search for him, they were able to successfully ambush two more bandits and kill them both. This left four bandits, plus Admar and Jendrayana, inside the fort.
Sassani had fallen asleep in the wagon on the trip back towards Karzin with Mana, Mida and Tolli. She was awoken with the rocking of the three climbing into the back of the wagon, then pinned down by Tolli's tetsubo as Mida explained to her that it was in her best interests to cooperate with them. Mida explained they didn't really want to kill Sassani, and that it'd be better for her if she rolled over and let them tie her up and leave her there. She was also strong advised against following. Sassani complied. Once they were off the cart the slapped the horse to get the cart moving, then headed off in the other direction. Once alone, Sassani used a Fire Bolt to burn the ropes holding her, causing herself some severe injury in the process. Once free she took her bearings, then sped through the jungle in the direction of her companions.
Chae, Kathra and Ryo were busy wondering why Mida, Mana and Tolli were jogging towards the keep sounding the alarm of their presence when Sassani emerged from the bushes and explained the situation to them. They headed to intercept, and were able to get the drop on the three when they were still a few hundred feet outside of Karzin. Rather than let them enter and reinforce the fort, they decided to attack.
A fierce ranged battle ensued, with Mida, Mana and Tolli trying to sprint for the cover and reinforcement of the fort under cover of Jendrayana, Admar and their bandits, whilst the Butterflies fired on them from the tree line. The runners' efforts were in vain, as the Butterflies cut down all three. In a fit of pique, Sassani blew Tolli's downed body to pieces whilst Kathra stabilised Mida and Mina, showing them to Jendrayana before retreating back to the hidden camp.
As evening set in the Butterflies debated what to do with their captives. Chae and Sassani wanted to kill them all, but were convinced of the use of keeping them alive by Ryo and Kathra, at least for now. The next morning, when the two new captives came round, they questioned Mana and discovered that the only reason she worked with the gang, revealed to be the Goto-Mei Gang operating out of Jiiwani, was because they'd taken her brother hostage. The Butterflies agreed to keep her alive and let Shava Dehu choose her fate on their return to Otgon Sum. Mana revealed that the reason that Mida worked with the Goto-Mei was because she was in love with Jendrayana, and pleaded for her friend's life on the grounds that she was misguided rather than evil. Her argument failed to win over the Butterflies who, believing that this attachment to Jendrayana was too much to overcome, took Mida with them to bargain at the fort.
The part approached with Mida bound in front of them, offering to let her live if Jendrayana came out and surrendered. Jendrayana refused, telling the group to do what they felt like they had to do. Sassani, affronted by this refusal, executed the prisoner in view of the fort and threatened that Mida would be next if they didn't come out. No-one from within responded.
They returned back to their camp to come up with ideas on how to assail the fort. After some discussion they decided to construct some ladders to climb the walls under cover of darkness, and set about making these. However, whilst on watch Sassani got bored and began trying to set the gates alight, noticing that only one person seemed to be watching and on duty to put the fires out. Capitalising on this weakness, she began blasting at the door with eldritch energy, until it finally gave way beneath her onslaught. Pleased with herself, she returned to the camp to tell the others what she'd done.
Surprised by Sassani's actions, the group accelerated their plan to assault the fort. Whilst Kathra and Sassani approached from the front, Chae and Ryo approached from the side with ladders to scale the walls. As they approached, the fort was eerily silent. No-one appeared on the battlements. No-one watched from the door. As Kathra and Sassani entered through the wrecked gate, no-one responded. Ryo and Chae crested the top of the walls, and the assault began.