-----After a few more flashes from the clouds overhead, a third thunderbolt explodes taking just a few stones out of the gate tower. Lovan laughs loudly and then yells toward the stronghold, "SURRENDER YOUR CASTLE, VERMIN!"
-----He is answered by no reply as the wind whips the hair and cloaks of the adventurers. Still none show themselves in the gaping hole of the gate doors.
-----By this time, Garrison walks up behind Raven and Sol squinting through the onslaught of rain. "They're either hiding behind the walls or taking refuge inside their keep," the woodsman shouts.
-----Just as the last tiny bits of crumbled stone fall to the ground with the rain, Sol suddenly makes a break toward the opening of the destroyed gate. Flashes of light catch the image of the young warrior as he runs, making him seem to vanish and appear along his path. Very quickly he makes the ruined doors and moves into the inner courtyard.
-----Garrison call of warning is practically drowned out by the continuing storm.
-----Almost in response, Lovan laughs triumphantly and raises his warhammer pointing to another section of the keep's outer wall.
-----Raven runs after Sol. Raven's eyes scan the keep walls expecting a rain of arrows at any minute.
-----Both the young warrior and the hunter vanish through the shatter gate. Garrison pauses momentarily watching the storm priest.
-----Within a few moments, the air is split by another sound as still another thunderbolt strikes the outer wall.
-----"Mistress!" Caranip says glaring at the blasted gate doors, "Your young master Sol and the other man with him! They can't face those monsters on their own!"
-----With a quick and complex casting, there suddenly appears in front of Sarah three bird sized creatures. Oddly, the creatures look a bit creepy. Though they are the size of birds, their wings are veined like those of bats. Four insect legs extend from their underbody and their beaks are very long and thin like an abomination of a hummingbird. Their eyes do not do much for their appearance as they are big and bug-like.
-----Unfortunately, at this point, Sol and Raven have already disappeared through the gate so Sarah no longer has a line of sight view of them.
-----Lovan is seen dashing for the gate to enter within the walls and Garrison is hobbling forth in that direction too.
-----Sarah, feeling miserable under all the wind and rain squints but can't make out where Sol and Raven have gotten to. Timidly, and hoping to draw as little attention as possible, the sorceress nudges Marlexana forward so that she can see into the courtyard.
-----Raven follows after Sol, finding the young warrior standing in the courtyard. There, amazingly it is deserted of anything living. In the grassy and partly dirt courtyard, a dozen dead orc bodies are scattered. Quite a few stones here from the damaged wall have fallen also. Patches of ground in the courtyard are now turning to mud in the heavy rain.
-----The keep itself lies just twenty yards away from where they stand. Its walls are dark from the precipitation and the arrow slits near the door seem a bit menacing.
-----Looking back up to the interior of the wall, Raven sees that it is devoid of guards or any other signs of life.
-----Furious at being denied an opponent, Sol yells at the top of his lungs, "NO ONE CAN DENY THE RAGER!" Dismounting, the Gorian rushes the keep's doorway, seeking to gain entry.
-----Suddenly, a growl of angry voices is heard from inside. As Sol nears the doorway, a hissing is heard as four arrows dart out from the two arrow slits beside the portal. All of the projectiles miss fortunately with one bounding off the chain beneath Sol's surcoat.
-----In the next moment, another earth shattering sound is heard as still another thunderbolt strikes the outer wall.
-----With a savage blow Raven cuts the head off one of the dead orcs. Raven holds the head by the hair and then without fear walks towards the inner keep and yells something in orcish. As Raven speaks, he shakes the head and points a sword at the inner keep.
-----More arrows bolt from the arrow slits with one coming close to striking Sol. In response to Raven, a chorus of angry jeers is heard from within.
-----Just then Lovan enters the courtyard, his eyes focused as he approaches the Hunter and the Gorian. "Prepare," he tells them, "for as the bolt comes forth, you shall be the bringers of rage!"
-----The storm priest then points his warhammer toward the keep's door as he beckons toward the sky.