Encounter at Shadow Castle Keep Parts 1 and 2

[CGM3]

OUT OF CHARACTER

If Kushak drops his weapon before Cyrius attacks, Cyrius will honor the lizardman's surrender and not strike.

 

[JPetherick]

Worrel advances towards Kushak. As he does, he bellows at the lizardman, "Surrender! Or die!"

OUT OF CHARACTER

Move - 20 ft to 5042 Standard - Intimidate

 

[patransom]

Round 12

Prost quietly comments, “We will learn nothing of this assault if he is dead.” He rides Fluffy within 30' of Kushak and shouts We should consider giving quarter to the lizard leader if he yelds to us... Lizardman! Do you surrender? Kushak (whose name Prost doesn't actually know) pays no attention to the halfling and shows no sign of understanding the question.

Marcus scans the battlefield seeing all the lizard folk in withdraw he admires his neat little wand and stows it.

Worrel advances towards Kushak. As he does, he bellows at the lizardman, Surrender! Or die! Unlike Prost, Worrel does manage to gain Kushak's attention. The lizardfolk does seem frightened, but shows no sign of surrendering [Kushak is shaken for 1 round].

“Most of the lizards 'round here don't speak our language,”Tex comments, “Even if we got him to surrender, I don't know how we'd get any information out of him.” To emphasize his point, Tex fires two arrows at Kushak. The spin of the second arrow burrows a hole into Kushak, whipping blood in every direction [10 hp damage].

Feeling a little more confident after the last swing, Lola chases after L10. The lizard regrets not having withdrawn farther, but only for a moment just before Lola strikes it down [7 hp damage kills L10 because the DM didn't remember you can move double your speed when withdrawing].

Seeing Kushak has not dropped his weapon, Cyrius' pride demands he conclude his attack with another swing at the lizardman. A final, unrepentant spin, leaves Kushak slumped on the ground, quite dead [16 hp damage ends Kushak].

L22 runs away at top speed, although he remains within range of missile fire.

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Tried to make it clear above, but in case it requires more explanation: Prost's diplomacy was ineffective because Kushak didn't understand him. For the same reason, Worrel's intimidate only worked as a demoralize attempt, instead of a demand for surrender. Keeping this in combat order in case you plan to try to finish off L22. Spells in effect Bless: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects, 4.0 min left Round 13 1. Evan Prost: unloaded slingstaff readied, 12 +1 bullets left total 2. Fluffly: 1 hp damage 3. Marcus Tilsworth: nothing readied, 42 bolts left 4. Worrel: MW longsword readied, MW composite longbow dropped at 5849, 38 arrows left, 16 hp damage 5. Texudus TreeBender: MW composite longbow readied, 23 arrows left 6. Lola: short sword +1 readied, crossbow dropped at 4752, 49 bolts left, 20 hp damage 7. Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: shield and charged mind blade readied, MW light crossbow dropped at 5141, 17 bolts left, 2 hp damage 8. Shesht (S): DEAD 9. Big Viper Snake (V): FLED 10. Kushak (K): DEAD 11. Lizardfolk (L1-28): 21 dead 12. Shadow Castle Keep Soldiers (S1-10)

[kabkal]

Lola will move up to join the rest of the group. Once there, unless someone is going after the fleeing lizardman, she will give up her two Lesser Restorations and cast CMW on herself and Worrel.

Rolled in order mentioned above:
for self
for Worrel

[smeltdm]

Prost comments...“We should hail the fort, and search the corpses and lizardmens encampments for clues on whom is responsible for this”

[Duniagdra]

“If y'all wish to search the lizardfolk for clues, I'll go to the fort to get down to what they know of all this.”

[CGM3]

Cyrius will search the lizardman bodies.

[kabkal]

Once healing is done, Lola will assist in the searching of the bodies.

[smeltdm]

Prost & Fluffy search the lizardman's camps...

OUT OF CHARACTER

Fluffy has scent, but since he is not train search...don't see how that would work

 

[JPetherick]

Worrel retrieves his bow and stands guard while the others are searching the bodies of the lizardmen. Once things are gathered together, Worrel prays to request a small bit of power. Once granted, Worrel will scan the corpses and gathered items for signs of evil.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Detect Evil - 60 ft cone

 

[patransom]

OUT OF CHARACTER

Sorry for the delay

 

The party gathers their dropped gear and Lola provides some healing. Inspection of the lizardfolk corpses turns up the following:

• The gear carried by the lizardfolk is crude and of little value, except for the clubs formerly carried by Kushak and Shest. These weapons are finely crafted, possibly valuable
• Shesht the spellcasting lizard also has two wands and a potion on her corpse
• Together, Shesht and Kushak are also carrying a few random coins, totaling 51 cp, 58 sp, and 56 gp

Worrel detects no evil on or around any of the gear or corpses.

While the rest of the party searches the bodies, Marcus approaches the fort. He observes that the front door to the keep looks like it has been broken open and hastily repaired, boarded up from inside so that it is more of a crude barricade than a door.

From atop the battlements, a soldier hails him, “Ahoy there! You're the wizard what was throwin' them fireballs and such, right? Lucky we are that you showed when you did. Them lizards was lookin' to make another rush on the gate and we's runnin' out of arrows up here. Not to mention bein' down a few men from the last breach!”

ACTIVE EFFECTS

1. Evan Prost: 12 +1 bullets left 2. Fluffly: 1 hp damage 3. Marcus Tilsworth: 42 bolts left 4. Worrel: 38 arrows left, 5 hp damage 5. Texudus TreeBender: 23 arrows left 6. Lola: 49 bolts left, 2 hp damage 7. Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: 17 bolts left, 2 hp damage

[smeltdm]

Prost moves over to Tex and whispers,..Hey Tex, your from these parts, right? Should we ask about consulting with this witch, Marzena, or wait for Penkawr to return?

[Duniagdra]

“Timing is everything it seems. Mind opening up and helping clean up out here? What brought about this attack?”

[patransom]

Prost moves over to Tex and whispers,..Hey Tex, your from these parts, right? Should we ask about consulting with this witch, Marzena, or wait for Penkawr to return?

Tex replies, “Unless he's got another of them teleport scrolls, it'll be a couple days before Penkawr gets back. Might as well go ahead and ask about the witch.”

[JPetherick]

“None of these items are evil,” says Worrel to his companions.

Worrel follows Marcus to the fort, wanting to know the reasons for the lizardmen assault.

[kabkal]

Once Lola is done, she will gather her stuff (crossbow included) and head towards the fort. She will take the wands and potion if no one else takes them, just to make sure it all goes with us.

[CGM3]

Cyrius retrieves his crossbow and joins the others as they head for the keep.

[patransom]

“Aye, seems safe enough now. We can open up for 'ya,” the man on the battlements replies to Marcus' request. It takes a while for the soldiers inside to unbarricade the doors. By the time they are finished, the rest of the party has gathered at the front of the fort.

The man from the battlements steps out and introduces himself, “I'm Corporal Luben. I guess I'm in charge now. I don't know why these lizards attacked. Been years since they did anything this organized. Maybe something to do with the rumors of terrible things deeper in the swamp. Unkillable zombies and such. The witch had some ideas about those, but...”

From the doorway, another soldier interrupts, “What about me brother, Corporal?”

“I was just getting to that, Kavlim!” says Luben as he turns back to the party. “Afraid we're going to have to beg for some more help from you lot. When the lizards breached the doors last night they also dragged four of ours off into the swamp, including Kavlim's brother. There's not enough of us left to send out a search party and still guard the keep.”

“I don't know if our comrades still alive, but if they are, I'd hate to leave them out there in the hands of those flesh-eaters. Can you help us?”

ACTIVE EFFECTS

1. Evan Prost: 12 +1 bullets left 2. Fluffly: 1 hp damage 3. Marcus Tilsworth: 42 bolts left 4. Worrel: 38 arrows left, 5 hp damage 5. Texudus TreeBender: 23 arrows left 6. Lola: 49 bolts left, 2 hp damage 7. Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: 17 bolts left, 2 hp damage

[Duniagdra]

“Yeah. I suppose we might assist in this search.”
Marcus looks to his comrades for agreement or denial.

OUT OF CHARACTER

how long would it take to assemble all the fragments of the gate and begin mending it?

 

[kabkal]

Lola agrees to go help find their friends.

[JPetherick]

“Do you need anything here?”, asks Worrel. “Or would you prefer that we immediately seek your companions?”

Worrel prepares to rescue the kidnapped soldiers with his companions.

[CGM3]

Cyrius will ask for some extra crossbow quarrels, if they can spare any, before setting out to find the missing soldiers.

[smeltdm]

Prost comments yes we can help...“Fluffy may even be able to help. Do you have anything that may have his sent on?”

OUT OF CHARACTER

Yes I know Fluffy, can't track but this might be a training exercise with him

 

[patransom]

“Thanks so much for your help!” says Luben, “The lizardfolk took our friends during the breach last night, so they've got almost a day head start into the swamp. I think it would be best to hurry after them.”

“The only other task at hand, other than repairing the doors, is to get a message to the garrison at Rastingdrung about this attack. I guess I'll have to find a man willing to make the trip alone...” he looks around worriedly at his few soldiers.

He replies to Cyrius, “Sorry, no we have no crossbow bolts, and scarcely any arrows left either...”

When Prost mentions finding something for Fluffy to smell, one of the soldiers quickly retreats into the keep and returns with a lacy stocking. “Got this from Marzena's quarters. The witch uses lots of perfumes and such, so it ought to be plenty smelly for your critter to track her,” says the man.

Presented with the sock, Fluffy wags his tail, sniffs it excitedly. Then, before anyone can stop him, he grabs it in his mouth and swallows it whole. He looks quite pleased with himself.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Sorry, couldn't help myself. Eating the sock is exactly what my dog would do... ElectroZman will be joining us to take over Tex, just in time for his ranger skills to become important. Welcome aboard.

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

1. Evan Prost: 12 +1 bullets left 2. Fluffly: 1 hp damage 3. Marcus Tilsworth: 42 bolts left 4. Worrel: 38 arrows left, 5 hp damage 5. Texudus TreeBender: 23 arrows left 6. Lola: 49 bolts left, 2 hp damage 7. Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: 17 bolts left, 2 hp damage

[smeltdm]

OUT OF CHARACTER

Sorry, couldn't help myself. Eating the sock is exactly what my dog would do... ElectroZman will be joining us to take over Tex, just in time for his ranger skills to become important. Welcome aboard.

 

Yea, my sons 110lb black lab, he would do the same

[Duniagdra]

“It's all good. Word has already been delivered by this time for reinforcementsto be dispatched ASAP.
If it's still needed when we return I might be able to mend the gate whole if there's enough of it's pieces that can be found. I'd just need know it's all here so I could figure out the time. I expect reinforcements should be here before our return though.”

After mention of supplies, Marcus agrees that taking inventory before departure would be a good move. His stomach grumbles.

[ElectroZman]

OUT OF CHARACTER

OUT OF CHARACTER ElectroZman will be joining us to take over Tex, just in time for his ranger skills to become important. Welcome aboard.   Hello all. I'm very honored to join this long running thread. I've been following it off and on over the years. I think I'm caught up.

 

Tex grins at Fluffy, “Good dog.”

Then he looks to Corporal Luben, “Lemme git this straight. You sez they breached the doors last night, kidnapped Marzena and four of you men? How many of the green skins were there? Shore but she didnnt go without no fight? Any ideas where they took em?”

To the rest of the group he says, “Whenever yer ready, we can go. I know these swamps well, but we don't want to let the trail get too cold.”

[smeltdm]

Prost gives Fluffy a couple treats...“Hungry hey! Fluffy and I are ready...” Prost comments...

[kabkal]

Lola says “Lead on.” and she prepares to go and rescue the ones that have been kidnapped.

[JPetherick]

Worrel nods, agreeing with his companions assessment.

“Do you know anything about the swamp or, even better, have a map? Forewarned is forearmed, and avoiding false trails will allow us to rescue your companions more rapidly”, asks Worrel.

“For that matter, have these lizardmen raided and stolen people in the past?”