Session 31 - Chapter 6 - Castle in the Swamp - Part 1

Hello & Welcome!

Thankful for a bit of dry land finally, the weary adventurers took the opportunity in the shadow of the castle to get cleaned up and have a quick short rest to use some hit dice to recover some HP. They snuck away into a clearing in the trees so as not to be noticed by any passersby.

They quietly discussed the plan on how to approach. The agreed that the best way is to just try and blag their way through. The Lizardfolk they encountered in the Swamp seemed to not take notice and perhaps they would be able to befriend some more based on what they learned from Snapjaw. And if what he said was true, hopefully the Bullywugs would also not take notice either. They would have to try.

As they were resting, they heard a group of Lizardfolk heading down the path towards the swamp. They let them pass - they felt it would be strange to come up to them from the woods on the trail and startle them.

Once they were gone, they made their way back to the trail and headed towards the castle to face the Cultists.

The thinning vegetation, revealed a shadow darker than the surrounding gloom. Looming out of the grey fog was Castle Naerytar. It did not look like a fortress built so much as a stone corpse half-buried in the swamp. The structure wass ancient, its once-sharp lines softened by centuries of moss and erosion. The four saw a squat, rectangular keep flanked by crumbling towers, all constructed of dark, slick stone that seemed to sweat with dampness.

Heading up to the main gate they saw two main camp areas. 

On one side there were a dozen or more huts are placed haphazardly on the boggy ground. Each was shaped like a slightly flattened dome. The doorways were open and they were made of reeds woven through a lattice, with a generous layer of mud, grass, and dung smeared over the whole thing. Mud, swamp water, and muck slopped between the huts and flowed in and out of the low, open doorways.

On the other side there were longhouses made from reeds bound into long, thick bundles and bent into upside-down, U-shaped ribs. The spaces between the ribs were latticed and thatched with more reeds. Each longhouse had a single, woven door in the center of one end wall. The construction technique used in the longhouses was ingenious.

The four headed towards the more boggy one to see what they could find. Torsion called out "Hello? We are the new recruits just arrived and are curious to where we should report?"

No response initially but then shortly there was the familiar BLEP BLEP BLOP BLIP BLEP sound coming from the closet hut. A Bullywug head poked out and continued BLEP BLEP BLEPPP and pointed a finger towards the caste and ducked back inside, seemingly generally indifferent.

Not wanting to start an all out confrontation in the camp area of the Bullywugs, they switched directions and headed towards the other camp area which was closest to the main extract to the castle. 

As they approached, they saw the main gates were wide open, two Bullywugs lazily standing guard, limbs all akimbo. 

The other campsite was more basic, the huts far more simply constructed. The tracks in the ground looked like the Lizardfolk and likely the troop they saw earlier had recently left from here. 

They decided to not snoop around there either and head towards the gatehouse. 

The two guard Bullywugs didn't even look in their direction as they walked passed. They just continued to laze away - likely they were accustomed to different Cultists coming and going. 

They stood in the Barbican, a massive stone archway that once held iron gates. Now, only rusted hinges remained, looking like broken ribs jutting from the stone. Above them, the stonework was pitted and scarred. They heard more of the same wet, guttural croaking of Bullywugs echoing, distorting into something sounding terrifyingly like laughter. The inside was dimly lit by dirty oil lamps. 

The gatehouse lead to a long causeway heading up. The causeway was some 60-75ft long and crossed the moat to the castle’s outer ward. Wooden planks have been laid to prevent those other than bullywugs sinking into the thick mud. The castle was built on the top of a rock formation and the hallway led up to the main structure. There were arrow slits spaced evenly as they went up the staircase but they met no one on the way up.

At the main landing they saw some Lizardfolk training two Giant Lizards while more Bullywugs stood idly on the side, seemingly amused by the site of the Lizardfolk working / struggling to keep the beasts in check.

Again, no one gave them a second glance. Torsion again started to try to explain but one of the Bullywugs interrupted him with a BLEP and pointed a similarly gangly finger towards the door of the nearest tower and returned his attention to the struggling Lizardfolk. 

Torsion lent into one of the Lizardfolk and whispered in Draconic, "Be ready, we come with support from Snapjaw and it is time to rise up." The Lizardfolk looked back at Torsion with a quizzical looked and confusedly replied, "Snapjaw, what?" and eyed the four as they walked passed.

Hoping they would be able to keep up the ruse and find some clues, they entered the base of the first tower.

Inside here they found a basic waiting room with a staircase leading upwards. They closed the door in the hopes to soften any noise that may come from what was to come at the top of the tower and not alert the Bullywugs.

They heard voices discussing quietly as they walked up the stairs. Chard went first.

At the top of the stairs they saw four Cultists in black leathers working on organising items in the cabinets and book cases and someone supervising them.

The one who appeared in charge looked up from his ledger, eyed Chard, placed the book on the table in front of him and calmly asked, "And who might you be?"

Chard smiled and replied, "Yes, hello, I'm Dibse and I and the rest of us are the new recruits just arrived from the Roadhouse." He tried his best to come across in the most authentic way possible. 

The other replied, "I see. They call me Dralmorrer Borngray. Who are the rest and what news from the Roadhouse?"

Chard continued, "These here are Vignette, Popp, and Grimler - we all just travelled through the swamp so please be excusing our appearance - we've not had a chance to adorn the fine garb the rest are wearing." He added a wry smile to help with the delivery.

Chard was not sure it was working but he continued nevertheless, "Bad news from the Roadhouse sir. Bogluck has been found out and had to flee and we reckon the route to bring the treasure has been disrupted. We ourselves barely made it out, sir, Cult Leader, sir."

Dralmorrer replied, "That is most interesting news. Shame about Bogluck. Are you certain? He was always very careful." He paused for a moment, stood up from the table, and continued, now far more dubiously, "And do you know what else is a shame, Recruit? It is a shame that I don't believe you."

Chard, taken aback, answered quickly, "Oh no, I assure you, we are the new Recruits. Why would you not believe us?"

Dralmorrer straightened his robes and softly replied, "Well simply put, your names and descriptions don't match what I was given. And with that he stepped back and started to prepare a spell, starting initiative. Seemed Chard was't deceptive enough after all ...

 The four other Cultists dropped what they were organising and unsheathed their scimitars. Dralmorrer continued casting his spell and as he finished the actions, a large Thunderwave erupted with a thunderous boom but luckily the heroes were able to hold their ground. 

Dafnae thought to herself that likely there were others who just heard that so things were about to get far more interesting as she swung around and quickly took out one of the unprepared Cultists, causing high Sneak Attack damage.

The battle was swift, the caster getting off one or two more spells but his supporting Cultists fell quickly and Chard let out a satisfying smile when he made the killing blow with his Glaive across Dralmorrer's back. He hoped Bel would be pleased.

The Heroes did a quick check around the book cases and found a few scrolls and potions which they packed away. They would check them later but shortly after the quick encounter ended, the bell tower started to ring, presumably in alarm.

Dafnae said to her friends, "I guess the others heard that ... Let's get ready for more ..."

They rushed down the stairs in order to not get ambushed inside the tower.

Once all at the door, they prepared to continue the assault with the Bullywugs. 

Pipp flung the door open and stepped back, allowing Torsion to engage first.

The Bullywugs were not prepared for the sudden assault. Torsion smashed the first one right in the face in the doorway, dropping it to the muddy floor and in a swift motion pointed his Hammer at the other nearby one who was engulfed by the Sacred Flame and the second one fell, burnt to a crisp by the radiant damage.

The others poured out of the doorway and engaged the Bullywugs. 

The Lizardfolk moved back and dropped the restraints holding the Giant Lizards back.  

Torsion called out to them that now was the time in Draconic. But the Lizardfolk just retreated into room in the corner. 

Annoyed, the Adventurers continued to battle the Bullywugs. Their nonchalantness was quickly replaced with erratic battle. Seemed they were not used to having to do any defending. 

As they exchanged blows, the four heard more BLEPS and the slapping footfall of Bullywug reinforcements racing up the Causeway. And the Giant Lizards, now free of their handlers, turned their attention to the closest ones which happened to be Bullywugs.

The Heroes were prepared for the reinforcements and met them in the chokepoint of the Causeway entrance so as not to get overwhelmed but a few of them did manage to leap over and join the fray. 

The Lizardfolk sunk their teeth into some of the Bullywugs too and then turned their attention to the next closest combatant and this time it was the Pipp and Dafnae and they had to cut them down with a few swift blows.

Bullywugs fell, letting out their dying croaks. And the few remaining, realising they were overwhelmed, began to retreat. Chard though managed to down the last one retreating before it reached the corner heading down the Causeway with a final Eldritch Blast.

Dead Bullywugs all around, the four headed through the doorway that the Lizardfolk had entered and closed the door behind them. They would at least have protection here, at least they hoped.

The bell was still ringing, announcing the warning.

The Lizardfolk were huddled into the corner and worrying looked at the Party. They had retreated into a what appeared to be a crude Forge. A large furnace dominated the centre of this chamber, which was pleasantly warm thanks to a bed of coals glowing dully. Various accoutrements of the blacksmith’s trade were scattered through the room, and many very poorly made metal items were heaped in the northwest corner.

Torsion tried to explain, in Draconic, "We are here to help. We met Snapjaw and he will be coming with help to defeat the Bullywugs.

The leader of the group replied in Draconic, "This your fight, not our fight. We only fight if Snapjaw arrives. We not know who you are but we glad you kill the Hoppers."

They exchanged a few more phrases and agreed that the Lizardfolk were safe and that they would not get involved in what the Party was doing. 

And so the Adventurers slowly exited the room and prepared themselves to head deeper into the castle.

The ringing of the bell stopped. There was an eerie silence, at least for the moment. They had to tread carefully ...

Until next time ...