Session 16: "Encounter at Blackwall Keep"

The Ratcatchers begin their trek south through the Cairn Hills towards Blackwall Keep. The trip is rather peaceful and the weather is nice to boot. About midday the Ratcatchers approach a group of Dwarves, each with large bags on their back. They seem friendly to the our Ratcatchers and a couple of nods later both groups leave eachother alone. As our Ratcatchers continue their travel into the afternoon Allustan Neff mentions that they should rest at a location known as Shank's Rest. It was once a farm owned by a man named Shank who eventually made enough gold to move to Cloudbreach. He abandoned his property in doing so and now Shank's Rest is a common rest point for travellers in the area as it is a solid stone house with an intact roof. Upon arrival the Ratcatchers find they are not alone here. Here they meet a small group of Halfling farmers who are bringing in wheat to Cragmire for sale. They are friendly and even share some of their liquor with our Ratcatchers.   The next morning the Ratcatchers bid their farewells and set forth with Allustan once more to make the final leg of their journey. However about an hour away from the keep Allustan comments that it is weird that they have yet to spot a patrol of guards. Axto wonders if it is suspicious which Allustan agrees to. They make haste with weapons at the ready just in case. Upon arriving at a hill where they can spot the keep the Ratcatchers quickly notice that it is under siege and the smell of smoke and blood is in the air. A small hoard of Lizardfolk are in the process of trying to take Blackwall Keep! Allustan seeing this jumps off his horse and tells the party to try what they can to help the guards of Blackwall Keep and that he is going to go and get reinforcements from Cragmire. Axto wonders how he is going to do that without a horse when Allustan pulls out a scroll and says he keeps this in case of emergency. Well this is an emergency in his books. With Allustan teleporting back to Cragmire our Ratcatchers are tasked in trying to thin the Lizardfolk.     The Ratcatchers manage to catch the first group of Lizardfolk by surprise and attack them while their back is turned. They quickly mow through these Lizardfolk and manage to catch a second group by surprise as well. During this battle the guards of Blackwall Keep spot our Ratcatchers and send a message tied to an arrow asking for their assistance, as multiple guards are confirmed dead, some of have been kidnapped and the Lizardfolk are eating the dead. The Ratcatchers try to sneak forward to take a third group after receiving this message are attacked by a Lizardfolk caster and his defenders, who were drawn to the sounds of battle in the back ranks. The Ratcatchers take on two groups at the same time. They manage to easily take the Lizardfolk. Now just two groups of five remain, and both of them are at the solid oak door of Blackwall Keep.