Session 10

As you begin to set up camp for the night Xigren begs you sit down and listen to something that may be of utmost importance as far as the black dragon is concerned. He reveals that as part of his reclusive background, his research leads him into an erstwhile obsession with dragons. He reveals his research to you all, along with rumours he has collected, and hands over an important diary entry he made whilst undertaking his studies. He continues to explain his knowledge of the Cult of the Dragon, and the myth of the two young black dragon vying for territory and empire in this very region, If the two, you have no idea which you have met, or which dragon you might be advancing in their goal to seek dominance over this area.   You decide to head straight towards the Bullywug lair that the dragon has commanded you to clear as the test for you. You decide to head straight for it, and on the way, you notice a man's legs sticking out from a marsh/bush, along with gurgling sounds. Vexx, being the noble cleric he is, decides to approach the man to see if he can render assistance and is attacked by a shambling mound!   Vexx decides to cast Aid, and Johama leaps into action, determined to regain the loss of his reputation that he suffered during the fight with the pirates, something the party will never let him forget, there is no sliding deck here!   With that challenge Johama launches an attack that any sword master would be proud of, and slices into the shambling mound, stopping it in its tracks doing an enormous amount of damage in the process. Aemi also gets in on the action and rolls a critical hit with her Guiding Bolt spell, again, doing an enormous amount of damage to the mindless creature. The party is finally starting to work together as a cohesive combat team.   Not to be outdone, Johama again launches a riposte and critically injures the creature again and again inflicts an enormous amount of damage on the creature, which crumples to the ground, unable to take such punishment, it now lies dead on the marshy floor.   You examine the legs of the man which initially drew you too the creature in the first place, and see that he is unfortunately very much dead. You decide to examine the body and find a pouch containing 7gp along with a Philtre of Love denoted with the name "Lenore the Red". You also find several letters that seem to be addressed to a local village called Elmshire. This must have been a messenger who met an unfortunate end as he was making his way to the village.   You continue and find three paths, all leading off into similar directions, but you are unsure which one to take. Beza uses her eagle familiar and Aemi turns into a giant lizard to help reconnoitre the pathways ahead.   As Aemi traverses the left path, she finds a dwarf, cleaning pelts and cooking food. She then retreats and decides to head down the middle path and discovers a trapper’s trap, which she can go around and continues on for about another 45 minutes and the pathway opens up to a small body of water containing a small island and a dilapidated castle. She also sees a wooden causeway spanning the water leading to the castle and recognises this as the Bullywug stronghold that the dragon has asked you to cleanse. The dragon does not abode these filthy creatures in his, or her, future domain.   Aemi circumvents the lake and notices that there is a sally port at the rear of the castle but there is not pathway or bridge on this side of the water. Anyone who wants to enter from this side would need to enter via the surrounding water and be exposed to whatever it contains.   You all return and decide to hatch out a plan. You decide that Beza is going to for a swim to the sally port at the rear of the castle and make a distraction whilst Xigran casts a sleep spell on the guards who are stationed near the front gate, at which time you will assault the keep.   Beza swims across the lake to the rear of the sally door without incident and makes a huge noise at which time Xigran casts a sleep spell on the guards at the front gate. Both front gate guards drop to the ground, and you start your charge across the causeway, however both Xigran and Johama lose their footing on the rickety bridge and fall loudly into the cold water below.   With loud splashes they both fall into the icy water, which, thankfully, is not too deep and can easily be walked in, whilst keeping their heads above water. There is a familiar creature sitting on a large toad in the courtyard of the castle and both Xigran and Johama eventually make their way through the water, onto the bank and then onto dry land. You are much better prepared this time and the Bullywug sitting upon the giant toad is no match for you this time, preparation is key!   Beza fights her own battle towards the rear of the keep and successfully defeats the Bullywug chasing her. She climbs onto the roof of the keep and starts to rain arrows down on those Bullywugs still alive below.   You start to search the rooms of the keep and find that the largest room in the keep sits the self-proclaimed "King" of the Bullywugs, with his foul crown and regalia, almost comical in his appearance. You also notice two human children tied up in the room, desperate and scared, obviously meant for sacrifice by the King and his minions.   You launch into battle with the King and his minions and after a hard-fought battle, you defeat the king and the Bullywugs that were guarding him. You prepared well and fought in the doorway so as to protect your flanks, a tactic that you will use often going forward. You untie the two human children, and they tell you that they are from a nearby village and were captured whilst out foraging for supplies for their parents several days ago. They look malnourished and you do your best to help them in any way that you can.   You search the room and find two items of definite interest, the crown that the King was wearing along with a well-kept helmet sitting on a shelf nearby.   You continue your search of the area and find a strange metal room, clean, with a chest located on the opposite side of the room and you notice this as an obvious trap. Beza successfully disarms the trap, and you find a further 100gp, Ring of Feather Fall, ornate, silver and etched with a feather. Upon searching the King's chamber, you find a hollowed-out flagstone with an animal hide containing the following items, an amulet, two potions of healing and a vial of poison.   You decide that this is a good place to take stock, and as such, fortify yourselves and prepare for the journey onwards.