The night is uneventful, and everyone is able to get a long rest. Morning light filters through the leaves of the forest trees around you. It was rather cold last night and the sun is a welcomed sight.
After breaking camp, please roll Survival DC 15 to see if you can keep on following the wagon tracks.
The night is uneventful, and everyone is able to get a long rest. Morning light filters through the leaves of the forest trees around you. It was rather cold last night and the sun is a welcomed sight.
Ixsas takes the last watch, and is happy to see morning and the return of Kossuth's warming light. He prays and prepares spells for the day, expecting perhaps more combat if they catch up to the wagon today.
After breaking camp, please roll Survival DC 15 to see if you can keep on following the wagon tracks.
((OOC: I think that Ixsas has the best survival bonus, so I'll go ahead and roll. I assume that Krackle is riding his carriage behind them, but I'm not sure whether I can can include help from Serge or Zeds in following the tracks.))
The party pressed onward and at times the tracks vanish into the slurping mud, but Ixsas is able to discern their winding path. After 5 hours of travel the wagon tracks lead to an old Castle. with throngs of Lizardfolk moving about the area outside the castle. Closer to the castle you can see 4 dragon cultist standing guard.
Current Time
11:00 AM
History Check DC 18
On Pass you know that this is Castle Naerytar that was created by an Elven Wizard many centuries ago who abandoned it after the swamp claimed this area. Afterwards the academics from the Acadamy of Stargazers took over and built an observatory before mysteriously vanishing.
I'm not sure whether I can can include help from Serge or Zeds in following the tracks.)) Ixsas - Survival: 21
((OOC: Apparently, no help needed!))
Ixsas seems to have expected success: "With the morning, Kossuth's Light returns to our world. Just as the Light burns away the concealing veil of night, it reveals the way."
"So what's the play, here?" Serge asks quietly, looking to Ixsas, Zeds and Krackle. "Just ride up to the Castle and act like we belong? Maybe try the bluff with the egg again?"
He looks out at the small army spread out before them. "I'm all for a little justifiable violence, but it almost looks like too much to handle with a direct assault."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
History - Nat 1 - Zeds knows nothing about no castle. He's not even sure this is a castle. Isn't this more of a tower??
How many is "many lizardfolk"? We talking a handful or a village worth? There seems to be about 14 huts in the other area... Assuming two residents per hut and that is more than we want to tackle head on...
"Living so close together in their own almost penned off areas? Does that seem natural to you all?" Zeds asks in a quiet voice, trying to ensure they aren't spotted. "I'm not looking to take on either group all by our lonesome... Perhaps we could try around back? Or perhaps figure out some way to send the two species to fighting one another?"
((OOC: Based on the image posted above, it looks like the castle is older, with crumbling masonry. I'm going to go with that...))
Ixsas is surprised at what they have found deep in the swamp. He says, "This isn't a mere camp or transfer station for the stolen goods. It seems like we've found a major base for the cult's operations. It is a more difficult task, but maybe it gives us an opportunity to strike a bigger blow against the cult!"
Ixsas agrees with Zeds's assessment: "No, even after a night's rest, we cannot simply attack and overwhelm them. But I don't think that the cult built this castle. It looks like they just took over a ruin." Ixsas points out the spots where masonry of the walls seems to be crumbling. He explains what he means: "Maybe there is just a small garrison of cultists inside, and they just pay the lizardfolk and bullywugs to do the manual work and patrol the area?"
Regarding their options, he says, "I do not think it would be wise to reveal ourselves right away. Kossuth shines his Light in their eyes, blinding them to our presence. We have some time to observe and explore while we remain hidden and unknown. Perhaps you could sneak closer, Zeds, and find some unguarded or secret way inside? If not, then we'll have to trust that Zeds can convince them that we're cult members, as Serge said. But whatever we do, we must do it soon. If Bog Luck sent anyone after us, they could be here in a couple of hours with news of what we did at Carnath House. It could put the whole castle on high alert."
Ixsas's suggestion:
Remain hidden while Zeds (and Krackle?) sneak closer to look for an unguarded way into the castle.
Ixsas and Serge could remain where they are, ready to come to the rescue if Zeds and Krackle get caught.
They'll watch the castle and try to learn what they can from a distance.
If a cutlist from Carnath House approaches, they may be able to intercept them and prevent them from reaching the castle.
Either that, or the whole group falls back and makes a big circle, approaching again from the back of the castle, as Zeds suggested.
Ixsas will spend a few minutes scanning the castle and the creatures milling about, looking for clues about this place (the patterns of any guard patrols, how many guards seem to be inside the castle, the relationships between the bullywugs and the lizardfolk or between those groups and the cultists in the castle) and anything that might help the party get inside (an unguarded entrance or a gap in the walls big enough to squeeze through).
Investigation: 25 (in game log) (Ixsas has the same bonus in Perception if it should have been that skill.)
"I really like the idea of turning the two sets against one another but I think we'd need to be able to speak their languages in order to do so... While Krackle may be able to talk to the lizardfolk I have no idea what the others speak. Still..." Zeds pauses and considers for a minute.
"It would be risky. But could be very effective... Krackle? Just how much risk you willing to take?" Zeds asks before outlining his plan.
Basically it boils down to hiding Krackle's egg in or near the Bullywug's area. Krackle would then go to the Lizardfolk in a frenzy on how the others stole the dragon egg he was delivering to the castle! He could say when he protested they laughed and said they'd blame it on the stupid lizardbrains. Hopefully this could set the two groups against each other, specially if the Lizardfolk can find the egg. We would want to use the ensuing chaos to retrieve the egg, for Krackle's sake, and maybe pick off some easy targets while mostly staying hidden. Maybe we could then take on whichever side survived...
But of course we would need to keep an eye on the castle as well. There are at least 4 dragon cultists standing guard, who knows how many more inside. If they sent a force down to break up the fight that could be even more chaos than we want... But it seems like perhaps the quickest plan to enact?
((OOC: Heh. I hope Ixsas keeps up these solid skill checks when the party gets into the castle!))
Looking at the odd dome, Ixsas suddenly realizes what this castle must be! Ixsas says, "Oh! I overheard someone in one of the other caravan teams telling stories about the Mere of Dead Men when Serge and I were drinking whiskey up at Carnath House. He said that a few hundred years ago, an Elven Wizard built a castle somewhere nearby. Castle Naerytar. Over the years, the Mere of Dead Men grew. Once the swamp claimed the lands around the castle, the wizard abandoned it." He points at the domed tower and says, "I have seen domed towers like that in my homeland. They were used in Ilm al-falak. How would you say? The study of the crystal spheres? The men who study the stars in the night sky." Ixsas's tone shows that he thinks such men are wasting their lives. "But I remembered because the man back at Carnath House said that men from the 'Acadamy of Stargazers' took it over the abandoned Castle Naerytar for a time. They built that observatory tower in the castle. The man telling the story knew a laborer who helped construct the domed tower here...maybe his father? Or grandfather?"
Krackle listens to Zeds plan and clutches the egg a little tighter. "I uhhh... That is one plan." He says nervously looking down at the egg strapped to his chest. "I think though that the lizardfolk we met earlier dodnt seem to care much about the eggs safety when they were fighting us... I think the cultists would be much more protective of the egg..." He taps his chin a bit and paces. "What if you and I ride towards the cultists on Jr.. you put on that cultists mask and we try to claim that the lizardfolk stole or tried to steal the egg. I don't think the lizardfolk care about it but I bet the cultists would be really protective of it... they sure seemed protective of them when we took them in the first place."
Ixsas will spend a few minutes scanning the castle and the creatures milling about, looking for clues about this place (the patterns of any guard patrols, how many guards seem to be inside the castle, the relationships between the bullywugs and the lizardfolk or between those groups and the cultists in the castle) and anything that might help the party get inside (an unguarded entrance or a gap in the walls big enough to squeeze through).
Investigation: 25 (in game log) (Ixsas has the same bonus in Perception if it should have been that skill.)
((OOC: Before Ixsas says anything about the plan, I'm going to wait to see whether Ixsas learned anything useful from this check. He also has the same skill bonus for Insight if that makes more sense. If Ixsas observes anything that reveals the nature of the relationship between the bullywugs, lizardfolk, and/or the cultists, that might give Zeds and Krackle more leverage.))
"The Lizardfolk and Bullywugs can't be just a coincidence," Zeds points out in reply to Krackle. "Surely they are guards of some sort. I'm not sure we'd get to the castle without a fight. The masked rider's mask and the curved daggers may be enough of a disguise but there could be a password or something we just have no clue about..."
"I agree they are working together... I just feel like the cultists would value the egg more than the lizardfolk... so if we are trying to make one side fight the other... we should tell the cultists that the lizardfolk have betrayed our trust and tried to steal the egg." Krackle replies. "But we can try it either way.... and I suppose you are right that we don't know if they have any secret passwords... but I think giant lizard riding kobolds and men wearing those dragon masks are pretty rare outside of this dragon cult... I think it might be worth a shot."
Zeds listens and considers. Truthfully it's no more a long shot than his harebrained idea. "We could just wait til the coast seemed as clear as it's getting and then spur Junior on to full speed and try to blow past before they can stop us. A few loud magics or such might only help sell the idea that they were wrongfully trying to stop us?" He looks to Serge and Ixsas to see if they have thoughts or other ideas...
Serge just listens to the ideas, smiling. Truthfully he has no idea who is more likely to be suspected of trying to steal an egg - bullywugs or lizardfolk - and he doesn't know if these plans will work.
"Whatever you decide, just tell me my role to play. I've got your backs."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
How many is "many lizardfolk"? We talking a handful or a village worth? There seems to be about 14 huts in the other area... Assuming two residents per hut and that is more than we want to tackle head on...
((OOC: Agree. Need to know how many lizardfolk and bullywug we see. We can probably assume that some number are indoors, but if we see a score or more of both lizardfolk and bullywugs in plain sight, then we definitely don't want to end up in a direct fight with them.))
Ixsas prefers an approach where it's not quite so all-or-nothing, if possible. He worries that Zeds's and Krackle's ideas seem to put the whole party out in the open in the middle of all of these enemies: "If they do not fall for the ruse, then we could find ourselves surrounded by enemies on all sides."
For example, if Ixsas could spot a lizardfolk or bullywug who looks unhappy (e.g., makes rude gestures at the dragon cult members behind their backs), then maybe Krackle could first try to approach them as a fellow creature who is dissatisfied with the way the cultists treat him. We might be able to leverage that one creature's frustration with the cult to learn more about the castle, cause a more specific and directed diversion, or help get the party get into the castle without a big fight.
Alternatively, if we could find a bullywug or one of the lizardfolk who speaks Common, then then Ixsas could attempt a Suggestion to get that one to help us if he talk to it on its own. That might also work with one of the cult guards. At least if that fails, they'd just be facing a single enemy.
The night is uneventful, and everyone is able to get a long rest. Morning light filters through the leaves of the forest trees around you. It was rather cold last night and the sun is a welcomed sight.
After breaking camp, please roll Survival DC 15 to see if you can keep on following the wagon tracks.
Ixsas takes the last watch, and is happy to see morning and the return of Kossuth's warming light. He prays and prepares spells for the day, expecting perhaps more combat if they catch up to the wagon today.
((OOC: I think that Ixsas has the best survival bonus, so I'll go ahead and roll. I assume that Krackle is riding his carriage behind them, but I'm not sure whether I can can include help from Serge or Zeds in following the tracks.))
Ixsas - Survival: 21
The party pressed onward and at times the tracks vanish into the slurping mud, but Ixsas is able to discern their winding path. After 5 hours of travel the wagon tracks lead to an old Castle. with throngs of Lizardfolk moving about the area outside the castle. Closer to the castle you can see 4 dragon cultist standing guard.
Current Time
11:00 AM
History Check DC 18
On Pass you know that this is Castle Naerytar that was created by an Elven Wizard many centuries ago who abandoned it after the swamp claimed this area. Afterwards the academics from the Acadamy of Stargazers took over and built an observatory before mysteriously vanishing.
((OOC: Apparently, no help needed!))
Ixsas seems to have expected success: "With the morning, Kossuth's Light returns to our world. Just as the Light burns away the concealing veil of night, it reveals the way."
The party is 60 ft from area 1 on the left part of the map with the carriage hidden in some way.
Area 2 -3 you see many Lizardfolk moving about along with giant lizards in area 2.
Area 4 you see a scattering of huts made of straw and made with Bullywugs roaming about.
"So what's the play, here?" Serge asks quietly, looking to Ixsas, Zeds and Krackle. "Just ride up to the Castle and act like we belong? Maybe try the bluff with the egg again?"
He looks out at the small army spread out before them. "I'm all for a little justifiable violence, but it almost looks like too much to handle with a direct assault."
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
History - Nat 1 - Zeds knows nothing about no castle. He's not even sure this is a castle. Isn't this more of a tower??
How many is "many lizardfolk"? We talking a handful or a village worth? There seems to be about 14 huts in the other area... Assuming two residents per hut and that is more than we want to tackle head on...
"Living so close together in their own almost penned off areas? Does that seem natural to you all?" Zeds asks in a quiet voice, trying to ensure they aren't spotted. "I'm not looking to take on either group all by our lonesome... Perhaps we could try around back? Or perhaps figure out some way to send the two species to fighting one another?"
((OOC: Based on the image posted above, it looks like the castle is older, with crumbling masonry. I'm going to go with that...))
Ixsas is surprised at what they have found deep in the swamp. He says, "This isn't a mere camp or transfer station for the stolen goods. It seems like we've found a major base for the cult's operations. It is a more difficult task, but maybe it gives us an opportunity to strike a bigger blow against the cult!"
Ixsas agrees with Zeds's assessment: "No, even after a night's rest, we cannot simply attack and overwhelm them. But I don't think that the cult built this castle. It looks like they just took over a ruin." Ixsas points out the spots where masonry of the walls seems to be crumbling. He explains what he means: "Maybe there is just a small garrison of cultists inside, and they just pay the lizardfolk and bullywugs to do the manual work and patrol the area?"
Regarding their options, he says, "I do not think it would be wise to reveal ourselves right away. Kossuth shines his Light in their eyes, blinding them to our presence. We have some time to observe and explore while we remain hidden and unknown. Perhaps you could sneak closer, Zeds, and find some unguarded or secret way inside? If not, then we'll have to trust that Zeds can convince them that we're cult members, as Serge said. But whatever we do, we must do it soon. If Bog Luck sent anyone after us, they could be here in a couple of hours with news of what we did at Carnath House. It could put the whole castle on high alert."
Ixsas's suggestion:
Either that, or the whole group falls back and makes a big circle, approaching again from the back of the castle, as Zeds suggested.
Ixsas will spend a few minutes scanning the castle and the creatures milling about, looking for clues about this place (the patterns of any guard patrols, how many guards seem to be inside the castle, the relationships between the bullywugs and the lizardfolk or between those groups and the cultists in the castle) and anything that might help the party get inside (an unguarded entrance or a gap in the walls big enough to squeeze through).
Investigation: 25 (in game log)
(Ixsas has the same bonus in Perception if it should have been that skill.)
"I really like the idea of turning the two sets against one another but I think we'd need to be able to speak their languages in order to do so... While Krackle may be able to talk to the lizardfolk I have no idea what the others speak. Still..." Zeds pauses and considers for a minute.
"It would be risky. But could be very effective... Krackle? Just how much risk you willing to take?" Zeds asks before outlining his plan.
Basically it boils down to hiding Krackle's egg in or near the Bullywug's area. Krackle would then go to the Lizardfolk in a frenzy on how the others stole the dragon egg he was delivering to the castle! He could say when he protested they laughed and said they'd blame it on the stupid lizardbrains. Hopefully this could set the two groups against each other, specially if the Lizardfolk can find the egg. We would want to use the ensuing chaos to retrieve the egg, for Krackle's sake, and maybe pick off some easy targets while mostly staying hidden. Maybe we could then take on whichever side survived...
But of course we would need to keep an eye on the castle as well. There are at least 4 dragon cultists standing guard, who knows how many more inside. If they sent a force down to break up the fight that could be even more chaos than we want... But it seems like perhaps the quickest plan to enact?
((OOC: Oops! I missed the History DC check in the first post about the castle!))
Ixsas - History: 10
((OOC: Heh. I hope Ixsas keeps up these solid skill checks when the party gets into the castle!))
Looking at the odd dome, Ixsas suddenly realizes what this castle must be! Ixsas says, "Oh! I overheard someone in one of the other caravan teams telling stories about the Mere of Dead Men when Serge and I were drinking whiskey up at Carnath House. He said that a few hundred years ago, an Elven Wizard built a castle somewhere nearby. Castle Naerytar. Over the years, the Mere of Dead Men grew. Once the swamp claimed the lands around the castle, the wizard abandoned it." He points at the domed tower and says, "I have seen domed towers like that in my homeland. They were used in Ilm al-falak. How would you say? The study of the crystal spheres? The men who study the stars in the night sky." Ixsas's tone shows that he thinks such men are wasting their lives. "But I remembered because the man back at Carnath House said that men from the 'Acadamy of Stargazers' took it over the abandoned Castle Naerytar for a time. They built that observatory tower in the castle. The man telling the story knew a laborer who helped construct the domed tower here...maybe his father? Or grandfather?"
Krackle listens to Zeds plan and clutches the egg a little tighter. "I uhhh... That is one plan." He says nervously looking down at the egg strapped to his chest. "I think though that the lizardfolk we met earlier dodnt seem to care much about the eggs safety when they were fighting us... I think the cultists would be much more protective of the egg..." He taps his chin a bit and paces. "What if you and I ride towards the cultists on Jr.. you put on that cultists mask and we try to claim that the lizardfolk stole or tried to steal the egg. I don't think the lizardfolk care about it but I bet the cultists would be really protective of it... they sure seemed protective of them when we took them in the first place."
((OOC: Before Ixsas says anything about the plan, I'm going to wait to see whether Ixsas learned anything useful from this check. He also has the same skill bonus for Insight if that makes more sense. If Ixsas observes anything that reveals the nature of the relationship between the bullywugs, lizardfolk, and/or the cultists, that might give Zeds and Krackle more leverage.))
"The Lizardfolk and Bullywugs can't be just a coincidence," Zeds points out in reply to Krackle. "Surely they are guards of some sort. I'm not sure we'd get to the castle without a fight. The masked rider's mask and the curved daggers may be enough of a disguise but there could be a password or something we just have no clue about..."
"I agree they are working together... I just feel like the cultists would value the egg more than the lizardfolk... so if we are trying to make one side fight the other... we should tell the cultists that the lizardfolk have betrayed our trust and tried to steal the egg." Krackle replies. "But we can try it either way.... and I suppose you are right that we don't know if they have any secret passwords... but I think giant lizard riding kobolds and men wearing those dragon masks are pretty rare outside of this dragon cult... I think it might be worth a shot."
Zeds listens and considers. Truthfully it's no more a long shot than his harebrained idea. "We could just wait til the coast seemed as clear as it's getting and then spur Junior on to full speed and try to blow past before they can stop us. A few loud magics or such might only help sell the idea that they were wrongfully trying to stop us?" He looks to Serge and Ixsas to see if they have thoughts or other ideas...
Serge just listens to the ideas, smiling. Truthfully he has no idea who is more likely to be suspected of trying to steal an egg - bullywugs or lizardfolk - and he doesn't know if these plans will work.
"Whatever you decide, just tell me my role to play. I've got your backs."
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
((OOC: Agree. Need to know how many lizardfolk and bullywug we see. We can probably assume that some number are indoors, but if we see a score or more of both lizardfolk and bullywugs in plain sight, then we definitely don't want to end up in a direct fight with them.))
Ixsas prefers an approach where it's not quite so all-or-nothing, if possible. He worries that Zeds's and Krackle's ideas seem to put the whole party out in the open in the middle of all of these enemies: "If they do not fall for the ruse, then we could find ourselves surrounded by enemies on all sides."
For example, if Ixsas could spot a lizardfolk or bullywug who looks unhappy (e.g., makes rude gestures at the dragon cult members behind their backs), then maybe Krackle could first try to approach them as a fellow creature who is dissatisfied with the way the cultists treat him. We might be able to leverage that one creature's frustration with the cult to learn more about the castle, cause a more specific and directed diversion, or help get the party get into the castle without a big fight.
Alternatively, if we could find a bullywug or one of the lizardfolk who speaks Common, then then Ixsas could attempt a Suggestion to get that one to help us if he talk to it on its own. That might also work with one of the cult guards. At least if that fails, they'd just be facing a single enemy.
Lizardfolk that can be seen
11
Bullywugs that can be seen
7