Castle Caldwell Explorers VII - Some Lizardmen Peed In That

Saturday 10-28-17 6:30 - 10 PM

The DM was Steve.

Dramatis Personae: 

• Everaxe, Level 3 Dwarf war Cleric of Odin, played by Nate.
• Ronin, Level 4 Human Fighting-Man played by Ethan.
• Faelin, Level 3 Human Ranger played by Simone.
• Ældlin, Level 3 Half-Elf Druid played by me, Scott.
• Vuvier, Level 3 Gnome Thief guy played by Julie.
• Thane, Level 3 Human Magic-User played by Julie.
• Meira, Level 3 Half-Elf bow Fighter played by Alexséya (AJ).

Our fellowship returned to Castle Clifton to find the assembled craftsmen to have reached numbers into the dozens. Clifton is moving ahead swiftly with the fortification and staffing of his new castle. He was harried and distracted and quite upset that we were back without his niece Sylvia. You might remember that she is to be wed to a Baron, the Baron of Frey, a hundred miles to the Northwest.     

Vuvier with wolf cap and ancestral hand axe

We told Clifton about the incursion of the men of the North, from the barony of East Reach by their heraldry. Despite getting little to no sleep, he was insistent that we set off again and not return without his niece.

Ældlin begged Clifton to replace Everaxe's plate armor. Lord Clifton vaguely agreed he would do it later, but probably just to shoo us back to the rescue attempt. I won't forget.

We did stop briefly at the pavilion erected to Freya on his grounds, presumably there to consecrate the land or something. It was unclear. For donations, they healed us. In addition they gave Everaxe a Cloak of AC +1 because of his misfortune, and due to his clerical devotion to Odin, a fellow god of Freya.

On the path back to the hole where we believe Sylvia was taken, we learned that Everaxe the Dwarf Cleric and Faelin the girl Ranger are in the employ of Baron Frey and were there in the first place to secure Sylvia's safety. (Actually Steve told me that he had already explained that but for the life of me I have no memory of such an exposition. Oh well, this is my story so I'll tell it my way!)

We also saw some Men of Eastreach on patrol, but were able to avoid the few groups we came across thanks to Faelin's scouting.

When we reached the cave entrance, we reconnoitered the area at Ronin's suggestion. We found no other entries. Ronin then suggested we trap the entrance. Ældlin cast Snare among the flora near the entrance and the fellows entered carefully.

Thankfully Eevraxe had point. His Dwarf senses detected new construction. Vuvier the Gnome Thief found a pit trap and directed us around it. There was a chair, but no guard. Perhaps we had slain them all?

We went this time to the Western passage and found ourselves face to face with three Lizard Men!

Give us a nice, wet lickery-kiss

...Three Lizard Men!

That's more like it!

Everaxe gallantly dashed in, tripped over his feet and fell flat! The sleestacks Lizard Men pounced and brought him low with their spears. In the mean time, Faelin and Ronin teamed up to bring two of the enemies near death. Ældlin charged in to protect the fleeing Dwarf! They slammed into one another and now it was Ædlin who found himself seated in the dirt!

The several heroes did make short work of the three Lizard Men, who had bupkis for treasure.

Backtracking then, we found another barracks room with three more Lizard Men!

Again, we took them out fast and again they had nothing good on them.

We found a small passage down a slope and into a room with a pool. It was completely dark, so Everaxe poked around. He considered drinking some of the water to see if it was magic, but decided against it.

File Photo

Up the hallway a ways we heard a loud obnoxious goblin. Those of us who speak goblin could hear he was moaning about having to peel potatoes and carrots. Everaxe had an idea! 

From the hallway in Goblin he said: "I'm here to take over for you! Your shift is over!"

The goblin asked, "Who you are? Where you come from?"

Everaxe said, "Who is none of your concern! We come from the pool at the end of the hallway with the Lizard Men!"

The goblin said, "Oh! You come from the Lizard Man rooms! They no have to cook! They get to fight! And they get their own bathroom! I HATE the Lizard Men! Okay! Come in!"

The pool was their bathroom. And Everaxe almost drank it!

Everaxe said, "I need help moving this cask of fine Orcish wine!"

The goblin squealed with delight and dashed out! Everaxe grabbed him and we tied him up!

His name was Whichgoblin and we negotiated his services as a guide and mercenary guard for three gold coins - more money than he had ever seen - as well as a promise that he would never have to cook for anyone else ever again.

He led us up to the next room, another kitchen with another goblin caterwauling away about making stew all day and night. It turned out this second goblin (whose name I forgot, darnit) was the brother of the first, and agreed to the same deal as before. They showed us a secret passage to where Oliver laired. Oliver was the name of the Man who ran the dungeon complex and presumably held Sylvia!

Vuvier figured out how to open the passage and we entered Oliver's study while the goblin brothers held rearguard. 

Our new mercs. Sculpts by WizKids

No sooner did we cross into his vast study then our two meat shields, Ronin and Everaxe hit the deck, victims of a Sleep spell! Worse, an owlbear picked up the hapless Everaxe and tossed him twenty feet across the room! Worse yet, Everaxe had no backup weapon and his morning star stayed on the ground where he had fallen!

Within the room we saw a laughing Man, likely a mad wizard of some kind: Oliver! 

In the back corner we saw a maiden in a chair: Sylvia!

We woke up the dudes, beat the Owlbear, but lost Oliver as he dashed out a secret door... followed, seemingly of her own free will... Sylvia! 

While we gathered ourselves, Ældlin and Ronin stuffed their packs full of rare books from a large bookshelf on the wall.

And that was the end of the session tonight!

Two thoughts: I cast Charm Person or Animal on Oliver - twice - and twice he made his Save. This might have been good luck, but it's making me think.

From 5e

Earlier on we had found the illusion of an Owlbear and a Maiden in the main common area. I wonder if Oliver and/or Sylvia were illusions? It seems odd that they were able to dash off, together, through a door we didn't see when we came in. And was the whole thing an illusion? Is that why we didn't see the door?

It remains to be seen!