Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
View
Wed 24th Jan 2024 02:54

Castle Capers: Part I

by Tristan el'Mer

The infiltration of Castle Narytar went better than any of us could have hoped. After Snapjaw spoke to leading members of his tribe he and one other lizardfolk warrior escorted us into the castle under the guise of being new cult recruits. Thanks to Nuri’s brilliant fast talking and a touch of illusion, we got past all of the guards as well as a dining hall full of cultists, and were able to make our way into an unoccupied tower. From there, with help from Rhumor, we then crossed over to the tower we needed to be in that led to the basement stairs by running along the castle’s perimeter wall.
 
The top of the tower we re-entered had been boarded up and was completely unused by the cult. We soon discovered why. There were three skeletons on the floor, and Virgil recognized the vestments of the Order that his friend belonged to. As he was investigating the remains three ghostly apparitions rose and attacked. Once the ghosts were dispatched Virgil was able to confirm that none of the remains were that of his friend. Part of me wonders what it is he expects to find here. I empathize with him, and do hope we find evidence that his friend had escaped whatever fate befell their order before the Cult of the Dragon arrived, but so much time must has passed. With the strange timelessness of the Fey Realm it could have been decades… or more. If his penpal’s cohorts remains are now nothing but bone, how long has it been? Perhaps some clue will present itself.
 
Now free to follow the stairs all the way down into the subterranean portion of the castle that Sintos had alluded to, and that our new Lizardfolk allies had indicated would be the most likely location for the Bullywug leader, Pharblex Splattergoo, we descended. Two bullywugs tended to some mud (the hatchery perhaps?) and were easy to dispatch. Following the cavern deeper in we ran into swarms of centipedes, giant frogs, and eventually more bullywugs. The centipedes, whilst annoying, were not a terrible threat, particularly once we figured out they shy away from flame (even torch flame was enough to accomplish this). Conrad spoke to the giant frogs and was able to convince them that we would not make for very good eating, an argument enhanced by the piles of dead centipedes we could now provide them. Then out came the bullywugs, who largely stayed underwater. Two of them got away deeper into the cave.
 
The cave system grows dimmer and dimmer, and I sense we are close to reaching our goal. I just hope this bullywug shaman is within our capability to deal with. Aside from the obvious price of failure for our little band, I do wish to see the lizardfolk freed from the forced servitude of the cult and bullywugs. I can’t wait to see the looks on the faces of Biteclaw and Snapjaw when we present them with the head of the bullywug shaman. If they will fight the cult with us, we should have no problem clearing out most of the rest of the castle’s residents. Then we can make a proper search for clues to Virgil’s missing friend, the cult’s next moves, and hopefully pack in a good portion of the treasure.

Continue reading...

  1. Goblins and Wargs and Minotaurs, oh my!
    16th of Flamerule, 1486
  2. To Greenest
    17th of Flamerule, 1486
  3. Greenest is the Blackest
    18th of Flamerule, 1486
  4. On dragons, monks, and shite
    19th of Flamerule
  5. Ethereal Me
    20th of Flamerule
  6. Revelations
    21st of Flamerule
  7. The Cave of Triumph and Terror
    22nd of Flamerule
  8. Liches Give Stitches, and other Horrors of the Dark
    22 of Flamerule
  9. The Long Road Ahead: Part I
  10. The Long Road Ahead: Part II
  11. The Long Road Ahead: Part III
    Midsummer
  12. Sleeping on Splinters
    Mid Uktar
  13. The Convergence of the Bizarre and Unlikely
  14. Castle Capers: Part I
  15. Castle Capers Part II
  16. Castle Capers Part III: Shadows of Darkest Light
  17. Castle Capers Part IV: Visions of the Past & Hints of the Future
  18. Mountain Dream Houses and How to clear out the vermin you find when you arrive:
  19. Through the Woods, and into the Air, to Blathokus’ House We Go!
  20. Castle in the Sky, I Can Fly Twice as High
  21. The Ice is on Fire
  22. The City of Splendors
  23. The Journal Entry’s title
  24. City of Splinters
  25. Faces, Masks, and Catnip
  26. Doppler DupliCity
  27. Amorphisms
  28. High in the Skies and Deep in the Ground
  29. Aberrations and Apparitions?
  30. Of Temples, Tombs, and Secrets
  31. The Journal Entry’s title
  32. Whispered Revelations
  33. Varam the Whipped
  34. The End of Many Ages
  35. Fridgid Waters, Fidgety Gnome
  36. Into the Lion’s Den, ehrm.. Dragon’s Den
  37. Severin’ the Snake’s Head
  38. Ghosts, Ghouls, & things that go bump in the night
  39. Black & White; Green & Grey
  40. Ancient Future
  41. Pig’s Pearls
  42. Jade Herrings, Elven boots, Hidden Ruins, Concealed Silver
  43. Scale Broken

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies

Dungeon Fog
Gold Ennie 2019 for Best Digital Aid
by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.045 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 01:26, Jun 3 2025