Adveture 3 - Recap - Through the marsh, and unexpected allies

Before Setting out for Blackthorne Keep, Our intrepid band of heroes restocked their supplies, with K'thraak Making a new friend in the form of Ryken Thrallstruck, a Human also of questionable morals, who caught K'Thraak trying to pick his pockets. The party recruited Ryken, figuring that one thief was good, two better, but still tightened their purse strings even more.
When it was the party's time to leave, the children waved them a fond farewell, having fallen in love with th crazy adventurers and their mounts. Outside of town the party again met with Sindrel Tybar (H.E ranger, Near Amberglen), Who warned them of some of the dangers they might face, particularly the drow, Who he was heading out to track down. he also informed them that there were lizardfolk in the swamp, but as long as they treated them with respect, they should have no issues.
Aspen led the party north to the marsh, which stretched as far as the eyes could see, with banks of mist rolling across it, blown by the wind. On the second day however, the wind dropped, and the mist closed in, making it difficult to seemore than a few feet, Aspen did an incredible job of keeping the party on track. Unfortunately despite Aspens tracking, and because of the Poor visibility the party stumbled into the path of an Assassin Vine. With Poor K'thraak walking straight into its reach. The vine caught him, and proceeded to crush the air out of him, and K'thraak passed out, The party attacked the vine chopping pieces out of it, and Aspen with an incredible shot hit the vine holding K'thraak. The vine dropped Porr K'thraak, and was then destroyed by the combined might of the party. Jeanne then used her Healing skills to Heal K'thraak, and the party decided to camp for the night.

Ryken took 2nd watch, and as dawn approached, well Ryken assumed it was dawn, as the mist was growing lighter, Ryken heard a scream from somewhere ahead, and the sounds of combat. He roused the others, and they went to investigate. As they got closer, they spotted a Large lizardman, prtotecting 2 small Lizardfolk children, Facing off against half a dozen drow, 2 of whom he had dispatched. The lizardman was starting to slow however from his wounds, as 2 crossbow bolts stuck out of his side.

The party chose to help him, and ambushed the Drow, Killing 2 of the drow, before the drow even realised they were being attacked. Most of the drow fell quickly, with only the leader remaining, she possessed one of the players, causing him to attack his friends, The lizardman lunged at her, but missed stabbing poor Cookie instead. Finally she fell to the blows of the party with cookie Decapitating her. The drow all bore the symbol of Chibeda - Drow Goddess of Murder and mischief (chaotic Evil)
The lizardman then Introduced himself as Abass, Paladin of Varquossk - Lizardfolk Deity (true Neutral), He had come seeking the children who had got lost in the marsh. He suggested the party then come with him, as the drow would return at nightfall in greater numbers. the party agreed, and Abass leads the party on a long winding route into the swamp.
"You seem to go back and forth between small grassy islands sticking out of the swamp, without seeming to gain much ground, ahead is a small grassy hillock. Eventually you reach it, and it is only on reaching it that you realise it is actually a series of homes, all covered in turf, making them indistinguishable from the grassy hill itself. as you go up the hill, you are lead in a zig zag fashion up the hill, and as you glance back, can see concealed spear pits, also hidden by the turf" "At the top of the hill a large opening has been cut in the ground, about 40 feet across, with a set of wooden steps going around the edge dropping to the bottom about 15ft below. In the centre is a large turf covered dome with two large Lizardmen standing guard outside." "from the Hut comes a Medium sized but muscular looking Lizardman, with blue green scales, and vibrant yellow eyes." He introduced himself as chief of the village, and Abass's Father.
The party was then treated to a banquet in their honour, With varied delicacies including mosquitoes, frogs, and berries, accompanied by Various marsh plants. This was washed down with Urgosssch, the lizardman distilled drink. Cookie Promptly passed out, followed by some of the others. The party then told Abass their plans, and he got into a heated argument with his father, insisting he must take them to blackthorne keep, as he owed them a blood debt. Eventually his father agreed, and on the following morning the party set out led by Abass. 3 days later, the party arrived at the edge of the marsh, and saw for the first time the magnificent Dragon's Backbone Mountain range, It's Tops hidden in cloud and covered with snow. Following the edge of the forest and the edge of the mountains, the party eventually came in sight of Blackthorne keep at sunset. The main keep sat in the middle of a valley with a wall running north east to south west, into the steep cliffs, where the walls meet the cliffs are two large towers.
Jeanne informs the party that the keep was abandoned long ago as the countries of Hutheim, and The tulvran Kingdoms became fast friends and allies. it guarded one of the few passes between the 2 lands. Now the keep was occupied by 3 factions, in an uneasy alliance, the drow held the northeast tower, undead controlled the southwestern tower, and Chill news the main keep.

As the party watched however a force of perhaps 200 strong left the main keep, led my a black cloaked figure holding a staff. As they watched, several captives were led to various points around the caster, who began a spell, as it reached its climax, all the captives had their throats cut, and a Portal appeared. The party spotted the cloaked figure was holding the piece of jewellery they sought, Before he entered the portal and disappeared. The rest of the force, sat as if waiting something , when a mounted knight in the middle of the force, suddenly went stiff, and his eyes became those of flame. He sat motionless as if awaiting something, before suddenly moving onwards, His troops moving in perfect time alongside him. Abass having completed his Blood debt returned to his people thanking the party once again for their help.
The party having surveyed the keep decided their best way in was over the wall, and Aspen with an incredible throw, caught his Grappling hook on the wall. The party climbed up onto the battlements, and ahead of them was a wooden door into the keep. K'thrakk Normally cautious forgot to check for traps, almost at his cost, as when he went to open the door, a ballista bolt exploded through it, nearly impaling him. More cautious now, the party saw steps going up and dwon, and decided to descend, with K'thrakk and Jeanne leading the way. At the bottom the two were faced with another door, This time However K'thraak was more cautious, but the door was not trapped, upon opening it however, the two had crossbow bolts fired in their direction. The guards having heard the ballista smash down the door, had turned tables into barricades, and awaited the party. After a short but bloody fight, in which both jeanne and guards panicked, Jeanne accidentally shooting K'thrakk, and one of the guards getting knocked and shooting one of his fellows, the others joined K'thraak and Jeanne and cleared the room.........