Siege of Blackwall Keep

General Summary

Ready'reat 23th, 595 CY

2024-03-26

The lizardfolk were arrayed around Blackwall Keep, more of a siege than an active combat. It was easier for the Topknots to engage each band separately. Apart, the lizardfolk bands weren't a significant threat, but they could never have taken them all at once.
One of the bands included a shaman of some sort, while another, assumedly the lead band included a lizardfolk arrayed in chitin plate armor. After the leader's band fell, Argan yelled to the last group in Draconic, urging them to flee, which they did. The battles were one-sided, but the Topknots were dealt some significant damage, and Kaszu had to heal Crichton. Who then led the group up to the keep, yelling at the guards, "We've come to help you! Let us in. We defeated your attackers!"
The guards unbarred and opened the main door leading the companions up the stairs. They met Captain Ranald Haradrith, injured in the initial attack, but recovering. He told of the harrowing first attack. They were unprepared and the lizardfolk caught them by surprise. Several of their guards were captured by the lizardfolk, including their battle mage Marzena. He implored them to send back to Greyhawk and request reinforcements.
The companions told Ranald that their mentor Allustan, who had brought them here to speak with Marzena, teleported to the Free City, chances were that reinforcements were already being rallied and sent. When asked why the lizardfolk attacked, Haradwith wasn't sure. The lizardfolk had never been this aggressive before. The lizardfolk dragged their captives into the swamp hours ago while the rest surrounded the keep. Knowing that it would be difficult traveling the swamp at night, the guards brought the companions to the upper barracks, empty right now so that they could rest for the night.

Ready'reat 24th, 595 CY

2024-04-09

The next morning, the Topknots awoke and prepared for their trek into the Mistmarsh. After getting his bearing, Argan found the trail. It seemed he was getting some help from the captive mage, on some difficult stretches, he would find an orange colored vine, or a group of rocks shaped into an arrow. These clues were never quite on the beaten path, but usually ten to twenty feet away. Marzena must have been using her cantrips to leave a trail far enough out that the lizardfolk wouldn't see them or suspect their origin. The lizardfolk were slowed down by their captives, and Argan and Malakai felt like they were gaining ground, but night was falling, so they began searching for some dry ground suitable for a campsite.

Ready'reat 25th, 595 CY

The night went uneventfully and they quickly packed up and resumed their search in the morning. About halfway through the day, the tracks led to a massive mangaroo tree whose roots formed a hillock. A passage headed in, and that was also where the tracks led. Tolman stealthily scouted ahead finding that the passage came quickly to a four-way intersection. He saw lizardfolk to the south and winged shapes to the eats before he returned to the party. Crichton led the way, followed by Kaszu and Paelex when they heard a beautifully enchanting song coming from the east. The matriarch sang a song of desire to Paelex, who succeeded in snapping out of the trance. Crichton engaged, but was distracted by the songs and missed his opening. He resisted the song and landed his next attack. Argan landed a good shot on the matriarch with his bow while Malakai's starry burst failed to hit. Paelex was a better shot with his sorcerous burst. Crichton turned his attention to one of the other harpies which flew up to attack him. The harpy was unable to get past the paladin's armor. Kaszu almost felled that harpy with his infused crossbow.
With multiple harpy songs going off, most of the Topknots started succumbing to them. Malakai, unaffected, caught the matriarch and one of her harpies in a moonbeam, but also caught Crichton in it. The damage caused the harpies song to fail. Paelex kept up his assault on the matriarch while Kaszu finished off the one be had wounded previously. Malakai's moonbeam and Crichton's glaive soon had the matriarch on the ropes, while the other harpy attacked Tolman and was subject to his hellish rebuke. Paelex was the one to finish off the matriarch with his chromatic orb while Kaszu dropped the last.
Seeing lizardfolk to the south, the Topknots headed that way, their intention was to try and make contact, not fight through the entire tribe. Halfway down the slope, the foliage came alive as a shambling mound moved out of the mangaroo roots and filled the passage. Argan was at the forefront with kaszu's spider running interference at his side while Richton used his glaive from the second ranks. From the back, Kaszu and Tolman attacked with crossbow and bow while Paelex and Malakai cast their spells. While Argan was significantly wounded during the battle, the shambler fell to the Topknot's combined efforts.

Campaign

Against the Ebon Triad

Protagonists

Paelex Cavian

Chaotic Neutral Tiefling (Noble)
Sorcerer 5

32 / 32 HP

STR
8

DEX
14

CON
12

INT
11

WIS
13

CHA
18

Tolman K’hurzz

Malakai Steelbuckle

Delilah Raincloud

Crichton Eogen

Argan Agu-Ulakanu

Chaotic Good Goliath (Outlander)
Ranger 4

36 / 36 HP

STR
18

DEX
14

CON
14

INT
10

WIS
12

CHA
8

Kaszu Billowcase

Chaotic Good Rock Gnome (Guild Artisan / Guild Merchant)
Artificer 3

24 / 24 HP

STR
8

DEX
12

CON
14

INT
17

WIS
14

CHA
10

Report Date

18 Apr 2025