Currently, the party has returned to the Keep after a grueling expedition along the river, surviving ambushes by lizardfolk, giant leeches, and swarms of dragonflies. Each encounter has tested your strength, cunning, and teamwork, leaving everyone both weary and wary of what lies ahead. With your maps turned in and rewards earned, you’ve gained a temporary reprieve within the Keep’s walls, a chance to rest and recover from the dangers outside.
As you settle in, the Keep itself offers a wealth of opportunity. Soldiers and townsfolk alike swap stories about other adventurers, hinting at hidden areas within the Keep and secretive residents who may hold valuable information or rare supplies. You might catch word of a new assignment or stumble upon leads in unexpected places, from the bustling market to the quieter corners of the tavern or the guard barracks. Now is the time to explore the Keep fully, to seek out potential allies, and prepare for what’s to come.
Will you seek out new equipment, consult the Keep’s seasoned scouts for information, or perhaps discover new mysteries waiting within the Keep’s own walls? The next assignment is near—you only need to find it.
The party returned to the Keep after an eventful and intense excursion. At the chapel, Father Kelly, the priest, offered to join the group and provided healing potions for the journey. Meanwhile, at the trader’s market, Bob, a local trader, purchased wolf pelts from the party and offered a salve to ward off leeches.
The group then set out for the Lizardman mound, crossing the river. The salve proved invaluable, protecting the adventurers from leeches during the crossing. Upon approaching the mound, the party was met with a group of 20 lizardmen. Lucas charged into the fray while Jane and Deacon provided ranged support with their bows, and Sylvas unleashed powerful magic missile volleys from his wand.
Despite being surrounded, Lucas held his ground, slaying multiple enemies while taking only minor wounds. Sylvas identified and eliminated the leader and two nearby lizardmen with precise magic missile attacks, while Jane and Deacon thinned their ranks with deadly accuracy. When only a few remained, Sylvas cast sleep, incapacitating the survivors. Deacon and Lucas dispatched all but one, who was bound and secured for questioning. The party skinned 11 lizardmen for their hides, hoping they might fetch a price.
The group then ventured into the lizardmen’s den, a sloping tunnel leading underground. They encountered and swiftly dispatched two wargs. Deeper within, they stumbled upon a small room occupied by three goblins, who were also quickly defeated. Exhausted from the battles, the party decided to rest within the den.
From the Journal of Sylvas
The Keep offered its usual blend of noise and chaos, but amidst it all, we managed to secure some essentials. Father Kelly, a priest at the chapel, offered to join us, though I remain skeptical of his abilities beyond distributing healing potions. Bob, the trader, was more useful, trading us a salve to ward off leeches in exchange for some wolf pelts.
With preparations made, we set out for the Lizardman mound. The river crossing was uneventful, thanks to the salve, but as we approached the mound, a group of twenty lizardmen emerged. Lucas, ever the foolhardy warrior, charged into their midst without hesitation. Jane and Deacon took their positions, raining down arrows, while I began to weave the magic stored in my wand.
The battle was a blur of chaos and precision. My first volley of magic missiles struck true, thinning their ranks. Lucas fought valiantly, slaying lizardmen despite being surrounded. I spotted their leader, a towering brute directing the others, and unleashed another round of missiles, taking him and two of his lackeys out in an instant. Jane and Deacon continued their deadly assault, their arrows finding targets with unsettling accuracy.
When only a few remained, I cast sleep, a spell that ended the battle in an instant. The survivors collapsed, and Deacon and Lucas dispatched all but one. The lone survivor was bound and hoisted into a tree—insurance for whatever information we might extract later. Eleven hides were stripped from the fallen, a grim but practical endeavor.
Inside the mound, the air grew thick and damp as the tunnel sloped downward. We encountered two wargs, their snarls echoing off the walls. Lucas, with support from Jane and Deacon, made quick work of them. Deeper in, a small room housed three goblins. They barely had time to react before falling to our combined assault.
Fatigue began to weigh on us, and we decided to rest. As I write this, I can still hear the faint echoes of battle and the steady breathing of my companions. The den holds its secrets, but for now, we bide our time, gathering our strength for what lies ahead.
The Keep’s walls feel a lifetime away, and yet, I know we will return, bloodied but victorious, with more tales to tell and treasures to trade. Rest now, Sylvas. The path forward will not wait for the weary.