Nthal
Lizard folk in disguise
By Land and by Lake - 04/06/2020
Plans are great when you can make them. But they are only good to a certain point. Its what you do next that is important.
Plans are great when you can make them. But they are only good to a certain point. Its what you do next that is important.
The lizardfolk blind was effective in concealing our presence from any hobgoblins and other denizens of the swamp. So, my watch with Darastrix was uneventful. From one perspective it was less than that, it was quiet. Darastrix was focused on the here and now. While I felt comfortable in our hiding spot, it was clear that he was not taking our safety for granted. But the way he went about it was very different than Daneath or Iesa.
Daneath on watch was ever the stalwart guardian. Watchful and observant, he would stand guard in place, using his eyes to keep watch. Iesa was the same in that regard, but rather than ‘stand’ he would find a perch; a rock or a tree to give himself elevation, no matter how slight, to get a better view.
But as I watched Darastrix, he didn’t act like a guard. Watching him was watching a predator. He would smell the air and would move constantly depending on the direction of the breeze. He didn’t stay in the blind, but would patrol outside, swimming just below the surface of the water. He wasn’t waiting for something; he was looking to ambush…no hunt anyone who might dare come close. He would come in and out of the island blind regularly, frequently giving me a start. His size didn’t hinder him at all in his ability to move quietly.
And in the water, It was even harder to follow him even with Gossamer’s eyes. He barely left a ripple in the waters as he circled around the island. And below the murky waters, his scent was completely concealed. Or at least that was what I was told.
You sure?
--Listen, even a dry lizard has a smell, and he does too.
And you can’t even smell a wet lizard?
--All I can smell is swamp…look can I come down? I don’t want to be mistaken as a snack by a lizardfolk or a lizard log.
Alligator…
--Whatever. Either! Or both! I want neither!
Soon enough it was light, and I rose the rest from their sleep, and we started to make our plans. It was then that Darastrix gave us an important piece of information.
“So, the ‘Prophesized One’s’ camp a fortress?!?” Iesa said bewildered. “And you two didn’t tell us?” he whirled accusingly at Drik and Drok.
“We never been there!” Drik exclaimed throwing his hands up.
“We listened how to get there. They used word for ‘war camp.’” said Drok defensively.
“That word only means where leader is. Not what it is.” Drik explained shrugging.
“Well I’m glad that Darastrix at least knows about it,” Daneath said looking at the lizardfolk, who was chewing on something while listening to our discussion. He then continued telling us what he knew.
“Fortresssss was ruin,” the Lizardfolk started. “Very old. Makers long gone. But wallssss sssstrong. Two buildingssss. One with door over trench. The other, on island with door over lake.”
“Two…Oh I get it. A moat house, and the fortress proper, which is on the lake. Both with drawbridges,” Beepu said after thinking about it. “That is going to be a problem.”
“Very,” said Darastrix. “Very large ones with goblinkin,” and Darastrix looked up thoughtfully. “Ogre? Yessss, ogressss in firsssst building ssself has ssseen. Only goblinsss in sssecond one.”
“Oh, that’s even better,” Iesa rolled his eyes and kicked at a stone in the muck. “Even if we get in and fight in the moat house, we’ll be cut off from the fortress.”
“Maybe,” I said thinking. Turning to Darastrix I asked a question, “The fortress is on an island. Are there any other entrances to it on the water?” The others turned to look at Darastrix expectantly.
The lizardfolk nodded. “Door opensss to …word…deck? Dock! Boatsss there.”
“If we could get one of the boats, Iesa or I might be able to force open the door,” Daneath said thinking and looked at me with a grin.
“That probably won’t work,” Iesa complained. “Those type of doors aren’t just locked; they’re barred securely from the inside.”
“Not problem,” Drik piped up.
“We open it,” Drok agreed.
“How?” Daneath asked.
“We goblins. We walk in.” Drik said.
“No one notice goblins,” Drok nodded.
“They are right,” Beepu said surprising me. But as he continued a frown appeared on his face. “It would be easy for them to do. But for the rest of us I would think they would notice a boat being taken.”
“Not at night,” I said. “They can’t see that far. And if there is a fog, even less so.”
“How do you know there would be a fog Myr?” Beepu asked.
“Because you can make one.” I replied with a smile.
Beepu’s eyes widened. “Of course, how obvious. Hard to see a missing boat in one.”
“Ok, we get in. Then what?” Iesa asked, trying to follow along.
“We turn the defenses around. We make sure that the inner drawbridge is shut and stays that way.” I said, nodding back at Daneath. “We keep the ogres in the moathouse.”
“Keeping their forces separated.” Daneath smiled. “And the longer we can sneak around, the more we can eliminate without drawing alarm.”
“Darastrix, do you think you can liberate a boat and bring it to shore quietly?” I asked.
The lizardfolk didn’t even pause for thought. “Yessss.”
“So, we get there in two day—” Isea started.
“One day.” Darastrix corrected.
“What? I thought it was longer than a day?” Daneath said surprised.
“Isss two days…the way they go. Sssself knowsss better path.” Darastrix said still chewing.
“Well! What are we waiting for!” Iesa said smiling, now excited.
Darastrix was truly knowledgeable about the fen. He led us through hidden paths within the reeds and cattails. The paths were solid and allowed us to make quick headway deep into the swamp. We were all excited to making progress and nearing the end of this journey. But as we travelled, my mood shifted a bit.
This was it, the final reckoning. The Prophesized One could pay for the blood spilled. For the lives stolen and enslaved from countless human villages. The savagery done to the elves in the High Forest. For what they had done to Alanathia in the quarry. To poor Morlea in the tree canopy in Whitepetal. To end this. For all the times I felt guilt about reveling in the taking of a life, I felt none now. I had a burning, desire…no I needed to take the blood of this goblinoid horde. To send each and every one of the savages’ corpses into the ground and their souls for judgement.
Perhaps this ‘Prophesied One; believed he was following Maglubiyet’s will. But the wanton slaughter, the unnecessary lives he took meant he had to answer to my power first. I wanted to personally send him on his way to the grave. To have him justify how so many lives could be wasted in this strange crusade of theirs.
These thoughts kept me occupied as we moved swiftly through the mire. The sun steadily moved across the sky as we traversed the swamp. It was late afternoon when Darastrix slowed, his stance shifting from moving swiftly among the reeds, to one more cautious. Once again, the predator was on full view, as he no longer used his arms to move the foliage around, but his spear instead. Poking as if he expected to find a hobgoblin sentry.
It was late in the afternoon, when suddenly he stopped and looked over his shoulder back at us. He motioned his head forward, and Iesa stepped next to him, and peered through the cattails. I knelt down next to Beepu, who watched Iesa with a critical eye. Daneath stood behind and waited. Finally, Iesa, turned around, while Darastrix kept observing.
“Well…it is as Darastrix described. Moathouse with a bridge to a keep. But that not the interesting part,” Iesa said.
“What is then?” Daneath asked impatiently.
“It looks like there was a larger force camped here, outside of the walls. Worg pens, campfires and the like. But it looks…abandoned.”
“How many are we talking about,” I asked, trying to understand the implications.
“Well, considering the forces we’ve seen, its larger than the camp was at the temple, perhaps double.” Iesa said, thinking through the numbers.
“We buried a lot of them in the tunnels…” Daneath said thinking it through. “We haven’t seen any worgs since the village. This could be bad.”
“Bad?” I said surprised. “How is this bad?”
“If this is the last of the Prophesized One’s forces, it will be a last stand,” Daneath said grimly. “They will have nothing left to lose; that makes it more dangerous.”
“Ssssoftssskin correct on both,” Darastrix hissed at us quietly. “Mossst have left ssssome time ago. Like wounded prey, will desssperate. Dangeroussss.”
“Does it change anything?” I asked concerned.
“No,” Iesa said. “The plan we talked about will work, if we cut off the moathouse from the keep. We just need to be sure.”
“I will use my magic to hide Foggle,” Beepu said. “We cannot risk being wrong.” He then muttered quietly, and caused is brass owl to disappear, and it took to the air with an almost silent beat of its wings.
“Ussseful Sssscout,” Darastrix observed.
“Lashers will be very watchful,” Drik remarked. “But camp abandoned, means all will be in fort.”
“Fort will have guards on walls. Patrols are question,” Drok echoed.
“What? Inside or outside?” Iesa asked.
“If few in number, they will not patrol. Too few to guard fort,” Drik said.
“Worgs best for patrols; can smell better than lashers see,” Drok said. “If no worgs, lashers will stay in walls. No patrol.”
“What about the boats?” Daneath asked Iesa.
“On the south side I saw the dock, with maybe two boats,” He moved back to where Darastrix was watching and looked again, before turning back to us. “A single one is large enough for all of us.”
“Well, as long as Beepu’s fog works, we should be good to get the boat and get to the dock.”
“Will they be watching it?” I asked the goblins.
“Lashers not like boats. When lasher talk, concerned about humans coming, not elves.” Drik said.
“Lashers know humans not like fight at night. And elves not leave forest.” Drok explained.
“Well, the moathouse is a burned-out ruin,” Beepu spoke up, getting our attention, his eyes looking beyond us. “No buildings inside, but at least two ogres and perhaps a dozen hobgoblins there. One is on each wall. The keep is in better shape, two buildings…and a guard on each wall except the ones facing the moat house. But it seems very light overall.”
“Sounds like it.” Daneath said. “I guess the only problem will be the noise we make breaking in.”
“No,” I said smiling. “I can prepare a silence ritual and have it cover the dock and door. They won’t hear us.”
“Good idea,” Iesa said with his own wolfish grin. “I kill the guards and make sure the drawbridge is up.”
“Well it is down now, so you will have to make some noise to pull it up,” Beepu said still focusing his thoughts through Foggle. “Unless they pull it up in the evening.”
“I guess we’ll find out at nightfall” Daneath said, sitting down on a rock. “Let’s rest and wait.”
I dozed lightly, there on the damp earth as we waited for the sun to set and darkness to rise. The moon that they called Selune had already risen, its half face spreading a pale light on the reeds where we hid. Darastrix had just whispered something to Iesa, when he slipped away into the waters, making his way to the keep. Iesa in turn whispered to Beepu, who stood next to the reeds. But instead of following, he was busy watching through Foggle’s eyes. After a while he smiled and nodded to himself and stepped through the reeds, waving us to follow him.
We emerged from the thick stand of plants, and finally I had a good look of the keep. From where I stood it reflected the slivery white grey of the moonlight. The tops of its walls had crenellations, with parts that had broken away giving it the look of broken worn out teeth. The walls jutted from a rocky island, surrounded by black waters of the lake.
But it was far from lifeless, torches were lit at regular intervals. But as I watched I couldn’t see any movement at all on the walls. I leaned over to Beepu and asked.
“So, is the drawbridge up or down?”
“It’s down. Right now I was having Foggle check for gaurds. Seems that each wall has a single guard, and they do not move along the walls.”
“Then why so many torches?” I wondered.
“Lasher trick,” Drik whispered at me.
“When few guards, many torches lit to make it seem many,” Drik explained quietly.
I nodded. I had hoped that we really had thinned out their numbers, for as eager as I was to slaughter the hobgoblins and end this, I did want to walk away.
Ready for this?
--What me? I’d rather take a nap.
I’m sure. But someone has to watch my back.
--I suppose that is true. I hope you find what you are looking for.
So do I.
“Darastrix is at the dock,” Beepu simply, and the began to cast. I watched mist boil and billow up from the waters of the lake. It spread swiftly from the dock to the shore, covering the waters in a dense bank of cloudy fog.
“We have some time before it melts away,” Beepu and once again, he looked away through Foggle’s eyes. “But the hobgoblins do not seem to have reacted.”
“What do you mean?” Daneath asked, looking at the gnome with curiosity.
“They have done nothing. They have not even moved from the walls or raised an alarm.”
“Then hopefully Lady Tymora might be with us,” Iesa said with a smile.
“That would be a nice change,” Daneath said nodding and a small smile.
I nodded in agreement. As the other waited for Darastrix with a boat, each were doing their own preparations. Iesa was checking his blades, assuming there would be close quarters fighting, and Daneath was doing much the same. Drix and Drox both were checking the edges of their own swords, and the remaining bolts they had for their crossbows. Beepu, checked his pouch for the key items he needed for his spells. As for me, I knelt on the shore of the lake and closed my eyes and prayed.
My lord Kelemvor. I humbly ask for victory today.
I do it for the ones already fallen.
I do it to forestall others from falling to the blades of this cruel tyrant.
I do it to cull the ones that cut short the lives not lived to their fullest.
I do it because Death is a part of Life, but wanton death was not part of your intent.
I do it because I am willing and able.
I do it because I must.
Please bless my actions.
Please guide my hand.
Please let me balance the scales you hold.
I pray to thee.
May their Death’s grant peace.
“So, will the Lord of the Dead bless us tonight?” Iesa asked me, noticing my prayers.
“I have faith he does. Otherwise…” I trailed of for a moment and then I stood and took a deep sigh and shook my head. “I can’t imagine him not. Too much blood has been…needlessly spilled,” and I looked Iesa in the eye. “What has been done has to end.”
From the edge of the fog over the lake water I saw the swimming form of Darastrix. Trailing behind him was a rope, towing an empty boat. He seemed unhindered by its bulk. As he approached the shore, he quickly stood in the shallows, and directed the boat to shore easily and quietly., beaching it He then strode out of the water and approached the others, who had gathered in front of me.
“Myr…I don’t suppose you could…bless us,” Daneath asked awkwardly.
I was taken aback, but I quickly acceded. “Alright,” and I gripped the symbol around my neck and chanted a litany.
“No one should be alone, in life or death,
Death is a part of life, not an ending but a beginning
Death is without deceit and has meaning,
Please grant us your blessing in battle,
And gaze upon our righteous cause.
May your judgement on the souls that fall here be just.
Because Death is never an end, but a waypost,
Not a destination, but a Journey,
The memory of our deeds will live forever in you.
So be the will of my Lord, and my desire in faith
May Death grant peace.
As I said the words, I looked over my companions; my friends old; The Knight, The Tinman, the Fingerpainter, each of whom bowed their head respectively. The goblins looked at me approvingly, perhaps not understanding all of the meaning behind our actions but understanding enough. Of course, Darastrix stood there looking at me with that same expression of puzzled scrutiny that he always seemed to look at us with. Finally, he shrugged saying only, “If wordsss turn foe into food then effort worthwhile. Hard to determine if it helped.”
“I guess that’s the definition of faith then,” I said.
“We leave now. Will open door crack.” Drik said.
“Good luck Booyagh,” Drok said to me and the brothers darted off into the darkness towards the moat house.
“I cannot believe I trust them,” Beepu said watching them depart.
“Why do you then?” I asked.
“Because we talked on a watch. They do not like me. But talking with them, they like their lashers far less. So, it is something we can agree on.”
“Well,” I said patting the gnome on the shoulder. “It’s a start.”
“Perhaps. I still need to make a bigger hat.” He replied with a smirk.
“Let’s go while the fog holds,” Daneath said. And we then all moved into the lake water to board the boat. The brothers helped Beepu and me in before clamoring in themselves, while Gossamer just flitted onto a bench on the boat on his own. Darastrix then pushed the beached vessel back into the waters, and once again towed it behind him into the fog.
I took a breath as we entered the mist, now trusting our guide to lead us to the dock. I sat there and began focusing and slowly weaving strands together. Delicately forming a matrix that I could anchor once I saw the dock.
Casting a spell in some respects was easier; normally it would pull on a hidden source withing yourself that would fill over time. For Beepu it seemed he could cast far more magic than I ever could. I always felt winded after only a couple incantations. But, unlike him I could just rest a while and regain some of my power back, where he would need a night’s sleep to fully recover.
But casting a ritual spell required tapping into the Weave itself and finding free energy within it. It was slower and easy to disrupt, but it allowed you to conserve your own energy. Fortunately, Darastrix pulling the boat across the open water of the lake was smooth making it easy to focus. Just as I had put the final touches on the delicate strands I pulled together, I opened my eyes and watched the gloom for our destination.
Beepu’s fog was very thick, so when the dock finally did appear, it was sudden. The wooden posts suddenly emerged into view, and I could feel the boat slow as Darastrix used his skills in the water to slow our approach. I looked at Beepu to catch his attention and then looked up quickly.
He caught my meaning and whispered, “Still nothing from the guards. Iesa can you see the door?”
Iesa had the sharpest vision out of all of us and after a moment he nodded and pointed, mouthing the word “there.” I followed where he indicated and I could just make out the dark shape of a doorway, not but four paces away from the docks edge. I then looked at the nearest piling supporting it and flexed, binding the complex web of magic and anchoring it. All I had to do now was keep it fixed there.
The silence was sudden; the sound of water lapping at the edges of piles and the boat were gone, as were the sounds of our breathing. But it didn’t still the thumping of my heart. If anything, it was even more apparent. But the others reacted quickly; Daneath and Iesa quickly lashed the boat to the dock, and climbed out, now unconcerned with the noise that either could make.
Daneath pulled me up out of the boat last, having lifted Beepu out already. Gossamer took to the air and flew level with my shoulder. Darastrix had pulled himself out of the water and was clearly on edge. His sight was already impaired with the fog, and the lack of sound clearly bothered him; two senses lost to a predator. But like Gossamer, I watched him sniff the air critically, both trying to catch the scent of anything. All I could smell was water, a hint of smoke from the torches above, and a faint hint what I thought was hay or straw. If he smelled anything else that gave him concern, he didn’t make any signs.
Iesa had made his way to the door and tried to pull it open. He looked at us with a worried expression and shrugged helplessly. I was concerned, as the door should have been open for us already. But it was possible that they were delayed. I hoped that was all it was. All we could do was wait.
I tapped Beepu on the shoulder and pointed upwards. It was strange not seeing Foggle anywhere, but his vision was critical to us now under the fog. Beepu simply gave me a single thumbs up. I nodded in response and turned to watch the door nervously.
We couldn’t see the top of the wall through the fog, and we hoped they couldn’t see us either. The fact that they could be shooting arrows at us and we would never know until someone was visibly spurting blood was a chilling thought.
Finally, Iesa he made a broad motion with his arms. The door had opened, and I then saw Drik and Drok clearly and wordlessly laughing, as they tried to shout at us and each other. It put a smile on my face, despite the bloody task ahead of us.
Daneath drew his sword, and we all moved and pressed ourselves against the wall, as he opened the oak door into the keep, just a crack. And then he swiftly moved inside.
My heart was pounding. Unable to see my mind was racing ahead thinking what was going on. But it was only a moment when Daneath waved for us all to enter. We then all moved quickly, eager to get some solid cover before being seen.
Once through the door, we found ourselves underneath the remains of an awning that had seen better days. To the right of the door was a shack, and in front of us was an open courtyard, with a large building to our right, and what looked like chapel straight across from us. Looking around it was clear that there were no hobgoblins wandering around, but Iesa motioned us all towards the shack. As we moved away from the door, the sounds reappeared; our quiet steps on the stone and the sounds of insects buzzing and chirping nearby. We all entered the shake, and Iesa closed the door behind us. The creak of the door was barely audible, but from my perspective it was deafening after the silence.
Gos, stay out here and keep an eye out
--Of course.
As we entered, I heard noise of tiny hooves on straw, and I looked at Iesa confused.
“Goats,” he whispered. “They’ll cover our noises a bit, but don’t startle them.”
I nodded unwilling to say anything.
“What kept you two?” Daneath asked Drik and Drok.
“Ogres wanted food,” Drik said sourly.
“A lot of food,” Drok nodded.
“Glad you made it across you two. Time to make lasher pay,” Beepu said with a small grin, to which the golbins returned their own wicked grins.
“Beepu, still the same on the walls?” Daneath continued.
“Yes. They have not moved.” Beepu said.
“Go Iesa. Best of luck,” Daneath said clapping his brother on the shoulder.
Iesa nodded and exited the shack through the same creaky door.
“Where’s he going?” I asked.
“There is a set of stairs farther along the wall,” Daneath explained. He’s going to ascend them and start taking down the guards and make his way to the drawbridge and then close it. They he’s hopefully going to jam the works so it can’t be opened.”
“He has killed one guard already,” Beepu said distantly. He’s already turned the corner and moving northwards on the wall towards the bridge.
“Hey Myr, couldn’t you do that same silence again on the drawbridge?” Daneath suddenly asked.
“Well, if I had time yes. But it won’t help if there are guards in the moat house. I can’t make it that big.”
“He has killed a second one. Not a sound,” Beepu said again barely listening to us.
“It may not matter then,” Daneath said shrugging.
“Eager to take care of problem,” Darastrix said. “Do not want to hide.”
“Problem? Your people had issues with them too?” I asked, realizing I never inquired why Darastrix was willing to trade help for troll.
“They problem. Eat too much. Wassste much. Harrasssed folk. Good to remove,” the lizard folk replied, looking more at ease now that he could hear again.
“Daneath. Three hobgoblins just entered the courtyard,” Beepu said with concern on his voice.
“Where from?”
“There are two intact structures in this area. A chapel north of us, next to the drawbridge, and a manor house to the east. They just left the manor house and are heading…towards the bridge.”
“Where’s Iesa?” Daneath asked with a note of panic on his voice.
“He just killed a third guard, and he’s approaching the winch to the bridge.”
“Oh crap,” Daneath said and pulling his cloak around him he moved out of the shack.
“What the?” I said aloud. I moved to towards the northern wall of the shack, where a shutter was closed.
“Not understand,” Drik said confused.
I opened the shutter and spied at the courtyard. There I saw three very large hobgoblins walking with purpose. I then saw Daneath in his cloak, trying to intercept them.
“He is out of his mind!” Beepu exclaimed. “He does not even know goblin.”
“Talking to lasher, not good.” Drok said.
“What’s he saying Beepu, I can’t hear him well enough from here,” I said watching Daneath waving his arms. The three hobgoblins had stopped in their tracks as they looked at the warrior.
“Um…he keeps saying ‘kakta ordtan barrak.’” Beepu said confused.
“That make no sense in goblin,” Drik said wrinkling his nose.
“What does that even mean?” I asked with a feeling of dread coming across me, as our luck started to fade in front of my eyes.
“No sense. ‘Privy empty sausage.’” Drok said looking at Drik confused.
“He’s asking for an outhouse?” I said shocked. “He can’t be—”
“The drawbridge is closing,” Beepu said. “It must be counterweighted. Foggle can hear shouting now.”
I could hear that as well, and I turned to look at Daneath again. It was clear our cony was up, and the hobgoblins charged at the warrior, their blades hitting his shield. At the sounds of the metal on metal, Darastrix and the goblins bolted out of the shack to join in the fray.
“Four more just left the chapel,” Beepu said. “I think we should stay here and use our…” his voice trailed off his face contorting in confusion. “They have a sorcerer it appears, and he is starting a spell.”
“Well we better start doing our own—”
“Oh no!” Beepu said, the color in his face draining away.
“Beepu wha--?”
I never completed what I was going to say, but everything slowed down as I heard the approaching roaring of flames. My world then erupted, with blinding light and searing heat as fire covered my flesh in an inferno of pain. I saw the gnome standing in front me cover his face and cower reflexively as the fireball consumed us both.
Session notes:
Ouch.
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