Encounter at Blackwall Keep - Part One

10 June 2006

Players/Characters

Aust (Russell) 2nd/2nd level male Elven Spellthief/Rogue
Elzara (Will) 4th level female Elven Monk
Tovar Hammerguild (Ian) 4th level Male Dwarven Paladin
Tanith (Ewar) 3rd/1st level male Human Sorcerer/Warmage
Alexis Serria (Andrew) 3rd /1st level female Human Cleric/Fighter
Eolias (Richard) 3rd/1st level male Elven Ranger/Sorcerer

Game Events

Setting off on horses (and a pony) provided by Allustan, the party headed East along a well-marked track towards the distant keep. Allustan indicated that the plan was to stop for the night at an abandoned farmhouse known as Shank's Rest that was used as a way-station, then set off early and arrive at the Keep by early evening.

The first day passed uneventfully apart from Eolias and Alexis trying to bully a small group of halflings pushing covered wheelbarrows towards Diamond Lake. If Alexis had had her way the halflings would currently be in a shallow, unmarked grave!!

Eolias and Elzara went out to hunt for supper, and a pleasant time was had by all as tales of high adventure and fantastic treasures were swapped around the campfire.

The mood changed suddenly the next afternoon, as the sharp eyes of Eolias and Elzara noticed a plume of smoke rising above the trees in the direction they were heading.

Cautiously approaching the Keep, the party saw several groups of Lizardfolk who were obviously besieging the building. Allustan charged them with assisting the soldiers in the Keep before using his emergency scroll of teleport to travel back to Diamond Lake to arrange for re-enforcements

Splitting into two groups - the heavies - Alexis, Tanith and Tovar, and the sneakies - Eolias, Elzara and Aust - the party made their plans.

The Sneakies were to circle the keep and attack from cover whilst the Heavies remained in reserve, ready to gallop in to save the day should they be needed.

Just before dusk the Lizardfolk attacked, a dozen attacking the hastily barricaded doorway and another dozen attacking the low balcony that ran around the keep. The balcony-attackers were targeted by the Sneakies and two of the attackers fell to their missile fire.

Having betrayed their position the Sneakies found themselves under attack as half the attackers turned their attention to them, but worse than that happened when Elzara and Aust found themselves completely entangled by the very grass and bushes that they were hiding in.

Unable to defend themselves they were subject to coup-de-grace hits that knocked them out - Eolias, on the other hand, was smashed to the ground by multiple club hits and left for dead as the other two were borne away from the battle and into the swamp.

Seeing that their companions were in dire trouble, the three heavies whipped their mounts forwards to charge to the rescue.

Unfortunately none of them were unable to ride particularly well, and so all three ended up on their backs in the dirt, their mounts racing wildly for freedom away from the battle.

Having to approach the battle on foot meant their friends were far gone, and even Eolias was beyond help as he slowly bled to death in the long grass where he had fallen.

Tanith was the first to reach the group attacking the doorway and let loose a terrible blast of fiery breath, which, although it did singe a few lizards, had the unfortunate effect of also cutting down the three human defenders of the gateway, allowing the lizards free entrance to the keep.

By the time his two companions had reached him the lizards had managed to rebuild the barricade and were now securely ensconced within the very walls of the keep itself.

Alexis went to Eolias' body and was amazed to find that the bleeding had somehow staunched itself, and the hardy Elf was still alive. Several cure spells later he was back on his feet and eager to spill reptilian blood!

After a hard fight the few remaining Lizards inside the keep were killed, and the remaining 4 soldiers who had survived were heartily thanking their rescuers.

They told the group that the Lizardfolk had attacked the evening before and taken them totally by surprise - when they broke down the door they had been able to attack and kill several soldiers, and had even taken a couple of prisoners (including their Battle Mage) whom they had seen led off into the Mistmarsh.

Due to their lack of numbers they are unable to go to help their friends themselves, so they suggest that the party should go to help all the captives.

The lizard bodies were searched, but the only thing of note found was a magical club

Magical Items Found

• Club

XP Summary

• 13 Lizardfolk - 3,900 XP
• Lizardman Leader- 1,200 XP

Total XP - 5,100 or 1,275 XP each (Elzara and Aust - 0 XP)

(Only 1,148 XP for Eolias due to multiclassing penalties)

Current Totals (please note these are different to those given out on Sat)

• Elzara - 8,541
• Eolias - 10,737 - level up!
• Tanith - 9,491
• Alexis - 10,931 - level up!
• Tovar - 9,441
• Aust - 8,166