Blackscale Lagoon: Part I Thieves in the Night: A Bloody Welcome

A Bloody Welcome

You and your companions have been slogging through Blackscale Valley, which most people call Blackscale Lagoon because the area contains so many swamps. The valley is a marshy fen ringed by jagged cliffs that leave it largely isolated from the rest of the world. Drawn by rumors of abandoned dragon treasure, you have begun to question your decisions after a few days of wading through the insect-infested swamps and endless mud. The cobblestone road that led into Blackscale Valley has given way to a muddy, meandering pathway through the bog.

Through the fog and clouds of biting parasites that buzz about you can see the light of what could be lanterns or torches far in the distance. Eager to sleep on something other than a mattress of muck, you’ve redoubled your efforts to move forward in spite of the fact that the sun is swiftly setting. The constant din of chirping and buzzing insects suddenly falls silent in the penumbra of the night, leaving only the gentle ripple of standing water disturbed by your passage...

Biscuit: "I could use a soft bed and a softer maiden."

Biscuit. Halfling fighter. Good with a short sword and bow, but great with a quip. Lover of life and the ladies.

It comes as no surprise that an ambush awaits you! A total of six goblins reveal themselves when they are about 40 feet away from the characters. They are armed with spears and daggers.

I don't know what the 2d6 dice roll is for.

Sleep
Duration: 4d4 turns
Range: 240’

A sleep spell causes a magical slumber to come upon creatures, excluding the undead.
The spell may target either:
1. A single creature with 4+1 Hit Dice (see Hit point modifiers in the Advanced Fantasy Referee’s Tome).

2. A total of 2d8 Hit Dice of creatures of 4 HD or lower each.

When targeting creatures of 4 HD or less, the following rules apply:

▶ Weakest first: Targets with the least HD are affected first.

▶ HD: Treat monsters with less than 1 HD as having 1 HD and monsters with a fixed hit point bonus as having the flat HD. (For example, a 3+2 HD monster would be treated as having 3 HD.)

▶ Excess: Rolled Hit Dice that are not sufficient to affect a creature are wasted.

Killing: Creatures enchanted by this spell are helpless and can be killed instantly with a bladed weapon.

Awakening: Slapping or wounding awakens an affected creature.

I assumed they were 1 hd sorry. I did the 2d8 roll on the original post it was 15.

The Goblins rush towards you only to fall at your feet. All of them lie on the ground asleep! In the distance, you see a Lizardman in a gray skirt turn and flee!

Biscuit: "Most definitely."

Biscuit watches with amusement.

Benford noks his arrows and in rapid succession sends two of them arching through the sky landing with a thump as they find their mark. The Lizardman falls to the ground, motionless...

The Lizardman is wearing a skirt of a sort. Though it is soiled you make out faded runes adorning the hem. That is the only thing you find.

Biscuit: "An ale would be good right now, but I guess we should be going."

You continue North towards Fanetide. The muddy road through the marsh eventually gives way to a series of slightly elevated plank streets. They form a winding latticework between several small huts made of thin wood, roofed in reeds or wooden panels.

A few flat-bottomed boats can be seen moving about in the shallow causeways between these huts, and several human locals mill about, most of them wearing high, mud-spattered boots.

At the center of the village is a large open pavilion ringed in netting, with a straw roof where several members of the community are gathered. The shared conversations carry in the open air, a comfortable muttering of sound.

A single stone building stands near this outdoor tavern, built on rock pylons. This building has a pair of heavy wooden doors that are thrown open to the public. The image of a fist holding a spear aloft is carved into the stone above the doors.

Biscuit: "If you are buying, heck yeah."

Biscuit is going straight to the BB.

Biscuit: "I don’t normally say this, but I love you."

Benford wanders over to the Temple of Geach the Spearwielder. A muscular human man of middling age with a thin black beard and a scowling expression approaches you. He wears green robes and a gray stole, carries a spear with him, and wears the holy symbol of a silver spearhead.

"Welcome friend, I see you are new to Fanetide. What brings you here?" he says. His voice is calming and yet gruff all at once.

OOC: bought 5 iron rations, 20 arrows, long sword

Biscuit orders the Redcap Pieces and the white wine. He then works on getting drunk as quickly as possible. He starts buying drinks for everyone.

The Biting Bitters seems to come alive with the arival of Mole and Biscuit. In fact, a young man with a high sweet voice begins a song:

March of the Last Fenguard

Oh the Fenguard were fearless, or so the tale’s telling,
They followed bold Arma through muck and through mire;
With bells from Yusala a‑ringing like thunder,
They marched into Blackscale with iron and fire.

(The Lute and violin, accompanied by a drum, play while a blushing red haired lass and a curly haired lad dance to the tune.)

Chorus:
Hey! Fanetide stands!
Hey! Fear no night!
For Gias still guards us—
Stand, Fenguard, stand!
(the patrons "clink" their tankards and drink!)

They cracked the Darkfang and scattered their warriors,
They drank from the bog‑wells and bragged of their might;
But none of those heroes saw Eclipse a‑waiting,
A black‑hearted dragon born hungry for spite.

(An older couple also joins the dance
/Chorus/

She came in the night like a storm full of poison,
She melted the hillfort to shimmering glass;
The Fenguard all fled — save for Gias the steadfast,
Who hurled up his spear as she swooped overhead’s pass.

/Chorus/

So stomp with your boots and keep time with your tankards,
For Gias who faced her with courage unshaken;
And shout to the mountains where dragons lie dreaming —
We’re Fanetide folk, and we won’t be forsaken.

/Chorus/

He says his name is Ordin Kall and tells you the Tale of Blackscale Lagoon

Blackscale Lagoon

"Listen friend," he says, "I am looking for aid to protect the town. The local militia is barely able to defend the town from goblin raiding parties that have been making midnight raids on us. They appear to be under the command of one or more lizardmen. Three militia members and seven villagers have already been slain, and two homes sacked. I can offer to pay your outfit a once time payment of 100 gold pieces each and I can offer you free lodging in return for your aid for as long as you need it. You needn't answer now, I realize you need to speak with your companions. On the morrow then," he says. He heads inside to work at his kiln.

The Fisherman speaking with Mole looks a little disconcerted.
"Nie mate, them Swamp lice 've been making midnight raids on us. The Militia can barely hold 'em at bay. And they's been seen wiff lizardmen. Ah! Bastrds all of 'em! Anyhow...," he says and takes a swig of his beer.
Another man at the table adds, "They've already done for seven of us. And...two huts looted and trashed. I helped old Wanna rebuild hers, seein' as she has 'thritus. Damned swmp lice them gobs!"

Slurring his words, Biscuit offers to help.

Biscuit: "If we are being offered 100 gold pieces each and free lodging, I say we get started ASP. Let’s kill some goblins."

Biscuit drinks an ale as well. "This shouldn’t be difficult at all."

Ok, so what are you going to do in the morning?

Mole does his research and for a few silvers and a kindly demeanor, for a Dwarf, he obtains a map.

Varos sits at the table with a spread of breakfast. The Bartender sees Benford walk in. "Looks like hair of the dog bit ya friend. I'll get you a special drink that'll cure that, and some vittles for your belly," he says. Mole and Biscuit sit at the table as well. The morning is cool and welcoming despite the slightly uncomforable humidity, as a cool breeze picks up now and then to cool you off.

The Bartender serves everyone and tells you all he can about the goblin raids. He says, "We’ve had a lot of goblin attacks recently, with lizardmen helping them out as well. It’s doing a lot of damage, and people have been killed. Don’t know what the goblins are looking for. Blackscale Castle is at the top of Moss Hill, at least what’s left of it after the dragon attacked. That’s probably where the goblins keep coming from. At least that's what I heard, but it makes sense. I see you have a map. Well, there’s a hermit out at Weeping Hollow named Kestra. She can’t talk at all; doesn’t have a tongue anymore. Still, if you’re looking to know what’s happening out in the wilderness, she probably knows more than anyone. And here's a thing, most of us hereabouts are followers of Saint Geach. His temple is the stone building in town. He doesn’t have any powerful clerics, like there are beyond the valley, but Ordin Kall looks after us. That's about all I can tell ya," he says between cleaning mugs and plates.

Biscuit: "Yes, let’s do this!"

You arrive at the Temple and see Ordin Kall at the forge hammering on the anvil...

"Good morning lads, come in," he says as he dips a red hot tool into a barrel of water and placing it on a bench to cool.
"I hope you had a good night's rest. I am Ordin Kall, I suppose Benford told ya aobut my offer?" he says as he removes his apron and wipes his brow with a tan rag.

Biscuit: "I never object to killing goblins."

"Well, the agreement I made with Benford was that I was looking for aid to protect the town. The local militia is barely able to defend the town from goblin raiding parties that have been making midnight raids on Fanetide. They appear to be under the command of one or more lizardmen. Three militia members and seven villagers have already been slain, and two homes sacked. I offered to pay each of you 100 gold pieces and free lodging in return for your aid for as long as you need it. I see you're anxious to get started. My advice is to be wary, and perhaps you might start by heading northeast. That's where the goblins have been coming from. I suspect they've set themselves up in the old ruins. I would also see Tosha Riverman, proprietor of Riverman’s Wares. She sells basic goods and supplies, along with a few weapons and a handful of rare items she’s managed to acquire in trades over the years. What say you folks? Do we have a deal?" says Ordin. He holds out his thick, calloused hand.

Biscuit: "A great question, Mole."

Hope you feel better and I am good with the shortened version.

"Well, if you put it that way, I can give you each 50 gold to start with, if it will help our cause," he says.

Biscuit: "Deal."

The man hands you 50 gold each in a small pouch.
"I've got to get back to that bog iron. It won't refine itself. Oh, before I forget," he says. He goes back into his forge and brings back 3 potions of healing and one potion of heroism. "Perhaps this will help you in your efforts." He then goes back to the forge and starts pumping the bellows with his foot and turning a lump of black metal in the coals.

Biscuit: "Northeast it is."

OOC: I can keep track of the potions.

RIVERMAN'S WARES
This is one of the larger huts in the village of Fanetide, with a heavy lock upon the door and a large wooden sign nailed above it that depicts one hand offering a parcel while the other offers a few silver coins. Inside, the walls are lined with hooks and pegs from which hang various dry goods and basic supplies. Behind a long wooden counter at the back end of the room stands Tosha Riverman, proprietor of Riverman’s Wares. She sells basic goods and supplies, along with a few weapons and a handful of rare items she’s managed to acquire in trades over the years.

While Tosha has a surprising inventory of items available, she does not have anything magical. With the exception of any mundane equipment associated with fishing, there is only a 65% chance that any item found on the General Equipment table on page 29 of Swords and Wizardry Complete Revised will be available.

Tosha has a limited selection of weapons and armor also available for sale with the number of these weapons noted. This includes clubs (6), daggers (6), hand axes (3), javelins (6), quarterstaffs (6), short swords (2), shortbows (1, 20 arrows), slings, spears.

"Mostly marshland. You got saltgrass and canals that run deep and some what are so shallow you'd think you could step into that mud and walk a bit, but you don't want to do that unless you know for sure there's some bedrock below, or you'll end up in mud up to your waist and maybe can't get out. You'd be better off with a guide. If you head over to the Biting Bitters, you'll find two of me mates over there. Cumwold, and Therin. I'd trust them two with me lock box. They know the lay of the land and are most likely the only one's brave enough to aid ye. That and a bit of good luck," she says.

Biscuit: "I am always up for some food. And maybe a beautiful lass."

You arrive at the Biting Bitters just in time for the roasted pig to be cut and served with baked beans and fluffy hot rolls. The Ale is cold and the food is good and hot. You see the two old guys they've pointed out to you as Cumwold and Therin. They are in their cups and laughing up a storm.

Biscuit will ask around for Cumwold and Theron.

Both of the men comve over with mugs in hand and sit with you.
"Oi lads, I be Cumwold and this 'ere be Therin. Pleased to meet ya mates," he says and shakes your hands. Therin does the same.
Therin, looks at you all and says, "So...how can we help ya lads? I'm all fer killin' goblins, but I'm not so good with a sword, more of a fisherman and a trapper meself."

Biscuit: "Please, let me buy you both a drink. We don’t need you to fight. We need you to guide."

"Erm...whaddya know. Well, we can do that," says Cumwold.
"And we can also do with another drink. It's near lunch anyhow," says Therin with a wry grin.

"By the way, where we headin'?" says Cumwold.

They both look at the map and then at each other.
"Only a fool would go the old ruins," says Cumwold stroking his beard.
"I agree, and only the foolhardy would approach Weeping Hollow," says Therin rubbing the tip of his nose with his index finger (you notice there is no nail, the tip of his finger is gone.)

"We'll do it," they say in unison.
"5 silver a day, each," says Therin.
"And a small retainer, let's say 10 silver each," says Cumwold.
"That'll get you our services," says Therin.
"And our boat, i.e. transportation," says Cumwold.
"Aye, transportation through the swamps," says Therin.

Cumwold on the left; Therin on the right.

"Deal," says Therin.
"Aye, sounds right," says Cumwold.

"When ya wanna head out? We be needin' supplies, like a few barrels of water, and some dried meat and fruit. We don't mind fishin', but we should always be prepared," says Cumwold.
"Right," says Therin. "I'll take care of quartermasterin'. Be back in an hour, Cumwold will get the "Valdora" ready to hold 5 instead of 2."
"Don't worry," says Cumwold, "there's plenty of space. I left the nets drying is all. See ya in an hour."

The old hands, having decided your departure time for you head off to make preparations...

Therin returns before he is out of eyesite.

"I apologize, folks. The lure of coin is mesmerizing around here. It has greater weight than barter most days. It occurs to me I left out some minor details. Travel to the Blackscale Ruins normally takes a day, and it's three days to the Weeping Hollow, giving it a day for delays, it could take nine days. If it rains, we may have to take shelter, or veer from our normal course. That is an unpredictable quantity friends. Cumwold will need to clean out the "Valdora" either way, but I forget you are not men of the swamp, save young Benford here. My apologies once again sir Dwarf, may your beard grow long and your gold increase," he says as he rubs his own beard. You notice it is well oiled and trimmed. A minor detail you overlooked. He holds out his hand to shake yours. The look on his face seems to say 'I hope this isn't a deal breaker.'

Biscuit: "Sounds like a great time. Let’s get going."

"Well then we'll meet at the Valdora within the hour," he smiles and is off to get supplies.

Biscuit will buy supplies as well.

I do that now

Benford?
Mole?
Biscuit?

ya'll ready to cast off?

Ready

You find the Valdora fit for a place like the Blackscale Lagoon, long and flat with a small covered area to keep dry stuff dry. Not much for keeping people dry. However, the two fishermen seem jovial enough and help you onto the boat with care and help you stow away any equipment you might need to keep dry and not on your back the entire journey. You cast off on a Northern course out of the village and into a small, narrow channel that seemed to appear from nowhere.
"Where to gents? Shall we head directly to the Ruins or Weeping Hollow?" says Therin. He begins to unroll his tobacco pouch and stuff his pipe, signaling for anyone interested to feel free and stuff their own pipes. The weather is grey and a little warm, but there's no sign of rain...yet.

Biscuit nods in agreement: "As good of a place to die as any."

"Noreast it is," says Therin. You soon come to a "Y" shaped junction and you veer left. You wonder why there are no mosquitoes biting you as you slowly make your way through the swamp. The day is uneventful, and Benford has plenty of time to scout and hunt.

While Benford is out hunting and scouting, you hear a splash in the water!

You see a huge Garfish in the water, it tries to bite and swallow you as it breaches the railing, mouth full of teeth!

Long sword attwck

Damage

Garfish
AC 7 [12]
Attacks Benford

Damage Roll

The Gar rips into Benford with a sharp row of glistening teeth like razors!

Mole strikes true and kills the beast fish. The two fishermen haul Benford and the Gar on board and begin to quickly dress and fillet the creature. Soon the fish is in a barrel and salted for later use. In the entrails you find a golden yellow topaz worth 500 gp.

"Well sir," says Therin as they clean the gar flesh with fresh water, "this is one hell of a day!"
"Yep," says Cumwold, "one hell of a day."
"We call this one Lockhead,...but we weren't expecting him to be...here. If you look around we're in a deep spot surrounded by shallows. He's too big to have come this way on his own, I reckon," says Therin, scrathing his head.
"And look," says Cumwold, "there's nothing here but clay bottom and a few minnows, he must've been starvin'."
"Mehbee," responds Therin. They both look perplexed.

Benford looks about the area and notices signs of tracks. He asks the men to bring the boat around, where he disembarks. He looks in the salt grass and sees exactly what has happened here. Goblin tracks, some deep, as if they were carrying something heavy, and some leaving the area northeast that look like normal tracks. He follows them a little ways and finds a black net with some scales in it. They match the size, color and shape of the ones that once armored Lockhead. He returns to the boat, reports his findings and winces a bit from the bite Lockhead clamped on him...

Biscuit agrees with Varos.

You move towards a small island where Cumwold and Therin decide to anchor the boat and make a camp. They begin making a small fire and begin cooking a large filet of Gar with freshly picked swamp onions, finely diced turnips and plenty of spice. The smell of hot food gets your stomach grumbling. You can see the logic behind their decision to stop and anchor. The gray sky becomes a little darker as rain clouds begin marching across it and distant thunder peels rumble. The two fishermen are not without experience and while one has been cooking the other has been setting up a large tent, enough for 4 people to set cots and a small table. Twilight is just an hour away as you fill your bellies with roasted fish, biscuits and a beer.

"There's a path about a mile north of here. That's where you'll have to disembark and continue you're journey. Or, you could take a longer path just across to that spit of land there. It meets up with that path, but it's a little bit longer than if you just take the Valdora up that way," he point to an open spot in the salt grass. "The Ruins are a 5 mile walk on that path. It's too dangrous for us, but we know where it's at and we'll take you there in the morning," says Therin.

The night is uneventful. The fishermen take you upstream to a landing where there is trail and it has several tracks. A light rain has begun...

Biscuit wakes up and asks, "Did I miss anything?"

"Just follow the trail lad, it'll get ya' thir soon enough," says Therin. He is grim faced as is Cumwold.
"We'll moor Valdora down where we camped. 3 days...if we don't see ya...," says Cumwold.

OOC: ready.

I have a family member who is quite ill, so my posting might not be so regular. Want to keep playing, but also want people to know.

Noted, you're good with me. Game on.

You head down the path and Benford passes on that Goblins have traveled this path many times...and one or two Lizardmen.

Benford finds an unusual situation. Fresh goblin tracks. He follows them. They lead down a parallel path, though very narrow. He almost stumbles onto a small reddish figure ahead. He crouches low and sees a red skinned Goblin. The creature has not seen him yet.

Biscuit whispers: "I always like to kill goblins, but maybe we should capture and question?"

Fortunately for Benford, there is only one Goblin. He squeals as he is bagged and struggels to escape. Benford brings him to the party, tightly wrapped in the cloak.

Biscuit: "He likes violence, so I would listen to him."

"Grr...alright, alright! Quick shaking me! What is it exactly you wanna know?" says the Goblin, standing smug with his arms crossed in front of him.

"That way," he points down the trail. "Now...will you let me go?"

"Bout 30. Maybe 25. I don't know really I can only count to 20 and after that...," he shrugs. "Now will you let me go?"

Biscuit: "Sounds like a plan."

You bind and gag the little guy and he throws himself on the floor, trying to escape his bonds and trying to scream through the gag.

The Goblin stops moving and sits up, listening to Mole. He seems to be frowning menacingly towards Mole.
He stays silent for a moment and mumbles something through his gag.

"Who is big boss? Eclipse is boss. She is coming...," says the Goblin.
"Sharga is our Shaman. She make us allies with Lizard folk."

"Me not know. Now will you let me go?"

Biscuit: "Let’s tie him up and leave him."

Another two hours pass on the small trail, but soon you see ahead of you a rise in the swamp. Castle Blackscale was once the jewel of Blackscale Lagoon, the gleaming castle upon the hill that was a symbol of the baroness’s power. Now it is little more than a skeletal husk of stone and slag, melted to ruin. It stands atop Moss Hill, visible from Fanetide as a symbol of lost glory. What treasures it may still house are now buried in stone and reclaimed by time — it is now a moss-covered arrangement of cairns that looks more like a graveyard than a grand palace. At this distance, you have plenty of cover from the saltgrass that stands 5 ft high in most places.

Biscuit whispers: "Are we sure this is a good idea?"

You are at the red dot.

Biscuit will follow as well.

As a thief you can use your climb walls ability at +10%. The rest if you want to examine E-4:

This tower was once the castle’s rookery, but now stands as little more than a pile of melted, stone slag that has fallen in on a crumbled base. Rooting through this rubble reveals a few small nests that were made after the tower’s collapse. A careful examination of the area reveals that several generations of birds nested in this area, but there are more recent avian corpses that appear to have been drained of their blood, and lack any apparent wounds.

Crossing the rubble will be difficult but not damaging, also it will leave you exposed as you are focused on not breaking or twisting your ankles.

When you reach the top of the wall, you see into the courtyard below. it is strewn with slagged rubble. A pole with a tattered flag stands near the south end of the ruins and you can also see the gatehouse building that once was made of stone, but now is a slagged ruin. There is no one in the area below, though small flying birds/bats can be seen flying around once in a while near the southeast tower...

Biscuit: "What do you see?"

Biscuit: "Yeah, let’s go."

you make it safely across the rubble and make it to the open area below.

Perception roll

As you look about the courtyard you are drawn to the first thing you come across. At the center of the courtyard is a small pile of stones which serves as a support for a meager pole of wood that, though warped and askew with age, still stands. A tattered flag with half-faded heraldry is whipping in the wind. As far as you can tell, the heraldic device on the flag is a sable (dark brown, nearly black) serpent wearing a golden crown upon a field of green (vert).

Varos gets around the flag and the pile of stones. He manages to see what or rather who is watching them. Goblins.

Biscuit thinks to himself: "I hope he doesn’t die."

OOC: Biscuit is following, bow out.

As you move forward with your plan you hear footsteps moving farther into the ruins..

A few moments later, three goblins move out into the open with gritted teeth and daggers in their hands, they are accompanied by an older looking female goblin with necklaces of bones and beads, wristlets of leather and also bones and beads.

"Stop!" says the old Goblin. "What do you mean by being here in Blackscale Keep? Be warned, I have powerful magic at my disposal. Maglubiyet favors me."

OOC: Not a bad idea

Biscuit thinks: "That is one ugly goblin, but charm away."

"Yes," she says. The other Goblins look at her, then just go with it.
"Invading human territories? We're not invading. We're looking for something."
"Why are we sending them to die? Do you mean why am I sending Goblins to die? If that's what you mean, then I have an answer that will clear this up. The Darkfang tribe of lizardmen has been worshiping the dragon, Eclipse, her true name is Ecallariasporey, as a god since the days before humankind ever came to Blackscale Valley. They have discovered a terrible truth. Eclipse was slain, but what of the Dragon's Egg? Through divinations conducted by their High Shaman, Sthar, the lizardmen have learned what became of the dragon’s egg. As instructed by Sthar, they believe the egg not to be Eclipse’s offspring, but a reincarnation of Eclipse herself. Literally, their god reborn. After many battles, Sthar and the other Darkfang lizardmen have been forcing us to attack the village in search of the egg so that it might remain in their stewardship until it hatches. That is all I know."