Session 28 - Alliance of Scales (3/24/24)
Session 28 – Alliance of Scales (3/24/24)
Date: 3/24/2024 DM: Lauren
Lore
The party is brought before **Lyle**, leader of the **Lizardfolk**, at his hut within the grounds of **Castle Naerytar**. There, they discover two familiar faces — **Jamma Gleamsilver** from the caravan, and **Snapjaw**, the lizardfolk ally they’d previously spared.
Jamma, much like **Azbara Jos**, is on a reconnaissance mission for her own mysterious faction. While the two know of each other, they serve different powers. Jamma explains that the lizardfolk have grown increasingly resentful toward their current arrangement with the **Cult of the Dragon** and their amphibious rivals, the **Bullywugs**. The cult favors the Bullywugs for their servility, leaving the lizardfolk humiliated and exploited.
Yet, despite this resentment, open rebellion has been slow to come. Why? Because something strange — something arcane — is also housed within the castle. Whatever it is, it’s valuable enough to keep **Rezmir** and **Azbara Jos** anchored here. Everyone knows the cult’s game by now, but few are willing to strike first.
Lyle and Jamma turn their eyes toward the adventurers. “What do you want? Who are you really working for?”
Recap
Jamma accuses the party of being **Harpers**. Actual Harper **Bechamel** denies it. **Shade** offers her Zhentarim codename, “Fang.” Jamma immediately connects it to the **Zhentarim**, prompting another denial. “Why say it, then?” Shade insists she’s just heard it around. The group’s eventual story: they’re “following the coin.”
Lyle and Jamma accept the answer—for now. The adventurers agree to ally with the lizardfolk rebellion in exchange for a share of the spoils. Still, Jamma notes how often this supposedly mercenary group takes unpaid overtime for the greater good.
Together, they forge a plan: the heroes will continue posing as cult contractors, escorting the next shipment of loot through the **Carnath Roadhouse**. While they’re away, Jamma and the lizardfolk will spread word of the impending uprising. Once the heroes return, they’ll trigger the chaos from within.
The session ends with the party helping fend off a monster attack along the route and reuniting with the lizardfolk camp near where they first met Snapjaw — preparing for the rebellion to come.
XP Awards
- Bechamel – 11,778 (Level 6 at 14,000)
- Bruder – 13,178 (Level 6 at 14,000)
- Gootcha – 4,282 (Level 5 at 6,500)
- Keyleth – 7,128 (Level 6 at 14,000)
- Xanphina – 12,223 (Level 6 at 14,000)
- Cosima – 10,812 (Level 6 at 14,000)
- Shade – 11,232 (Level 6 at 14,000)
- Swarm of Rats – 125 (Level 2 at 300)
Notable Characters
- Lyle – Leader of the Lizardfolk; weary of the Cult’s tyranny.
- Jamma Gleamsilver – Caravan survivor turned spy for an unknown faction.
- Snapjaw – The party’s lizardfolk ally, now organizing rebellion.
- Azbara Jos – Red wizard with murky loyalties.
- Rezmir – The Black Dragon Lady, commanding the castle.
- Bechamel, Shade, Bruder, Gootcha Zinnoa, Keyleth Siannodel, Xanphina, Cosima – Adventurers navigating political chaos between factions.
Locations
Next Session
- Tentative Date: April 13th or 14th
- Food rotation: Kaleb on food.
- The stage is set for the uprising at **Castle Naerytar** — the alliance of scales begins.
The party hatches a plan with the lizardfolk to release the Service Lizards from their paddock as a distraction, which they do. They charge into the castle, battle a bunch of giant toads, and discover a tower with trash and grossness on the bottom and a spiral staircase leading up. A creature called an Otyugh dwells within. They slay the beast and make their way up the staircase. Given that this room was directly above an impromptu trash heap, it is damp and rotted, save for a single newer plank placed on opposite ledges. It creates a pathway to another stairway. There is a word in dwarvish scrawled on the wall, along with an arrow pointing up. And this is where the party took a short rest.