SNAKE GOD & TOAD

The heroes realized their presence was known all along. Sir Frederick raised his longsword in defiance, as Kelar and Agis prepared their arrows. Pheara prepared her hammer. Shaman Quazky mumble unrecognizable words in his native tongue, his warriors irradiated a faint light for a moment, as they raised their lances and start to walk towards the enemy. Sir Frederick moved ahead of them, and upon seeing him charging, the warrior lizard folk followed his lead, charging as well.

 The heroes, the lizard folk, and Merrshaulky met in a deadly embrace at the base of the crooked hill. Although quick and feral, the Merrshaulky didn’t have good aim and mostly missed when attacking. This further encouraged their hysterical, fanatical rage. The lizard folk took care of most of them. Sir Frederick and Agis went on to directly fight the giant snake-god. He laughed in delight while moving his tail as if swatting flies. All the time he remained hovering over the well.

“Puny human…”

The serpent-god attacked with his clawed hands, striking down the ranger elf and the human warrior. The Vistana threw small bottles at the giant snake, which distracted the beast long enough for Sir Frederic to strike two dangerous blows. Agis followed his lead. The serpent-god looked surprised at this, at the dark thick blood coming out of his flanks. He wailed a deafening scream. A piercing buzzing was suddenly heard, and from the highest areas from the giant tree, a dark cloud began to move towards the group. The cloud seemed to be made of bats, but as they drew closer upon the group, their shapes became clear. Bat-like creatures moving the wings so fast that it made that buzzing sound, dark brown bodies and insectoid head with a long, needle-like elongated appendage, a tubular mouthpart used perhaps for feeding or sucking… The piercing appendage slashed the air as it looked for its prey. These creatures fell over lizard folk and Merrshaulky alike. They attached themselves to Sir Frederick, and Agis as well. Kelar tried battling them with his arrow-bolts, but soon fell as two of the creatures attached themselves to his body.

The serpent-god collapsed over the well, but with the dark winged maelstrom, he seemed to vanish. Soon all Merrshaulky were dead on the floor. Lizard folk were also in the floor, except shaman Quazky who frantically tried to bring his people to safety. Sir Frederick, Pheara and Agis managed to destroy all bat-winged creatures. They realized Kelar was in the floor, along with 3 more lizard folk and all Merrshaulky. The bubbling of the mud called their attention as it had loud popping, and as they explored around the edges of the mud, a long tongue slapped one of them. Something lurked inside the pond. Soon, two eyes came up from under the mud pool, and the visage of a giant frog was quite evident. As it arises from its lair, the giant toad presented its 6 legs. It was covered in muddy spikes, plates, and warty bumps. Its yellowish eyes grew fixed on Sir Frederick.

Agis and Sir Frederick tried battling the giant toad, but the injuries and lack of rest from previous battles had taken their toll. The toad somehow made the mud bubble in extreme heat. Mixed together, fumes and heat were just too much for the adventurers as they were badly hurt. Using Merrshaulky bodies to throw at the toad, and distract it, they decided to retreat to the top of the crooked hill to rest and think their next move. Reaching the top, they found shaman Quazky, also wounded, seated. His fellow warriors had fallen. Four were nearby him, as he had tended their wounds, but they were not conscious.

Shaman Quazky looked at the heroes and at fallen Kelar. “Not natural… This place… No nature… Too dry.” Agis tried looking around, but there was no hint of the way back. The surrounding wilderness extended high and spread in luscious but dry woodland that was also mixed with mists that became thicker until there was no possible vision… Further exploration seemed extremely hard. Agis and Sir Frederick came to decide they would go back down and find a way. Through the overlook they could see Luc was still collapsed inside the cage, hanging over the boiling mud.