The Battle of Shaman's Fall - 27/04/20

Our group (Me, Grok, Bardin, Samael and June) met in the Grim Pig on that day, and we agreed to return to the frogmen's camp. I harboured plans of maybe turning these savages to the way of Kethkar, for which power seemed to be the shortest way. One of their kind would have been a good crier to their kin, but the others wanted to kill our prisoner before getting all the way back, so they wouldn't know where we are from. I felt it was a cowardly aproach to these savages, but I didn't argue. The tortle cleric kept drinking throughout our discussions, and brought further bottles with him for the rest of the day. _We left with our stumbling captive from the last adventure, who seemed really worn down, probably for the lack of water in his cage, but his step soon became springier when rain started to fall. We made good way into the swamp with it sort of guiding us back to the camp, when suddenly, from a group of dead trees, a swarm of enormous blood suckers have risen and came straight at us. Needless to say the frogman, who was shackled by Bardin, shrunk down in fear, while me and Samael, who were the closest engaged these crawling things first. The human seemed very skilled with his long weapon, and took down multiple of them. Bardin also took his share, while I was shamefully challenged by barely two of these. One of them even flew off with its belly filled with my blood. Luckily it didn't manage to flee far enough away by the time the others were slain, so I burst it with Kethkar's power as well, so no beast escaped with us for a meal. My weakness in this fight have sparked the fires of rage in me, which grew further when the other have decided this was the time to kill the frogman. The dwarf simply bashed his had in with one single stroke. Not a good way to die: shackled and unarmed... When I die, I hope it will be fighting. Preferably with my killer coming after me shortly.(edited)

We took a short rest before moving closer to the hill upon which the frogmen camped earlier, and the smoking fire told us they were still their. June shifted shapes into that of a frogman again, and went ahead to scout, and to lure a few of their number out, so we could thin their numbers. This seemed like a good plan, as they have brought in salves to work on the camp as well, and there seemed to be too many for us. She managed to lure a guard and a giant toad away, which we cut down quickly. Well, the others did. All I managed was to slow the guard down in its escape. This further angered me. _The next attempt was less successful. We came in from the west this time, and as June shouted challenges of cowardice back at one of the lookouts to come out, the one we thought to be the leader appeared. The one with the maul, and yelled back at her. They also started shooting orbs of water the size of my head at her from some sort of huge slingshot, which, when landing, turned into giant toads! After the first beast June cast some sort of orb that swirled with ligthning at Bogrok, who exploded into a shower of blood and entrails. The rest of us were still waiting in ambush between some bushes, but the thought that all our preparations, and my will to fight a proper warrior seemed to turn to nothing, the fire in me raged once again, and I burst from the bushes with great spite at the primitive tribe. I demanded a proper fight and I shook my fists and curses at the tiny encampment, and some of the frogmen guards around the village started to turn and run...(edited)

...until a second shout was heard from the camp, and not in their primitive froggish tongue, but in common! A shaman of sorts, wearing the head of a crocodile as a hat, walking up to the edge of the camp, looking down at us from the edge of the cliff, some of his tribesmen gathering up next to it, following his lead. I saw my prey, and though other toads have landed by us (one may have grabbed onto June with its tongue, who was right next to me) I spared no time on thinking and moved forward, yelling a challenge at the shaman, marking it for Kethkar. Samael and Grok moved in to help June, the tortle priest releasing all his rage on one of the toads, while Bardin began to flank them from the right, towards the ramp that leads up to the hillock. The shaman raised an unnatural fog around us, which covered us and the toads in its gray mantle, but I strode forward without stopping, until I came out of the fog, and as I have promised, released Kethkar's might upon their false priest, dragging him down from the hill down to my feet in the swamp. At this point Samael also reached the battle, and delivered a powerful strike at it, but it still stood. I was ready to finally bury Kethkar's blade in blood, but the frogling was faster, and struck me first. This was the moment. This was when I showed them true might, and I did not challenge the strike: "Show me your strength" I thought "Show me what passes for power amongst your kin!" As I raised my arms at him, he cut me, and Kethkar took revenge. Flames erupted and engulfed the frogman, who died shrieking and shuddering, his charred body falling back to the muddy water.

Witnessing our victory all the remaining frogkin broke, and ran, fearful, towards the east. The few slaves (much smaller frog creatures) waved at us thankfully, and swam off towards the north, while we claimed the hill, and any precious belongings they might have left behind. We also thought we should name this point, as it could be a good point for shelter in the future. I suggested 'Shaman's Fall', and everyone took a liking to my suggestion. I am proud that the victory we have achieved will be remembered this way. We found two more toad-bubbles, some coin, a few potions, and a scroll in the village, and the arms their two (seemingly) leaders carried. We also found an idol in a makeshift shrine, that Grok confirmed to seethe with evil, so we cast it into the fire that was still burning at the center, and the idol melted and broke, its shadow burning with it. I hung the shamans body on the east cliffside as a warning to the rest, we set up a few traps around the exit, but we will probably need to set up some guards here, if we want to set this as place of safety for the future. We gathered what we could, and headed back towards Geistholm