Session 12: Lair of the Twisted Branch
General Summary
After a night's rest, the party prepared to set out. They heard a shout from Sigvurd's room, and when they went to see what happened, they found him missing. Vin eventually located his picture in the spellbook (fully illustrated, fighting manticores and owlbears with his glaive), and the party grew stronger, smellier, and better at lifting stuff.
Lins took point, and the party tracked the lizardfolk troops due south through the swamp. They contended with muddy ground, foggy air, and clouds of bugs, and had some run-ins with local wildlife. But after two days of travel, they found themselves looking at an uncommonly thick hedge of growth, with two woven-together mangrove trees forming an opening.
Atop this living gate perched two sentry harpies, their human heads bobbing with birdlike agility as they scanned the swamp. The tracks they had been following led inside. Surely, beyond this entrance lay the soldiers, the battlemage, and the lizardfolk who kidnapped them. But for what purpose? Why have they taken hostage, but issued no ransom? Why have they attacked the keep in a time of peace?
There was only one way to find out.