The party headed out from Loomlurch toward the balloon after killing Skabatha with the intention to head back to Hither and see out the deal with Bavlorna Blightstraw
A general sense of the environment felt brighter and more gentle compared to their previous travels through the woods of Thither
Mugwort said that they went to Nib’s cave and got some magical mirrors that will likely confuse the Jabberwock but they hadn’t seen anything
They headed out and made it to Downfall without issue in a few hours
However, while they were landing, they noticed that the town was eerily quiet
Amrynn noticed several figures moving towards the balloon, but PB noticed that while they were shaped like bullywug, they didn’t seem to be moving like normal
As they landed, an armored bullywug started heading their direction, dragging a weapon on the ground behind him
Melina sent her echo out ahead of the party and one of the bullywug swung at it signaling they were not friendly
Based on how they moved during combat, it was clear that they are some kind of undead and when Melina stabbed one through the head, there was only straw and no brain
After dispatching the nearby foes, Amrynn noticed that they are definitely dead and they were stuffed and their eyes were replaced with glass beads
Mugwort said that the normal bullywug were the balloon factory workers but the armored one was one of the king’s knights, and she wanted to check out the castle and see if the king is okay
As they headed from the balloon landing toward the castle, they crossed the stepping stones and Baron Slimetongue of Festerblight called out to them from the balloon factory and gestured for them to come inside
He said his new title is Colonel Slimetongue of the First Reconnaissance Unit and that King Ickrind is holding out inside the castle
A monster came from the hag’s hut and laid waste to the bullywug army and Slackjawed Lorna’s Lornlings have been dragging people off and corrupting them
Baron Illig of Muckstamp (now brevet general) took his forces off to the hinterlands said he would conduct guerilla warfare but nothing has happened yet (probably just ran away)
He said the monster is a flying beast with the head of lion that seemed unnatural and made a loud bleating sound when attacking
They make their way towards the castle, attempting to be stealthy but Mugwort makes too much noise in her armor and attracts the chimera on top of the prison with the noise of her armor
After a pretty difficult battle of disabling one head at a time, they party is able to dispatch the chimera and several zombie bullywug
Upon further inspection, it is clear the chimera was sewn together and taxidermied
The bullywugs within the castle opened the door