Adventures in Zephlanore

Bullwug Tower

"What is it doing?" William asked Levi as they stood staring at the oversized green and red toad.

"You mean, what is it?" Levi replied as the toad sat cross-legged. Its eyes were half opened as it faced the crystal lake.

"I think it's sleeping," William added.

"It is not sleeping. It is meditating and it is Agmar." The toad said glaring at the two young men that look over him.

"William, what's an Agmar?" Levi asked.

"No, no, no, I'm a Bullywug, my name is Agmar." He Croaked as he snatched the gourd from William's hand. "And I can't meditate without my meditation juice." Agmar began to chug away at the gourd.

"So Mr. Agmar, have you ever visited the mill up the way?" William asked

"Do they have ale?" Agmar asked in return still look at the lake.

"No." Levi interject.

"Then I would have no reason to go there." Agmar opened his mouth and wrapped his tongue around the lantern crook William had brought with him. In a flash, the crook was in Agmar's hand. "This is your toll for whacking me for no go reason." Agmar touched his web thumb and index finger together, immediately his fat beaded necklace that he wore began to rattle. A ghostly green bear appeared between Agmar and the young men. In a single hop, Agmar landed on the back of the bear and sprawled out on its ghostly green fur. Swigging his gourd he rode away on the back of his bear. William and Levi stood amazed and slightly confused about what they just beheld.

The Tower of Bullwug Lake stood in the tops of the trees. Its old wood-shingled roof had caved in on one side exposing its internal beams. Midway in the tower a large hole, likely from a catapult, opened the side of the tower to the natural elements. After making their tour the base of the tower they found the bottom to be completely plastered over, with no entrance. When puzzled by this problem they were alarmed by a loud croak. There sprawled out and exposed on the far side of the tower was Agmar. His robe hanging open with the lantern crook in one hand and the gourd in the other. His long skinny legs flapped and kicked from time to time. "No, no, not the children!" He said to himself kicking his legs faster and faster till at last, he jumped headlong into the tower wall.

Agmar hunched over and began to rub his head. Peering up from the side he saw the two young men standing over him once again, "ow, you again." He said, "stop hitting me, I told you I'm not playing. "
"Hit you?" William started, "you were sleep and then jumped into the wall."

"I wasn't sleeping, I was meditating."

"Oh, you're a drunk. He's a drunk." Levi said proud at his revelation.

"No, no, I'm a Shaman. It's different."

"Question, are you trained in arcana?" William asked.

"Of course, I'm a shaman."
"We could probably use your help in this tower. Would you be willing to join us?" William asked.
"Depends, what is in.."
"Alcohol! " Levi shouted, "we will pay you in..."
"Deal." Agmar quickly replied. "Tell me though, your not trying to save any," Agmar stiffened up and croaked expanding his gullet. "Any children?"
"No sir."William answer.
"Oh thank the gods." He croaked
"Well, I think our best bet is to climb in the opening in the tower," William stated. "If we can get Levi in that opening he can anchor the rope and let us climb up." With Levi standing on Agmar's head and Agmar on William's and William on Agmar's bear aberration, Levi was able to make it into the hole.

Lower the rope down one last time, William and Levi called down to Agmar, "Just tie the rope around your waist and will pull you up." Agmar still rubbing his head from his last attempt, drew the rope around his waist a few times, taking a long drink from his gourd and sprinkling some on his head. Agmar gave the rope a consenting tug. William and Levi hoisted Agmar up the tower wall. His fat belly bulged outward from the tightening of the rope. His arms hung wide out to the sides as the lower half of body and long legs remained exposed to the elements. Helplessly he rocked back and forth as they slowly drug him up the wall. Agmar embarrassed croaked.

The tower full of debris spiraled downward to the next floor. Agmar with his lantern crook lead the way. Cobwebs hung thick in the tower and the years of rain rotten the wood floor. They found a long ladder stowed away and near it, a busted sack of flour. Across the way was another stairwell downward. Agmar murmured to himself as he walked toward the entry. William looked around for any indication of the thief. Just as Agmar approached the doorway the ground gave way with Agmar disappearing below. Levi and William rushed to the edge of the hole as Agmar cried out below.

"No! No! God no!" Agmar screamed in a panic.

"I'll save you!" Cried Levi, ready to jump below.

"No! Don't you dare." Agmar replied sternly.

"What's going on down there?" William called out.

"My meditation juice, I can't find it." Agmar croaked in a panic.

William and Levi proceeded with caution as the stairwell was rotted and full of branches and leaves. Agmar stood up, dusted himself off and straighten the lantern crook. There on the ground was the wine gourd, Agmar hobbled over to the gourd when it was snatched up by an ugly long-nosed goblin. Agmar wide-eyed immediately crouched down, as toads do, and croaked. After sniffing the gourd, the goblin grabbed Agmar by the leg.

William put his shoulder to the beams of wood that now blocked the bottom of the stairwell. Slowly wood and debris cracked and snapped as Levi was able to squeeze out a small opening. Together Levi and William pulled open the stairwell. Agmar's lantern crook laid dimly lite on the far side of the room, but Agmar and his gourd were nowhere to be found.