As the party's canoes approach Castle Naerytar, the Kenku monk notices several lizardfolk watching from the depths of the swamp. Some of them disappear, possibly off to alert others. There is also the intermittent sound of drums from the castle, beating a rhythmic pattern which may be a signal. Induris scouts around the southern area, finding little but a cage of giant lizards. Meanwhile, Bron moves north and finds a group of bullywug huts. As he moves to investigate a hut, a group of giant frogs leaps forward to the attack. The frogs are easily dispatched, but nothing is found in the huts save smelly filth. The entire party smells terrible, either from frog guts or bullywug leavings. Induris and Bron sneak up to the castle gate, which is in terrible disrepair. They see a group of bullywugs and giant frogs in the entry area, report to the party, and the group decides this is the perfect time for a fireball. Varcus obliges, and little remains aside from barbecued frog legs. In the entry area they find nothing but a few mud-covered tables, a wooden pathway leading further in the castle, and stairs leading up. The drums ring out again, much louder, coming from directly above. A rush up the stairs reveals more bullywugs, several of which are pounding a rhythmic pattern on a large drum. Everyone attacks, killing several, and the rest attempt to escape but most are cut down without mercy. The rogue attempts to capture one...but after the cleric verifies that it is truly evil, that one is dispatched as well. The upstairs area contains nothing except the drum and some rocks, which were apparently intended as ammunition in case of a siege. The party carefully moves across the causeway area to the castle proper. They spot several bullywugs and lizardfolk in the main courtyard, looking alert after the drum warnings but hesitant to take the risk of investigating the sudden silence. The barbarian attempts to draw them into the causeway with random noises, but they remain in place. One lizardfolk disappears into an adjoining room, and from another doorway a group of cultists emerges. These are led by Mondath, the purple-robed human woman who was at Greenest. Mondath orders her guards to investigate the causeway, but the party attacks before they can move. Her guards immediately move to her defense, and the lizardfolk attack as well, but the bullywugs appear frozen in fear of the intimidating presence of Bron. Thanks to the protection of Shazz'm, the barbarian feels no pain, and quickly is able to down some of the guards and Mondath herself. The rest of the party deals with the others, and the bullywugs flee at the sight of the defeated cultists. The situation seems in hand, but suddenly a group of a dozen well-armed lizardfolk burst from the doorway where their fellow disappeared earlier. They quickly surround the party, knocking the monk unconscious and inflicting several wounds on the others. Shazz'm the cleric, with zero regard for the consequences, calls upon his magic to send a wave of thunder through the melee. This knocks many of the lizardfolk unconscious, but also causes significant damage to the monk. The remaining lizardfolk are taken down by the others, but the monk passes the brink of death. Fortunately, the cleric has the favor of Aerdrie Faenya , the elven goddess of the air, wind, and storms. She takes pity on the poor Kenku, as an avian being in need. Shazz'm loses some of his god-given powers, and the monk is weaker, but he is returned to life. Once they are able to return to a major city and thank Aerdrie properly with worship and sacrifices, their full power can be restored. Searching the rooms where the well-armed lizardfolk had been, the party finds stairs leading upward. They also find a room with another dozen bullywugs, but decide not to engage them, and the bullywugs quickly follow their fellows in running away to the north. The party chooses to explore the stairway, finding an empty room above, but also a trapdoor that was nailed shut. Bron easily breaks this open and they ascend to the third floor. Induris spots several spiders in the darkness of the sealed third floor room, and the party attacks in hope of clearing the room for a resting place. At first the battle is a simple matter, but then an oppressive will descends on the party, fogging their minds and saying "You not only seek to usurp me, but also harass my children!" Three more spiders appear, surrounded by a sickly purple aura. Induris immediately recognizes this as another attack against his destiny as the enemy of Lolth. It is a long and difficult fight, resulting in both the cleric and monk being poisoned and paralyzed, but the party eventually prevails. Bron replaces the trapdoor, nails it shut, and the party rests for the night. They hear movement through the castle during the night, as if large numbers of people or objects are being moved. No one bothers them, though - the castle inhabitants know better than to bother the tower where the spiders dwell.