Vuloo eyes grow wide at the mention of the treasures in the Lady's Light, "I can hardly imagine the Thassalonian relics and artifacts that must be in there."
He walks up to the stew pot and tastes the broth with trepidation. "Not bad. So, do you have any leverage with these troglodytes and boggards? Can we bargain with them? What could we use to bribe them? Or is stealth the best method through these caves?"
Aidon wanders around the hut, looking for shinny things, putting his fingers in things, opening things. Not really looking for anything of value just looking for something fun, a toy of some sort purhaps
Levelle nods at Vuloo's words equally hopeful that there might be some way to interact with various inhabitants of the area without conflict...
Maroux smacks Vuloo's hand with her spoon and scowls at Aidon whistling at her bird, but proceeds to answer the halfling's question, “Oriana asked the same question, and she asked me if I knew a way in to the Lady's Light. I told her about the caves and warned her of the trogs ’n frogs, and told her I didn't have any influence with them, but that didn’t seem to bother her. Unlike me, she had herself a whole group of ironclad soldiers to back her up, after all. So off she goes, and damned if she and her mercenaries don’t make friendly with the frogs! Got them some better weapons, gave them some fighting tips, and then helped them launch an attack on the trogs. In return, the frogs gave her permission to use their tunnels."
The crow begins to harrass Aidon flapping around him whenever he starts to touch something.
Vuloo rubs his hand, "What are the Troglodytes and Boggards fighting over? What are the names of their leaders? If we say that you sent us, will that help or hinder us? Is there anything that they want besides weapons?"
Levelle blanches slightly as the halfling talks. Once he is finished she offers an almost inaudible addendum, Take a breath between questions Vuloo...
Looking at Vuloo sidelong as she begins to serve the seaweed soup in to rough wooden bowls, she hums a bit before answering, "What ever it is that two vile demon-worshipping clans fight over. I don't know much more about them except where they're holed up. I can mark that for you."
She motions to her tiny table once she's laid out several bowls of soup and tosses down a few sppons, "Here now, eat. What else do you wish to know?"
Vuloo nods at the witch, "Thank you for the information. We will have to see if we can reason with these brutes. If the varisian knights were able to convince them to provide safe passage, then we should be able to do the same."
Vuloo slides over a map of the mushfens, "If you could mark the locations of the respective lairs, it would be appreciated."
He then sits down at the table, "Thank you for lunch. We will have to be on our way afterwords. I hope to be able to make it into the Lady's Light before sun down. I do not look forward to spending the night in this swamp."
Braelex chuckles and carefully tastes the stew.
Levelle leans slightly and looks at Vuloo's map nodding her head at the halfling's word, I agree. Hopefully we can avoid a fight. Otherwise the hunter eats her food wordlessly but enthusiastically having been on the run for a while to find the party and thankful for a meal that isn't ration based.
Relan listens to the information provided but only pushes his spoon around in the bowl, not even tasting the food. I will speak freely and say that I had hoped for more you for the task we performed. Your information will be useful, but can you also offer actual aid?
The meal consists of barely edible stew, rough bread, and murky swamp water—the addition of kelpie’s hair makes the stew a little tastier, though, and although you can barely stomach the foul taste, the seaweed actually helps.
Maroux scowls at Relan. "Eat up, fool boy, and stop being such a sulking little whiner. You should be mounted on my bridge for acting like that. <harumph>."
Despite her harsh words, she pulls Vuloo's map over and delicately marks an X and 3 circles. "This northern cave is the trog village. The boggards live to the south at this X. The claim this cave, here, for themselves. This middle circle to the southeast isn't a cave that I've gone near. Rumor in the region is something big and mean lives there. All these caves are connected and should get you under the Lady's Light."
"Under her skirts is the only way I know, Oriana found a way inside the Lady—or at least she says so. She came my way ten days ago with a story that she’d found none other than the Runelord of Lust herself in there, and that the runelord had recruited Oriana to help her reclaim her lands and rebuild her kingdom! Oriana asked me to join their crusade! I politely refused and wished her well and she went on her way. Gods above an’ below, I couldn’t get her out of my hut quick enough!"
She lets you ponder that a moment before continuing
“The way I see it, there’s three possibilities. First, Oriana is lying, for whatever reason. The second, Oriana, sad child, is off her nut. And the third, someone or something in there is masquerading as Sorshen the Grand Whore of Thassilon and has tricked Oriana into being her minion. Well, I suppose there’s a fourth possibility—that Sorshen really is alive and well in the Lady’s Light, but if you believe that claptrap, there’s a bridge across the Straits of Aroden I’d like to sell ya!”
She laughs loudly, a harsh barking sound, [b]"Now, before you sick up on my table, get on out and go find what you need. I don't have room for you to sleep in my house, but you're welcome to use my island. Them trogs and frogs won't come here, but I can't say the same for the animals. If you do get attacked in the middle of the night, kindly skin them for me and leave outside and I'll cook 'em up tomorrow."
She ushers you out with a broom.
Levelle blanches slightly as she hungrily sips down the soup and then nods to herself that it hasn't seemingly done any permanent damage. Upon the witch ushering them out of the hut Levelle whistles for Tallay to return. As the bird moves to land on her shoulder once more the hunter turns to her new companions, Well...take her up on her offer to rest here on the island or make a move out there... Levelle offers a broad sweep of her hand out at the swamp.
Braelex looks a little green after eating the stew, and her stomach echoes with some obscene grumbling, but she manages to keep it down.
"Many thanks, Maroux."
Relan is glad to be free of the hut and does not bother to say thank you. He is still sure that the witch had gotten the better end of this business transaction. Once outside he looks for a good place to establish a camp.
Aidon continued to wander around the small hut looking for anything fun, as the conversation wraps up he realizes he missed out on the soup and looks sad about it until he sees everyone looking a little green around the gills, then he is pretty happy about missing it.
He wanders out of the hut, he may have a few new things in his pockets if there was anything shiny to take
If everyone is setting up some sort of camp, he will do the same all the while whistling tunelessly.
Vuloo holds his stomach in discomfort after eating the stew but is able to hold it down. "Thank you for the information, wise one. We'll accept your offer to camp on your isle. We'll be off at first light."
Vuloo assists in setting up camp. He volunteers to take the first guard shift.
Levelle offers to talk last watch with her and Talaay's ability to see well in the dim light. Otherwise she sets a relatively spartan camp for herself but is thorough in checking through her gear and doing som basic upkeep.
Other than sleeping outside in a swamp, your evening and night pass without significant incident.
If the "frogs" are under assault we may be able to get past them as their numbers may be thinner or more intensely purposed against a more important threat. We could offer to help tip the scales but I'm not sure I want to escalate the violence, honestly.
Vuloo strokes his beard, "I agree Levelle. Also, if the boggards allowed Oriana to pass, they may allow us also. I say we take our chances with the frogs. Does anyone speak boggard by chance?"
"Ribbit?" Braelex smirks.
"Um, I do ... mostly for my studies and interpreting what others brought back in their journals. Haven't actually ever talked to a boggard before, though," your scribe says hesitantly. You sense great trepidation in your quiet companion.
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Levelle casts her pupil-less eyes at Andel and nods gently, Well I'm sure you have been in good hands with the group here and I will add my expertise to keeping us all in good shape in case such a conversation goes...poorly.
Well said. As will I. Are we ready to go then? It sounds like we will explore the boggard's cave first.
Vuloo finishes tightening the straps on his backpack and then nods to Relan, "Yes, let us be off. We must endeavor to not be drawn into the boggard's conflict.". He then adds with a smile, "Hopefully they are amenable to bribery. Though I'm not sure what we can offer that they will value."
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"So Levelle, how would one go about getting such an exquisite friend like Talaay?" Aidon waves at the bird with his fingers, he isn't really directing his words to Levelle as much as he is to Talaay "I can bring friends into the world many times a day but they all end up having to go home in much to short of a period of time." Aidon shrugs a little sadly, "I am always so sad when they have to go home."
Levelle considers Aidon a moment and smirks, I would wager it is not unlike your own skills Master Davian, or so I have heard. Think that instead of summoning so many diverse allies from across the planes my talent is to be more focused, here in our world and in our nature. I will never call many of magnificent creatures you might but instead my gift is to bond with an animal and share in its nature...
Levelle considers Talaay as the bird flies above them, He grows in intellect and spirit and I can expend some magic to bring other animals to me like others trained in the druidic arts but I have been lucky. Talaay has been my companion from the start. Not everyone like me gets to keep their animals for as long.
The elf offers a shrug, Just different I would say. But he is exquisite. The hunter offers a smile in conclusion.
Vuloo ponders the map, "I suggest we cross the bridge and then continue south east through the swamp until we hit Slug Creek. Hopefully the river feeding into Lake Ghaulos is shallow enough for us to cross on foot. We then can follow Slug Creek west until we reach the Boggard area. Let's stay on the north shore of the Creek to avoid the Big and Mean". Vuloo shudders, "That definitely doesn't sound good."
Relan consults the map over Vuloo's shoulder nodding. I shall lead. He says then asks Is anyone not ready? If there is no response he heads off.
"Hopefully no more swimming today..."
Aidon frowns at Levelle for a second before he remembers his name is Davian and grins, "It's just Aidon, Levelle, no more no less."
Aidon smiles as he watches Talaay fly around, "Yes, yes he is"
Waving her along with us, "Come join us on this fine adventure, tell us about yourself as we go, your story will help make the time go by faster."
Have you heard of Greengold? Its a city in Kyonin where foreigners are allowed access to the riches of my people's legacy. Anyway, would you believe I was born the daughter of a metropolitan merchant? True story...
Levelle walks and chats occasionally casting an eye at Talaay to give her a warning should she need to be quiet or otherwise less "obvious".
The party sets out in the morning, heading south into the thick swamp. It's slow going, trudging through muck and murk, avoiding clouds of bugs and gurgling bogs spewing foul gases.
After an hour or so, you come upon the waterway that feeds the Lake. Heavy vines drape across the water and you find it fairly easy to cross with their aid.
Following Vuloo's suggestion, the party eventually comes upon Slug Creek, so named for its disgusting appearance and less for its inhabitants. Cutting southwest along the northern bank, you stumble upon an interesting site after a half mile.
Scattered upon the ground are obvious signs of carnage, and the vile reek of rot mixed with a pungent reptilian stink assaults the nostrils like a hammer’s blow. Buzzards wheel in the sky above while clouds of flies buzz below. At least three dozen decomposing humanoid bodies lie strewn across the ground here, reptilian and amphibian in form. The reptilian bodies have all been decapitated—the heads are nowhere in evidence.
The air is filled with an odor that evokes a gag reflex in all of you ... Talaay included.
Vuloo frowns at the dead, "Victims of the Boggard Troglodyte conflict, no doubt. Did they keep the heads as trophies I wonder? Let's keep moving."
Looks like the Boggard's won. There could be valuables but if the victors took heads they would have also taken booty. Perhaps a quick detection of magic before moving on? Something could have been missed.
Levelle nods at Relan and casts a hand out as she utters the familiar phrase. With her senses tuned in to magic the hunter idly moves around the bodies to see if anything stands out.
Levelle's cursory search turns up nothing magical, but she notes plenty of primitively made and damaged arrows, spears, and clubs, as well as a broken dagger of decidedly finer craftsmanship caked in filth.
Vuloo bends down and examines the filth coating the weapons, "They coat their weapons with a crude poison. We should beware if we ever have to fight these troglodytes."
Braelex frowns at the poisoned blade, and nods.
Hey, that blade could be repaired and sold for more than a hundred gold. Bring it along.
Vuloo shrugs and places the broken dagger in his backpack after wrapping it. "Let's be on our way."
Levelle nods at the halfling and rubs her temples for a moment, imparting an aspect of nature onto Talaay to make his sense more keen as they travel.
If we feel the need to be more thorough in our approach I can actually see through Talaay's eyes. It leaves me vulnerable in a sense but if we are worried about our approach I wanted to make this talent known.
Without tarrying any longer, the party gathers together and continues along the northwestern bank of Slug Creek. After about a quarter mile of fairly easy travel along the soft mud of the creek bank, you cross a mud path as noted on the map. Reptilian prints lead both directions to and from the water. A poorly constructed bridge of loose stones crosses the creek and connects the path on the northern side to the one on the southern side.
You see the wide cave entrance yawning at the base of a stony outcropping overlooking a wide bog on the far side of the creek. The cave is nearly forty feet wide and twenty feet high, and slopes up into darkness. A wide assortment of bones lies scattered about in front of the cave itself, and here and there something shiny glitters among the bones.
As the group approached the bridge Levelle kneels over the mud for a moment and looks to the others, 2 maybe 3 troglodytes. Back and forth. A patrol maybe? Either that or the same group has come and gone repeatedly.
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Shhhh. I hear heavy breathing from multiple sources and the smell of charred flesh lingers in the air, even from here.
Braelex crouches and loads her crossbow.