The party sets off following the path and into the swamp, and soon move beyond sight of the beach. A dense tropical canopy of mangroves and trees forms overhead, though the rough path is easy enough to follow. After roughly an hours walk, the pathway slips suddenly into a large green bog. Remnants of an old wooden bridge cross the bog, but only short timber platforms on either side remain, leaving just the pilings jutting from the mud. The stretch is roughly seventy feet from where you stand to the other side.
Survival:
Obi looks at the bog:
We need to find another way around. I recall bogs like this from living in Sargava. When you get stuck in them, they can suck you all the way under.
Obi then begins to search for another path:
Survival:
To the West the bog river gives way to a small sheer rise that a climb might be attempted on.
To the East the bog river continues into the near distance... you would need to head into the jungle and significantly off the path to even find out if a detour is possible.
Obi strips off her armor and begins to climb.
"It should not prove much more difficult than all that climbing while on a moving ship," Joneth says, looking at Nachni as he does so and then eyeing the rise to the west of them. "Shall we then?"
With those words the rogue approaches the rise, taking a moment or two to examine it a little more closely and see what parts of it could serve as handholds and footholds. He then starts to climb, slowly and carefully at first.
Joneth manages the climb... although barely. The rocks and hollows where he can gain grip are greasy with moss and moisture and the dextrous tiefling almost slips into the bog more than once... but is able to make passage. Using rope and some fortuitously placed trees and branches he is able to rig a handhold that will make it far easier for those that follow.
With care and caution the group makes it across the cliff-face and rejoins the path South. Another hour passes before you come across aught else of interest. A terrible stench fills the swamp here, a fetid odor of cheap perfume and rotting flesh. A huge tree stands in the middle of a clearing in the swamp, draped with some sort of huge tent. Lurid, painted faces cover both the tree trunk and tent, and both are decorated with rotting humanoid body parts and carpets of squirming insects.
Fish hangs back behind Obisyth. Out of spells and away from the water, there is little she can do.
Obi looks at Fish as they approach the tree.
What do you think that is? Almost looks as though the tree is alive, or a sacrificing place.
I think the latter. There's definitely something happening here. We should be ready for a fight.
Fish can spot the telltale signs of botflies even at this distance, foul insects that oft carry diseases. However the tree itself seems to be benign.
Upon the scent of perfume, Cedrick has a memory of passing by a certain bordello of the night... it is a telltale of cheap whorehouses and ladies of ill-repute. As to the body parts, some look chewed upon...
Perception:
Obi carefully tries to see whether there is anything notable about the tent, if anyone appears to be moving in it.
Obisyth cannot see anything from this vantage and the quiet buzz of insects hides any quiet movement that might be occurring within the tent... so she cannot confirm or deny the presence of others.
Be careful everyone. The tree seems pretty normal, but those are botflies over there. They often spread really nasty diseases, and if someone get's sick, there isn't much we can do for them. Another reason I stay underwater. No flies.
Looking around at the others, I don't have anything prepared to deal with insect, so we may want to just get back to shore and search along that. What do you think?
Obi shakes her head: No, there is something here. The question is what.
We could simply call out and see who, or what, responds.
Nachni strains to try to see through the clouds of flies. "I agree with you Obi. Perhaps a hermit or reclusive magic user. Or maybe whoever was here is dead." She moves forward, looking again and then calls out, "Hallo! Is there anyone here? We've just come from a wreck and just want to talk."
Okay. I'll get ready to grow you if need be.
"Guess we could sacrifice something of our own? See what answers?"
Nachni's call is answered... by three gaudily painted forms. Human... or at least they once were come ladies of ill repute. Dressed in tattered and filthy silks that crawl with maggots they move out of the tent and their eyes rove the area... searching for you. When they find Nachni, their mouths open un-naturally wide and long tongues spill from their mouths.
F:
N:
O:
C:
JRe:
Whores:
Action Tracker (Round 1): Joneth, Nachni, Whores, Obisyth, Cedrick, Deader, Fish
They do not look healthy.
Obi begins calling on the powers of nature to assist her against what are clearly unnatural creatures.
Cast Shillelagh.
"No, they do not," Joneth agrees as his dagger appears in his right hand. Moving forward to lend his support to Nachni, the tiefling rogue stands ready for a fight.
Back up, make them come to us. Be prepared to strike.
Fish begins casting her spell to enlarge Obisyth.
"Glad I didn't waste any time getting away from that brothel in Ilizmagorti. I'm definitely happy to slip behind you guys and see if I can trip them as they come." Nachni takes a step back behind Joneth and draws her whip, readying herself to trip the first whore to get within reach.
As Joneth advances and Nachni takes a backward step the dilapidated ladies of ill-repute stalk cautiously forward through the filth and muck. Sounds akin to a whining beast issue forth as their elongated tongues writhe.
Action Tracker (Round 1): Joneth, Nachni, Whores, Obisyth, Cedrick, Deader, Fish
|
R1
Cedrick moves up to hold the line (F18), readying his axe for the creatures inevitable approach.
Attack
Damage
Crit?
Attack
Add Damage
He signals for his Hellhound to move up and do the same (E18)
The salivating warhound awaits their approach, ready to defend its Alpha...
Attack (PA)
Trip Vs CMD
Damage
Sorry - Obi is casting Shillelagh and Fish is casting Enlarge Person as far as I know. Deader is up and the the top of the order.
"You ladies really aught to get yourselves looked at. We really don't want to catch what you've got."
Obisyth channels spirits of nature into her shilleagh and Fish begins the magics that will swell her form beyond normalcy.
Cedrick makes ready to check any charge with his axe and hound while Deader calls upon ethereal chains from beyond to lash the whores in place...
Reflex: at +2
...and one is caught within the tendrils
Action Tracker (Round 2): Joneth, Nachni, Whores, Obisyth, Cedrick, Deader, Fish
Once the spell is complete, Fish steps forward and extends her pike to menace the approach the whores will likely take.
Following Cedrick's example and Obisyth's advice, Joneth gets ready to lash out at the first creature that gets within range of his dagger.
"Looks like you might have gotten one of them Deader. Should make this a little easier." Nachni stands ready with her whip, waiting for the first of the whores to approach within range.
As Joneth and Nachni make ready with blade and leather thong, the diseased ladies emit a bestial howl at the assault of the bindings. The central and snared one tries to free itself...
CMB:
...tearing free of the bonds that bind it. Put off by the sudden appearance of the chains they do not seek to charge through, instead withdrawing to behind where the chains lash about with their own mind and pausing.
Action Tracker (Round 2): Joneth, Nachni, Whores, Obisyth, Cedrick, Deader, Fish
Obi turns to Deader.
Drop the Web, my larger size and club only lasts a short while. That web is blocking us from them just as much as them from us.
Deader shrugs and the chains dissolve into wisps of fog.
Seeing that the ghouls have moved back, Obi moves forward a few steps and prepares to hit the first one to move within her striking range.
Time to take the battle to the enemy, times a wasting.
Move to B/13.
Standard Action to ready 2-handed attack with super-club.
Seeing the wisps of chain fade and a united front of axe wielding cavalier, hound and enlarged lady holding a large club like a baseball bat - the ghouls think better of suffering a murderous charge and instead turn. Loping with uneven gait they disappear away and into the swamp.
The party is left alone with the charnel tent, tree and contents.
Fish scuffs the ground dejectedly with her pike before moving towards the tent, ready to extend her weapon to strike anything that emerges from it, or snag anything that looks interesting.
The still large Obi charges after the ghouls roaring, but will not follow them into the swamp.