"A hint of civilization? Splendid," the doctor says, "Perhaps they have water, or know where to get it. Maybe they'll know where our associates might have been taken, too."
"Well lets hope we can find them. Lead on Morgan."
"If what you say be true, I hope they are friendly. I don't wanna be a statue. Gimme a start and follow quiet."
Stowing his bow and readying his axe, Morgan moves off quietly down the path sticking to the cover of the right hand jungle edge. However having spent so long at sea, he struggles to distinguish any sounds over the ruckus of the local fauna.
Reinald follows crossbow ready.
Jord watches them leave and readies his weapon and shield
"Scream out if something bites you."
The path through the jungle turns into the only known safe and solid path through a boggy mire. The river oozes slowly through the jungle creating a swamp. About a mile in the path comes to an end. You can only see bog and quicksand ahead.
Looking around for a way to cross you can see several options. The tree canopy 20ft. above could be climbed across or you can climb up a tree , lash a rope, and swing across . You can also jump across the pilings sticking out of the mud where the bridge crossing used to be .
Reinald looks about. "Well there was a bridge. Once."
Reinald b3gins hopping from pilon to pilon.
"Umm I'm probably going to be able to get across, is there a way around?"
Says Jord as he takes off his armour and gear.
Sejanus looks at Jerieth. "Mind taking a look underwater for us? I would hate for anything to leap out of the water and grab us."
"Perhaps the most nimble of us could take a rope across, then tie it to a tree on the far side. We'll tie the other end here, and the less acrobatic could cling to it as we cross."
"Aye aye doc, although it ain't any harder than crossing the deck in a light squall"
Tying his rope, Morgan dances easily across the pilings and ties it off. Before facing forward for any threats.
"That's certainly easy for you to say, my friend." the doctor says, watching the experienced sailor's graceful performance. He grasps the rope and starts to make his way across.
Sejanus waits to go last, fearing something may be lurking just under the surface...
Jord checks his pack
"I have 50ft of rope.. not enough to cover the distance.. anyone else have any?
Morgan makes it over with no problem, tying his and Jord's ropes together provides more than enough to secure around a tree on either side. The rope makes it much easier to hop across the pilings .
Waiting patiently, camouflaged in the mire, are 2 giant frogs who see a possible meal crossing in front of them. Without warning and unseen their tongues flicker out towards Jerieth and Genade. Genade is not hit by the tongue but Jerieth is grabbed and pulled off into the mire.
Jord casts divine favour on himself and draws a Javelin
Realising he knows nothing about these beasts, Morgan focuses on putting arrows into the one that is pulling on Jerieth, landing 2 meaty hits.
Reinald grabs his crossbow and fires at the frog harassing Jerieth.
Sejanus hops to the next piling near Jerieth and unloads a blast of flame at the giant frog.
fire damage, Reflex DC 17 for half damage.
The doctor crouches low to get a secure hold on the piling. He reaches his hand out toward Jerieth.
Her allies rush to her side as Jerieth manages to swim hard enough to stay at the surface but unable to escape the frog's tongue's grip. A few seconds later 2 well aimed arrows and a burst of flame kill the frog. It's tongue releases Jerieth and Genade helps her to climb back up on her piling out of the miry and thick river.
The remaining frog lashes out its tongue to Genade again and curls around his leg, pulling at him. Though he resists and almost stays upright, he loses his balance and falls into the mire as Jerieth had.
Jord throws his readied Javelin at the frog and then draws another
Genade flounders about in the water, then draws his dagger and slashes at the tongue wrapped around his leg.
Reinald reloads and shoots at the frog harassing the Dr.
With the first frog dead, Morgan reacts quickly. Turning on the spot, he looses two arrows at the second amphibian. The first arrow finds its mark, but only grazes the creature, before his momentum unbalances his second shot.
There is nowhere for Sejanus to go! He sits tight and hopes the effort of his fellow crewmembers can kill the frog.
Jerieth regains her balance and tries to stab the tongue holding Genade with her rapier but misses by being too careful not to hurt Genade. Jord, Genade and Morgan all wound the frog but it is not dead yet. It hasn't had a meal in a long time and holds on tight to Genade, trying to pull him closer but Genade resists.
Jord throws another Javelin of doom at the Frog
Jord's well aimed javelin pierces the overgrown frog through and its tongue goes slack, releasing Genade.
Genade kicks free of the tongue as it goes slack, then reaches toward the pilings.
Sejanus waits to see if the good doctor needs help.
With the frog killed, Morgan dances across the pilings and tries to squeeze past Reinald to assist the Doctor.
The thoroughly soaked doctor climbs back onto the pilings, taking any offered hand.
Sinking the rear point of his boarding axe into the piling Morgan guides the doctor to this handhold, grabbing the doctor's soaking coat, he helps him pull himself up onto the pilings and grab the rope at shoulder height. "Grabs a hand o' this doc, an' I will grab a hand if you. Steady now, up you come. I thought you landlubbers might be a little better in land, but i guess not."
Leaning down Morgan recovers his axe before lightly stepping across to the far shore. His feet back on the ground, Morgan draws his bow, scans the surrounding forest and moves off as scout again.
Reinald reloads the crossbow and eyes the area for more trouble before moving carefully toward the far bank.
"Well that was an adventure. Let's keep moving."
Jord will cross the water, retrieving javelins if he can.. once on the other side he will put his armour back on and proceed. "Should we retrieve the rope or leave it for when coming back. Up to you the more agile folk as they need to untie it from the other side."
"I think we should take the rope with us, unless we're certain that we will come back this way." the doctor says, wringing out his coat. "Was anyone hurt just now?"
Everyone is able to cross safely and carefully, no more frogs lie hidden in this part of the river at least. Now that the river is crossed, the ground is mostly solid again with the path being the safest place to tread. For the next mile and a half you trek through the hot jungle encountering only the flies that occasionally buzz around your head.
Suddenly you are on the edge of a small clearing. A terrible stench fills the swamp here, a fetid odor of cheap perfume and rotting flesh. A huge tree stands in the middle of the 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.
With the suggestions of the others, Morgan recovers the ropes and, whilst on the pilings, any arrows he can fish out.
As they move forward and he scouts ahead, Morgan stops them at the edge of the clearing.
"I can't say I like the look o' this."
"Well as tropical island hot spots go this island sucks."
"I vote we set it on fire."
"Umm the decorations leave something to be desired... let's keep a look out."
Jord looks around worriedly
" Tha' seems your go to answer Sejanus, 'tho I agree this time."
"It might send a signal if we light it up. But Sejanus never got to start the last fire. Whats the wrst that can happen?"