Corinna's hint of color turns into a full deep blush at Tevyn's remark about her family's disapproval. What a thing to be brought up right here at Sandru Vhiski's caravan! "I think you should know," she whispers, her eyes on the ground, "I think my family can be terrible judges of character." She turns away, quickly, trying to will the redness out of her cheeks as she smiles at Sandru. "You'll be glad to know I shan't be employing you as a postman today. No letters."
Sandru shrugs. "Don't worry, I haven't seen it as a chore," he says. "I'm happy to help out when I can."
Corinna looks momentarily crestfallen at Sandru's easy dismissal, then forces a smile back to her face. "You said the water's not safe?" she turns back to Tevyn. "We have to cross one of the rivers ... if we follow the trail, that is. We didn't know how to go about it."
"The water is not reliable." Tevyn says. "You can get sick if you drink it and there's all manner of things that live in the rivers. We can use the rope to help us cross the river, but it'll also be a good idea to keep an eye out for the various snakes, lizards, snapping turtles and blood suckers like leeches or stirges." His tone is casual and unconcerned despite the list of threats.
"Rajah and I can create water magically, as much as we need, so no need to weigh ourselves down with extra waterskins. Of course, if the two of us should perish, well, then, everybody can use ours."
Corinna's smile falters as Tevyn runs down his list of hazards. "I don't suppose you keep any of those things as pets?" she jokes feebly. "Warden Proudstump apparently has a house full of snakes."
"Rajah and I can create water magically, as much as we need, so no need to weigh ourselves down with extra waterskins. Of course, if the two of us should perish, well, then, everybody can use ours."
"Don't say such a thing," she scolds the gnome forcefully. "There's not going to be any perishing today."
Sandru wishes you luck as you set off south to the swamp once more. Just like the last couple days, the journey there is easy and uneventful, but the moment you step of the main road into the swamp, the bright, gorgeous day turns grey and muggy. However, apart from the buzz of insects, the swamp seems somehow quieter today. There's no sign of any animal life apart from clouds of insects. The oppressive feeling that always seems to be there in the swamp seems more pronounced, and you start to feel just a little edgy. Every now and then, one of you thinks you notice something moving in the distance, but a second look to be sure always reveals nothing.
Eventually, you reach the remains of the goblin village, unchanged since yesterday.
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As they travel through the swamp to the village, Tevyn's eyes the landscape around him with uncertainty. He finds himself holding his bow with an arrow lightly nocked. Looking to the others, he grimaces. "Something isn't right. There is a change here. I don't like it."
Tevyn slows as they reach the remains of the village and he looks around at the damage with interest. "You did a good job here."
He kneels to examine the ground for tracks.
Gilfroy just watches Tevyn, to see if this guy is skilled enough on his own to find the trail across the river.
Having been unable to perceive the trail yesterday, Corinna doesn't even look for it today. Instead, she hugs her arms around herself, keeping a wary eye on the horizon. "It didn't feel like this yesterday," she tells Tevyn. "I mean, it wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't like this."
As they travel through the swamp to the village, Tevyn's eyes the landscape around him with uncertainty. He finds himself holding his bow with an arrow lightly nocked. Looking to the others, he grimaces. "Something isn't right. There is a change here. I don't like it."
Tevyn slows as they reach the remains of the village and he looks around at the damage with interest. "You did a good job here."
He kneels to examine the ground for tracks.
1d20 + 9
Tevyn easily finds a number of tracks in the vicinity of the village. He soon identifies the party's tracks from yesterday and the day before. He also finds the trail leading south from the village to the river. Not surprisingly, there are lots of goblin tracks in the area. However, while the majority of them are more than two days old, he finds some that are quite recent, less than a day old: A single goblin accompanied by a small animal (about the size of a raccoon or skunk) passed through the village and followed the tracks leading to the river.
Malan moves quietly among the village quietly. He keeps a sharp eye out expecting an ambush at any moment. He stays near Corinna.
Tevyn looks up from the tracks. "Not all of the goblins have been killed. At least one of them has been here, and less than a day ago." He stands and points toward the river. "The thing you're looking for went this way."
"Then let us be off. The sooner we quit this place, the better."
Tevyn looks up from the tracks. "Not all of the goblins have been killed. At least one of them has been here, and less than a day ago." He stands and points toward the river. "The thing you're looking for went this way."
"Some of them got away," she tells Tevyn uneasily. "How are going to use rope to get across the river exactly?" She is holding out hope that he is going to construct a bridge out of it that they can walk over without getting in the cold, wet, muddy, snake- and turtle- and leech-infested river.
Tevyn nods to Malan. "Take the lead then, and I'll back you up." He readies his bow as he looks around. "The goblin that was here before had some sort of animal with him. Listen for sounds of grunts or growls and breathe through your nose. If it's a skunk, you might be able to smell it."
As they make their way through the village he glances to Corinna. "The simplest way across is to secure the rope to a tree on this side of the river and then one of us -- I am the most likely choice -- will cross and secure the rope on the other side. Then everyone else can simply pull themselves across with the rope."
Malan will take them to where the skeletons crossed the river.
"See here? Something was dragged into the water at this point and over there you can make out where it came back out of the water."
As they make their way through the village he glances to Corinna. "The simplest way across is to secure the rope to a tree on this side of the river and then one of us -- I am the most likely choice -- will cross and secure the rope on the other side. Then everyone else can simply pull themselves across with the rope."
"That sounds ... strenuous," she replies nervously. "Requires a lot of upper-body strength, does it? There's not exactly a chin-up requirement to get into the Academae. Gods, what I wouldn't give for a scroll of dimension door right now."
Tevyn looks a little more closely at Corinna and a small smile touches his lips. "Ah well, as to that, perhaps I can help you cross. With the rope there will be no need for swimming. With a firm grip on the rope and someone assisting you against the current, it shouldn't be a problem."
Once they reach the river, Tevyn studies the water for a moment, marking trees for securing the rope to before kneeling again to inspect the tracks there.
"Yes, I see."
Melon ruffles her nose and squints at Tevyn, "I'm trying not to breathe through my nose unnecessarily. It's not the most pleasant of smells that make this swamp... swampy." But she does occasionally take a deep whiff of the air, it doesn't hurt to be prepared, and he does sound like he knows what is what.
She grimaces as a particular foul smell invades her nostrils. "I don't think this will work," she mutters. Melon looks over to Corinna, "So... no magical mansions, sure, but what do you learn at the Academae? Can you turn into a mermaid and swim across for us?"
"That's transmutation. Not my specialty," she responds a bit testily. "Look, I really think you have the wrong idea about what a degree from the Academae means. If I could do all these things you're suggesting, I'd hardly be spending my time grading papers and tutoring first-years in a one-room flat ... let alone wandering through a swamp. I think it's best if you just assume that if I can contribute anything useful, I'll do it rather than sitting back and chortling under my breath about what fools these mortals be while we're all getting muddy and miserable."
"But I've hardly seen you do anything, yet. Can you make my hair change color? Can you breathe fire? Can you fly?" Melon apparently has little understanding of subtext, or doesn't care for it, "Or maybe I'm looking at this wrong, will you be able to fly? That - " her eyes are glowing with excitement " - I want to see!"
She sighs. "Yes, no, no," she counts off on her fingers. "Could I eventually with sufficient study and dedication? Probably. Fire breath's not too far out of my reach, but, again, it's an evocation spell, not my specialty. A bit flashy for my taste. And flying? Sounds chilly and would leave me all wind-blown. If I could fly over the river, though, as opposed to dragging through it? I'd do it in a heartbeat. Better windblown than cold and wet and covered with leeches." She shudders. "Mr.... er, Tevyn? I suppose the last one across unties the rope and brings it with him? We might have more rivers to cross, depending on how far this trail goes." The thought of repeatedly fording muddy rivers all day seems to further dampen her spirits.
"I met a halfling once, who could carry me. At least he pretended to, don't know how he did it, but it was like I was sitting on an invisible chair in the air," Melon remembers, "little blighter pretended to hold me up but then I caught him fingering me. Nearly got away with my day's earning. Managed to keep my things, but didn't catch up to him. Small folk like him can really vanish in a crowd."
"Tevyn is fine. I'll return for the rope if necessary but it's just as possible for whoever is last to untie the rope from the tree and hold on to it as he or she is pulled across by the rest of us. Oh and if we move quickly enough, it's possible we can avoid getting the leeches."
He examines Melon a little more closely. "You are an unusual woman, Melon. What's this fascination with spellcraft?"
"I shall go last." Rajah volunteers. "I find leeches to be quite fascinating little creatures." he admits. Then turning to the distraught Corinna, Rajah attempts to cheer her up. "Do not despair, lovely Corinna! All will be well! And do not sell yourself short, you bring a lot more to this group than you think!" he tells her with a great deal of fervor.
Corinna offers the Rajah a conspiratorial smile. "I brought a bedroll," she whispers to him proudly.
Rajah burst out in laughter. "You are a dear!" He tells her as he wipes away the tears.
Once they reach the river, Tevyn studies the water for a moment, marking trees for securing the rope to before kneeling again to inspect the tracks there.
1d20 + 9
"Yes, I see."
Tevyn is able to confirm what the others determined yesterday. Something was dragged this way and into the river. It then came out at the other side. The trail is starting to fade as most of the grasses that were flattened have sprung back up, but there are still signs of the trail that Tevyn should be able to follow without much difficulty.
Getting the rope across the river is actually quite simple. The water is fairly calm today . It is quite dirty and muddy, however, so when Tevyn emerges at the other side, he is covered in a thin layer of slimy mud. Much of it drips away quickly, but some of the mud sticks.
Tevyn secures the rope to a tree. With the rope now secured no both sides, the others can begin making their way across. The rope helps you to avoid the worst of the mud and dirt in the river, but your legs do get dirty. You do need to remove most of the supplies from Umbral (to avoid their getting wet) and carry them across yourselves. The pony then swims across without difficulty, after which you reload her.
Gilfroy uses prestidigitation to clean himself, Umbral, and anybody else who wants it of mud (though he's probably not as fast to do so as Corinna!). He also can't resist using the spell to place illusory leeches on Melon. Will DC 16 to disbelieve.
Corinna cringes as her feet enter the muddy river. She keeps her eyes squeezed tightly shut as she crosses, trusting someone to tell her when she's reached the other side; if something awful is going to leap out of the water and bite her, she'd rather not see it happen. As soon as her feet touch the relatively firm ground on the opposite bank, she lets out a long, shuddering gasp of relief and moves away quickly, already casting prestidigitation. Withdrawing a few steps away from the rest of the party, she surreptitiously lifts the hems of her robes to check timidly for leeches, while trying not to flash too much leg to the others.
Re-coiling the rope, Tevyn nods with satisfaction. "That went well enough." Observing the magical means of cleaning available, he approaches Corinna. "Might I receive that spell of cleaning you use so expertly, Corinna? I can do without if necessary, but it would certainly be more pleasant to travel clean."
Once that is resolved, he turns his attention back to the tracks.
"It is a little more difficult to see the signs here but I think..."
Corinna quickly drops her hem as the ranger approaches. "Oh, er, yes, you did get a bit...," she waves her hand to indicate the layer of grime all over him, managing to avoid using the word "disgusting." "No trouble at all; the spell lasts an hour. If we have to cross another river in that time," she sighs glumly at the prospect, "I won't even have to cast it again." She begins magically to remove the scum of filth, starting from the top. With his hair heavy with dripping water, the evidence of his elven blood is visible in the tips of his ears poking through; she quickly lowers her eyes to continue cleaning the rest of him."Have you .. checked for ... leeches?" she whispers, barely able to say the word. "I've heard they get under your clothes and you never know they're there until you get undressed." She blushes at the indelicacy.
"Ah thanks Fezzi, oh you missed a spot," Melon points to the globule of muck that - did Corinna say leeches? - "AH! Stupid thing! Get off!" She swipes ineffectually at the vaguely leechlike splotches. "They keep slipping through my fingers!"
Gilfroy's giggles give away the ruse, and the leeches soon vanish.
Tevyn stiffens for a moment as Corinna's eyes fix on his ears but he makes no other motion to suggest he was aware of it. "Thank you for your assistance," he says with a slight bow.
"I should be fine," he says in regards to the leeches. "Usually they fall off when they're filled with blood anyway. Are you well?"
Nonchalantly running his hand through his hair, he makes sure his eartips are covered once again.
Across the river, Tevyn has no difficulty location the trail again . It leads initially south, but gradually turns southwest. Apart from the gradual curve, it is mostly straight, going through obstacles that most people or creatures would avoid, such as ponds of water. However, it does occasionally curve around tougher obstacles, like sticky mud that could potentially get things stuck in it or thick, tangled brush.
Over the next several hours, you cross over a few more small tributary rivers and one slightly larger one. The swamp is still unnaturally quiet. The buzzing of insects is ever present, but other animal sounds are absent.
Around 3:30 in the afternoon, just after passing another tributary river, the trail you're following crosses another trail. This one is quite obvious to everyone in the party as this one was obviously well used once. It is similar in size to the Old Fish Trail; however, there are definite signs of the the swamp starting to reclaim it--long strands of swamp grass are starting to poke through in numerous places--indicating that it hasn't been used in some time. The trail leads west and south from here. The trail of the dragged object crosses it and continues to the southwest.
"I should be fine," he says in regards to the leeches. "Usually they fall off when they're filled with blood anyway. Are you well?"
His question is no doubt prompted by Corinna's queasy expression at the mental image summoned by leeches filled with blood falling to the ground like overripe fruit. "No, fine," she insists a bit faintly. "Just ... need to check something." She runs to the other side of the tree the rope had been attached to for privacy and pulls her robes up to her knees, running her hands down her legs as if to make sure the leeches aren't tricky little invisible ones.
"A road way out here in the swamp? Whatever could have made it? I've never heard of any trails out here other than the Old Fish and New Fish."
Tevyn shrugs. "There are some trails here and there. Some of them are just game trails, others may be the remnant of something more that had once been frequently travelled. I don't know any names or anything about the trails, only that they're there."
"Does the trail we're following take the road?" Corinna asks Tevyn, still unable to discern the clues he's following.
Malan continues on with the group though he has thus far remained aloof, inscrutable, and quiet.
"No, the trail we're following just crosses this one and continues on in that direction." Tevyn points to the southwest.
"It's heading in the same general direction, I suppose so perhaps we'll cross this path again. Shall we continue?" He turns his attention toward the tracks they were following and tries to see, hear, or smell anything that may be waiting for them.
"That is what you are here to tell us. Lead on."
You continue on past the unexpected trail. The track left by the dragged object leads you further southwest and then crosses another river before curving slightly more westward. By this time, the sun is starting to hang low in the western sky. You cross another river tributary before darkness starts to settle in.
Tevyn manages to find a semi-dry spot to set up camp. The ground is uneven and a little rocky but it will have to do.
Examining the reasonably dry area, Tevyn nods with satisfaction. "This will be a decent place to set camp. We can use those trees for the hammocks we brought. We should also be sure to set a watch. I'm happy to take the first."
"Would there be any objection to my taking the last watch during the sun's rising?"
"Hammocks?" Corinna asks, turning startled eyes to Tevyn. "Yesterday, they said bedrolls." She had been so pleased that she was all kitted out properly....
"Bedrolls would be more comfortable if I'd been able to find a better spot. Don't worry, we have a hammock for you too." Tevyn gestures to the less than flat ground he'd chosen.