Bri just shakes her head. "Were any other slaves near the area of the ones that disappeared? How far into the Hungermire did you go?"
The sooner we figure out who took your friends, the sooner everyone will be safer. We'll certainly put in the effort to look, unlike the staff that keeps you under the lash.
Bri you notice that Barran is fidgeting when you speak to the others, he's not comfortable as the his comrades relay their stories to group.
When you separate Barran form the others he tells you the following:
"“There’s a tree out there in the swamp, a twisted old thing the locals call the Warn Tree. Something that lives in the swamp hangs animal carcasses there, people too sometimes. We got to the tree and there was blood all over it. Bits o’ people hung all over the thing, and strange signs carved into the wood. We didn’t dare go no further. If you’re smart, you won’t either. It ain’t called the Warn Tree for nothing. Something uses that tree to tell people not to come around. If I were you, I’d pay attention. Pleaz don't tell Mater Hargrove we'll be fired.”
"Well, now it is sounding like this isn't just a case of salves running away on their own. Just point us in the direction of the tree and we will go take a look at it. Don't worry, there's no reason to tell Hargrove anything. We're are only being paid to find the slaves, not to tattle on anyone."
Tree with bodies on it. Lovely.
What's beyond the tree... In that direction?
Did those not missing have family? Where did they live, we should check that out, speak to the others. Before heading into the marsh.
"Do you know of any slaves here that might happen to know some stories of what uses the tree or lurks about the swamp?"
"And not just the families. Maybe the other workers know something."
Too bad we aren't really skilled with tracking, that would help a lot. Wonder if there are guides around that can help.
You all talk to a few families of the children and the missing adults and this is what you learn:
Far away screams from the direction of the dreaded Hungermire, a place of ill omen and with a reputation for swallowing up over-curious children.
A trio of poachers who used to trade with the slaves for food have stopped coming.
A man has been seen on the edges of the swamps — a badly deformed man — bent as though he has rickets and walking with the aid of a great bent staff topped with a scythe blade.
The slaves will be able to give approximate direction to the Hungermire but warn to be careful—“the marsh is a bad place.” Most staff at the plantation know about the Hungermire, and they can give the directions. When giving directions, they add that the overseers have already searched the place.
Bri assures those that remind the group that the area has already been searched, that her group has training and magic that the overseers do not and that they might find something hidden from their sight.
If the group needs to build a raft to navigate the swamp, Bri pitches in her expertise.
She'll direct Torque on how to do the heavy work, like chopping the logs to form it and hold them in place while she helps to fasten them together.
Chell and Bri think about the boat situation and think it may be better to build them near the swamp or you'll be lugging them across the the terrain.
The Hungermire lies about 3 miles from the plantation, and is reached by following a narrow twisting trail which follows a particularly foul-smelling brook whose banks often collapse.
Astrianna sighs at the surrounding muck, the stench assaulting her sensitive nose. She has a handkerchief pressed to her mouth in one hand and the map she purchased in the other. "We should look at this Warning Tree first. Whatever is decorating the tree is likely responsible for the lost slaves, and I may be able to figure out what creature it is by the way it disposed of victims."
She will use the map to identify possible dangers on their way to the hungermire if they are marked.
"Think we can make it to the tree before we need to build the raft?"
Torgue whistles a jaunty tune.
Marching Order and Perception rolls:
torgue 19
Sorrin 25/27
Chell 14
Astri 25
Bri 12
*Consider everything as difficult terrain unless told otherwise. Although feel free to inquire periodically in case I have brain fart.
As Torgue leads the group along the treacherous path he and others spots areas of quicksand that gobble up portions of the path and the ground surrounding the route. Sloughing through the sucking mud and tangle of vines makes the track slow moving. Each step seems to release sulfuric gas made worse by following Torgue, who had a hearty eggs, beans and sauerkraut sandwich for his breakfast. Your flesh is constantly being assaulted by clouds of biting hungry mosquitoes.
When the mosquitoes start swarming Astrianna blanches and quickly turns her handkerchief into a bug swatter, flailing and trying to take down as many of the blood-sucking bastards as possible. "The Tulitian gods really shat all over this place. How could this have ever been a paradise? Hargove is not paying enough to put up with these hellish conditions."
She gets frustrated at the futility of her mosquito swatting and complains loudly. "Does anyone have a torch?! Some smoke would keep these damn blighters from landing on me." The bard is clearly getting worn out from the sisyphean task of mosquito repelling and slogging through the mud.
Chell had to really hold herself back to not try and use Air Bubble again for some respite from the mosquitoes, and the smells. And as lightly armored as she was, sweat was gathering in places and her breath was becoming more labored. How lang had they been walking? Where was this damn tree?
Oh goodie there is some Lala'paka weed bunches, an excellent mosquito repellant when liberally coated over your bodies. Unfortunately, it smells like someone whizzed on you, and you need to reapply every hour or so. But it will save you form being fatigued by the bites. There is enough to coat you all twice form the patches you've found but it does look like there will be plenty within the swamp if the current bushes are any indication.
Astrianna gives a one-off prayer to Gozreh when Chell finds the Lala'paka weeds growing on the side of the path. "Thank The Wind And The Waves, Lala'paka!" She knows the substance is going to make her smell like a well-soiled bush growing next to a bar, but it's worth it to stop the mosquitoes.
Astrianna finishes applying the milky secretions of the plant on her exposed skin, sighing. "We are going directly to Miss Molly's after this." She pulls up a few more weeds and looks for a suitable pouch to place them in, digging around in her haversack.
The half-elf realizes she is carrying about 7 pouches full of Dragonsmoke. Now that we're out of the city, perhaps I can give it a try later and see what all the fuss is about. She casually dumps one bag of narcotic into a festering pool and replaces it with Lala'paka leaves.
"So good news and bad news. Good news is that plant is Lala'paka," she says pointing to a weed with a wide, flat leaf. "Its a natural bug repellent and there should be plenty of it in the marsh. Bad news..." she picks some of it and holds it close to the nose of the nearest person.
Belok's a big fan...
Torgue winces at the smell. Well if it keeps me from being an all-you can eat dinner then it is alright by me. Torgue mashes the leaves onto his body. We should probably make bulk orders back in town.
After you've trudged along a bit and mixed up a little extra extract - you know that it works best if crushed fresh - you continue to follow the swamp path. Several times the edge of the trail crumbles away under your feet. the creepy sounds of buzzing bugs, ripples in water, and echoes in the air makes this an unsettling environment. It's certainly a long ways from the urban or ship life. Several beady eyes just above the water line roughly 30 feet away solidifies the dangers within the swamp.
Shiiite.
Hey, are we getting paid for this or is it a boot licking favor for an old inhumane bastard?
"This is about children who may be getting snatched and eaten by something. So neither."
"Though Lord A&#@!~@ did mention compensation for our time."
Yeah, about them... What if he's using them as sacrifices to stay young or healthy. I'm sure there is some dirt bag cleric of some-such willing to do the deed.
On another note, what if that Tulita band of warriors are liberating them? We turning them in?
Sorrin wasn't complaining so much as passing the time between insect slaps, leech removal and irrational thoughts of impossible creatures appearing in the swamp.
Astrianna chuckles. "If he's sacrificing them to stay young the priest doing the job should be fired- old fart looks like a grape left out in the sun for a week."
She waves a hand while watching the beady eyes in the water. "Besides, I thought they were slaves, but he said they're actually indentured servants. They even get some land! I've seen people in far worse situations."
The half-elf checks her bow and sword. "Such as being dead."
Torgue eyes the beady eyes and wonders if alligator is tasty. Get some land, how long they gotta work for that? What sort of land? Being dead might be a blessing considering they have a life of back-breaking work to look forward to.
Proof that my Maptools still works
Even you snooping reveals he is telling the truth about indentured servants and he does give land if the debt is paid off. The details of which you can try to gather information about later.
Astrianna slogs through the mud, smelling like piss and vinegar. The adventuring life. Highs, lows, and rock-bottom.
"Sorrin, if you want me to look into Hargrove's operations later I can, but I think he's just a rich-" The bard cuts off mid sentence and she feels a tingle in her spine as she spots the antenna. "Everyone stop. That is not a reed."
She points at the antenna and draws her bow with one hand, the other reaching into her Haversack. Astrianna takes out the pouch of Lala'paka she made earlier, and figures it is probably dried to uselessness. "Going to flush it out, get ready to fight if it's hostile."
Astrianna tosses the pouch underhand at the spot the anetenna is coming out of the mud, and quickly knocks an arrow in her bow in one smooth motion.
Oh, no need to go out of your way on my account. I can just as easily assume he's dirty. Power corrupts, absolute... You know the drill. He oversees a dirty operation, the dragoons.
I don't see why I'd give him the benefit of the doubt in other dealings. Huh? Sure it's not just another variety? Sorrin, his blade already out, looks in the direction of the thrown pouch.
Surprise Rd:
Astri and the creature are the only one's acting in the surprise round which she'll toss the dried out Laol'paka pouch at the twitching antenna. (I know you only get a MA or Std action in a surprise round but this is flavor.)
Suddenly, a giant beetle like creature the size of a small wagon pops out of the mucky ground, it looks like a dark stone, but its intent is clear...lunch.
------
Initiative order:
Sorrin
Astri
Torgue
Chell
Jabala Bettle
Bri
Oh, come on... A big dang BUG?!
insert evil GM laugh.
Sorrin ventures out into the muckier muck just off the path, it's relatively cool and up to his knees in depth. His scimatar bangs off the shell uneventfully not even scratching it.
One her turn Bri uses her Evil Eye hex on the beetle after taking a 5 ft step backwards from it.
[Dice=Fort Save]1d20+9