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I had read that they were dangerously fast in shallow water, that was more so than I had thought though... Thankfully, they are less dangerous on land at least.
With nothing else so large as a heron flying overhead, Tarlach's skiff ferries you across the delta's wide expanse with no other harrowing encounters. The far banks are thickly lined with the waterborne roots of trees that Mia and Kalig recognize as mangroves. The trees do not reach especially tall, at least beside the river, yet they grow very close and dense.
"Should I...wait here, or should I return for you folks at a set time?" the fisherman asks, looking around the unknown shore nervously.
"However you feel safest. We can try to set you up in a camoflaged camp here, or you can go back--if you feel you can outrun those creatures if they return," Kalig replies to Tarlach.
The approximate location of the ruins remains unknown. The leshys only know of its barest existence, having told Kalig that it lies somewhere within the forest that your fishermen call the Sogg. The locathah, however, were able to provide information at least slightly more specific before you set out.
Measuring distance according to how long it takes them to navigate the waterways winding through the swampy forest, the locathah indicated that the ruins were a half day's swim from the sea coast, and a full day's swim from the river delta. Although this offers only the slimmest sense of direction, it is at least something.
"We should follow the riverbank south where we can. While predators may dwell on the shores, the wetlands propose their own dangers, and visibility will be better."
Kalig attempts to find a safe path.
"The river is also how the locatah judged distance. Best that we can still see it!"
"Tarlach, as Kalig says, we leave the choice with you."
Not one for roughing it out in the open wildlands instead he did he best to keep his eyes peeled for any danger.
That creature... that hippopotimus? Are you sure those arent edible, one or two of those and we could be set for food for a while."
He began quietly to not make too much noise as they traveled.
Mia draws out and drinks one of her concoctions as they step off the boat and thinks of the ruins as she places her hand on the muddy water bank. After a few moments, she opens her eyes and nods.
I can guide us, I know the quickest paths to take to the general area we are headed.
in answer to Francoix's question.
Well, I'm sure its edible, at least in some regard. Though I am unsure if even you could make a decent meal of the meat. Though.. I have heard tales of Crocodile tails being quite meaty and tasting similiar to chicken. So that is something we could look into... but please, we shouldn't take too many. It would upset the balance of the area in unpredictable ways.
"You are welcome to wrestle the hippo and see who wins, Francoix," Kalig says drily.
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The banter eases the burden of travel as you navigate the twisting breadth of the Sogg.
Mia's potion, once she gulps it down like a bitter shot of Oldlaw, ensures that she can guide the party along dry, stable ground. Meanwhile, Kalig is able to identify potential hazards, such as concealed bogs, pockets of swamp gas, and the dreaded quicksand.
Dorick, unfortunately, is unable to contribute much, as he finds much of his attention focused on keeping Caragus safe and calm during the trek through the marshy forest's unknown depths.
For a couple of slogging hours, you encounter nothing larger than lizards scampering underfoot, colorful birds flitting among the canopy, and the all-too thick swarms of gnats and mosquitoes.
"Hey something large is near. From the south, can't you all hear it? Light i can pratical feel it getting closer. Its even larger than that hippo I bet."
He whispered out loudly his hand dropping to the hilt of his rapier though he knew it wouldnt be worth much if something that large was after them.
Mia pulls out a potion of speak with animals, and keeps it steady in her hand at francoix's warning. Waiting to coat her tongue with the bitter paste should a large looming animal burst through.
Kalig casts aspect of the bear upon herself, and becomes more hirsute and thick limbed. She listens carefully, wondering what it is.
Dorick downs a potion of bear's endurance and tries to spot whatever it is that Francoix noticed.
The whinnying and hoof stamping of Caragus distracts Sir Dorick from the sounds that Francoix speaks of, but Kalig can hear it. The competing sounds of the forest distort the source, also keeping her from identifying how far or, more importantly, what it is.
One detail you can fortunately distinguish, however, is that it does not seem to be drawing closer. At least, it is not barreling towards you at any appreciable speed.
"I have no idea what it is, but it doesn't sound like it's coming any closer. I'm not sure what's better... to try to move past, or deal with it now so we don't leave it on our tail."
"I say we deal with it now. Best to strike from strength, not when we might be injured ourselves!"
The party picks its way through the dense foliage, quietly and carefully. Thick curtains of tree boughs, water shrubs, and creeper vines conceal the source of the sound until you're almost on top of it. Peering through the curtain of undergrowth, using it to disguise your presence, you discover the mystery animal.
The massive creature wades through the deep water of a river tributary running through the dense forest. A long tail and equally long tail extend from a broad gray body, covered in leathery hide. The beast must be forty feet long, and could easily weigh ten tons.
Kalig identifies the creature as some manner of dinosaur, specifically a variety known among scholars and erudite druids as a sauropod. These sauropods count among their number the largest of all dinosaurs, and indeed some of the largest of all animals to walk Golarion. Of course, based upon the huge animal's comparatively smaller size, Kalig reasons that it may be a juvenile or a dwarf variety.
Mia's face lights up in a mixture of awe, surprise, and mild terror.
Oh my goodness! Its breathtaking!
Kalig speaks quietly to the others. "A sauropod. A member of my circle had encountered several while traveling south and liked to turn into them. The good news is it's smaller than usual, believe it or not. The bad news is these things I don't think should have fangs. They're supposed to be grazing animals but he doesn't look like a grazer to me."
Her eyes flicker over to Dorick. "Whatever we do, probably best to keep Caragus away from it."
Kalig's observations are astute. While she cannot identify the exact species, this creature differs worryingly from normal sauropods - not least of which are the clues that it may be a predator rather than a grazer.
Perhaps hearing Mia's outburst, the huge creature pauses its wading. It sweeps its long neck around, looking for the source of the sound.
As quiet as a mouse with a hawk overhead, or at least he hoped to be he moved slightly getting lower to the ground silently drawing out his rapier and a dagger. He glanced to the others and sort of shrugged his shoulders as if to say... what do we do?
Dorick whispers:
"Let us back away. If it charges us - run! Caragus and I shall keep it busy and rejoin you."
Mia clasps her mouth as she kneels down lower. If it charges, I could try talking to it... though, I'm not sure how well I could convince it that it does not in fact wish to eat us if its a predator..
Fortunately, Mia needs not learn how well she can persuade such a creature, for the long-necked mystery monster loses interest in the passing sound it heard and continues its wading through the water. It lumbers onward, towards the southwest, deeper into the forest.
The party earns a reprieve and is now free to continue its march - thankfully in a different direction - in search of the Kaskkari ruins.
Kalig is very happy to continue on toward the ruins.
Mia's confusion is visible.
I am both, quite relieved, yet... disappointed. I wonder if I'll get the chance again. She stows the potion back in her bag while muttering to herself.
I really need to get some sort of enchanted bag... This is all quite cumbersome...
"Mmm. Where my curiosity points me is wondering why such a creature developed such deviant features from the usual. But then, who knows what is 'usual' here?"
His dander up, he kept a wary eye about them as they moved looking for anything out of the ordinary.
You identify small footprints on the ground, along the trail. They are very fresh, perhaps less than an hour old. Strangely, rather than moving along the same trail the party now travels, they seem to lead to and from the trees flanking the trail.
Mia finds the local plant life fascinating. Despite stark differences in coloration, leaf patterns, and textures, she recognizes that they are clearly related - even if somewhat distantly - to more familiar specimens back in Avistan. Thus she is able to identify and gather roots, leaves, buds, and pods that will be useful in a number of recipes, including her potion brewing.
Kalig calls the party to a brief halt. She points out the small footprints she observes on the ground, along the trail. They are very fresh, perhaps less than an hour old. Strangely, rather than moving along the same trail the party now travels, they seem to lead to and from the trees flanking the trail.
Kalig tries to identify the footprints.
The footprints are unlikely to be from animals, Kalig concludes. She can pick out four or five distinct sets of tracks, all made by bipedal creatures. Based upon the size, gait, arrangement of the sharp toes, and other familiar clues, she identifies the most likely culprits as goblins. This fits with stories you've heard from the centaurs and locathah regarding "tree goblins" dwelling in the Sogg.
"Goblins," Kalig says, baring her tusks in disgust.
Mia's face turns pale
No. no no. Goblins are far too unpredictable and aggressive for my tastes.
"Little blighted things are a problem to be sure."
He added to Mia's statement, he didnt pull his rapier out, instead he undid the strap holding his crossbow over his shoulder and took a moment to place a bolt on it.
As the party's pace slows to a crawl, lest a gang of goblins lurch out of the trees and set upon you, this provides ample opportunity to search for danger.
Kalig and Francoix pick out crude traps set up along the game trail: snares and deadfalls mostly. They bear the appearance of having been set up hastily, as though the creators were rushed to place them in advance of your approach.
"I dont mean to alarm anyone, but these tripfalls and the snares are ill set. It looks like a rush job, I believe we are being...watched."
He whispered with a scowl as he marked and stepped around a simple crude trap shaking his head.
"Well, we knew there was a possibility they'd be here. Can we shove or chase something large through this trail of booby traps?"
Mia whispers to the group.
shhhh, l-listen. You can hear them. They are close. W-Waiting for us. very close. She points in the general direction the chattering is coming from.
Kalig scans the area in which Mia points. If she gets a general sense of where the critters are, she casts faerie fire on the spot to outline hopefully a few of the interlopers.
Even though the aspect of the bear has left Kalig, her magic proves useful yet. Like strange, distant candles, the faerie fire glows into being. The critters lurk among the trees, outlined by violet auras.
Three goblins are thus highlighted. However, as their shrill voices raise in fright as they begin to glow, you suspect that there may be a total of five or six perched in the branches about one hundred feet away.