Hours have gone by slogging through the Mushfens. It appears that only a few hours remain before nightfall.
You hear a slosh coming from behind you (to the southwest). About 40' away, a hideous beast rises out of the water, covered in swamp muck. It's covered in warts and boils, and it's head strongly resembles a frog's.
Xayla whips around and shouts Behind us!
But, the boggard is already making his move.
Perception:
I pause for a moment and look to Xayla curiously. "Whats the matter now?" Not quite aware of the danger I turn in it's direction. I am just a little too late to respond as it attacks us. "Good heavens a swamp monsters!"
Initiative:
In response to the attack I am quick to ready myself for the next round.
The boggard rushes through the water and leaps up on the bit of earth that you are standing on. It unleashes a stone from its sling, aiming at Xayla.
The stone flies wide, narrowly missing Edan instead. Xayla responds by whipping out her bow and stepping back, making way for Germon to take point.
Once Xayla is down I kick Star Dancer into gear and ride towards the beast. As Star dancer moves in I draw my sword and ready my attack with two hands on my sword.
Once we are in reach I strike out at the little beast. For:
However racing through the muck of the swamp throws off my aim and my sword sweeps over the creature's head.
The boggard drops his sling, switches to a crude morningstar, and swipes at Germon.
>>
The heavy, spiked tool knocks Germon right in the chest.
Xayla snaps out an arrow, aims carefully, and lets loose.
>>
The boggard howls as the arrow pierces its calf muscle.
Edan shouts an incantation, and a barking herding dog materializes out of the air, racing towards the boggard. It pounces, teeth bared...
>>
...and rips a chunk out of the boggard's already injured leg.
I recoil in pain at the blow. "Blasted creature!" I attack again.
Attack with two-hands: For:
Missing again I pull Star Dancer around. "Get him dancer!"
Star Dancer makes two hoof attacks at the frog creature
Attack 1: For:
Attack 2: For:
The horse's second hoof smacks the boggard right in the face. It reels back, and steps away from Germon and the dog. It throws back its head and lets out a foul scream that seems to resonate throughout every bit of water.
Xayla lets off another arrow...
...but it bounces off the thing's leather armor.
Edan sits back and watches his dog attack. It pounces on the boggard again.
But, the boggard is too quick.
I am shaken but am still able to act. I spur Dancer forward and attack the boggard again.
Attack: For:
Crit threat: For additional:
With a clean final strike, Germon takes off the head of the boggard. It collapses into the water just as the answering scream rings out. Or, more accurately, screams. The same terrible noise echoes out from several directions, one after the other.
Xayla frowns and says At least 3 more, coming from the west and south. We should leave now.
I clutch my wound and wince in pain. "Damn those things hit hard. I cannot handle more of them right now. Let us move away from this place. We need to get to a place where I can recover from this injury."
I gesture for Xayla to join me on the back of my steed and we ride off opposite the croaks. Now we scoure the swamp for a safe place to set up and rest. "Xayla, I have no skill at surviving in the wilds. Can you find us a good place where I can recover from my injuries?"
Xayla says Well, it would be difficult to hide from these things in their own home, and I don't know if they're active at night. I would suggest that we make our way out of the swamp and try to get to the river that borders it. However, that would be another few hours if we pushed hard, and I don't know if you or the horses could handle that.
Edan says I do not know about these beasts, either, but I will definitely say this: We cannot risk weakening ourselves any more than we already are. My abilities are limited until I can rest and study, and, Germon, you're injured. If we push on, we will tire ourselves and be at the mercy of these frog-things, but if we remain close, we may stand a chance in a fight. What do you say, Germon?
I nod. "Star Dancer can handle the push. I'm more worried about your light steed. We have lost Yarward's men for the time but they may still be looking for us along the river. It's a tough choice. Let's move north for now. Maybe we will find a cave along the way or some other place but it won't do us any good to wear ourselves out in case we are ambushed along the way. Stay close and lets moves."
I will lead us on until we can travel no more or we find a good place to bunker down for the night.
You are able to head north for another hour before the lesser mount refuses to continue, barring a forced march. You weren't able to find a cave, but the trees are a bit thicker here, and there is less water. It's almost dark now.
Xayla pulls some food out of her pack, passes it around, and says It's not worth feeding the horses. There isn't enough to fill them, and we don't have extras to sacrifice anyway.
I hop off Star Dancer. "That is unacceptable. Star Dancer is my stalwart companion and has served me wel. I will not simply let him starve. He will surely be needed for the long road ahead."
I look for a spot to allow my steed and Edan's to graze if possible. When set I look to the others. "I know things seem dark and the path ahead is unclear. However, we have made it further than most would in our shoes. Is that not something to take comfort in my friends? Come let us get some rest. I will take first watch."
After camp is made up I take first watch. Then I attempt rest.
Xayla looks at Star Dancer with disdain. Well, we'll have to take that into consideration. If we can make it out of this swamp tomorrow, we can start hunting, but I'm not acclimated to hunting in the swamp. I guess for now we can share. She collects whatever the horses can eat out of a fw of the rations and splits it between them. We've only got one more day of food since we're...sharing. We'll have to stop to hunt and forage tomorrow if we don't make it out of the swamp.
Edan says Germon, you are terribly injured. You need rest more than any of us. I will watch first, and you can go next.
Survival aid:
"Very well. We shall call it a night then. Wake me if there is trouble." I remove my armour and set it, my shield, and sword on the ground next to my resting spot and attempt tp get some rest.
Does next morning come or are we interrupted?
Xayla's camp site proves well-hidden, and the night passes without incident. The next morning, you awaken to find Edan studying out of a small book and Xayla standing over you. I tried to get the horses ready, but I have no idea what I'm doing.
Edan closes his book, hops up, and says Let's be away from this bog as quickly as possible.
I get my armor on painfully as I am still quite wounded. I then look around at the others. "Alright, let's make for the north. Come on, we want to keep ahead of boggards and get out of this marsh." We push for the north. I keep my eyes peeled for any signs of danger.
You must have either lost the Boggards or convinced them to give up, because Xayla can't see any trace of them as she stops to climb a tree every few hours.
In the early afternoon, you finally come to the end of the swamp. A wide river runs to your north, east to west. The river is at least 200' across, and running rapidly.
Edan says Well, I guess this counts as out of the swamp. Too bad we can't get across the river.
I look over the vast river and nod. "Not from here we can't." I point east. "That is the direction we want to go. I say we follow the river in that direction until we find a crossing or another way around." I kick Star Dancer into gear and lead the others along the bank. We will travel the rest of the day unless we encounter something along the way.