Kisandra mentioned the fort is generally west, but she mentioned the swamp and a lake...
We should prepare spells for travel and, in swamps, perhaps for Will'o wisps...
What precautions will you use to travel the great swamp that lies ahead? Please state for each character.
If they marched a raiding party of dozens (complete with trolls) through here, it shouldn't be too hard to find a path for our much smaller group. Servayn will ask Kriger if he can find one of the many routes the people who live here take, since there's apparently a Barony of some sort in these parts.
If the route between Taztlford and Drelev is impassible, that tells us something new about our enemies, that they have magic powerful enough to transport many dozens of men many days travel...
If Kriger can't point out a handy route (that the bad guys used), Servayn can conjure magical steeds capable of moving through swampy terrain unhindered, although that will require us to leave behind any mundane steeds.
To pick up the track, you would have to return to the village (2 days) and start from there. I just worked with 'going west'.
Realizing that we decided to go to Drelev through the non-intuitive route of not following the group that just came from there, but instead 'as the crow flies,' Servayn whistles up three phantom steeds capable of moving across swampy terrain unhindered for Kriger, Kalsgrim and Malaswyn, before climbing aboard Ember and hanging on for dear life, as he begs his companion to stay low to the ground.
The steeds appear to be made of thick black roiling smoke, shot through with dull red sparks, which hisses up from the ground and fills in a horse-shaped outline, as if the smoke is being blown into an invisible horse shaped glass container. Despite their ephemeral, and slightly sinister, aspect, they seem solid to the touch, and obedient to their respective riders.
The dark steed make short work of the marsh and within a day, you cross switfly the marshy area and reach a great lake as the sun sets in the west.
How do you prepare for camp?
Can the mounts cross water?
You make camp in a semi-dry area. The land is mud and bog for the most part, and you can't help but be deeply thankful for the conjured mounts Servayn offered.
But for all that effort saved, the main madness comes from the relentless assaults of millions of mosquitoes. Speed helps, but they find you fast once you stop.
You get a small fire going as the sky slowly fills with clouds and shuts the stars one by one, but the weather holds, and you spend the night mostly dry under tents.
Morning comes with a lightening of the low cloud cover, but no sun comes to warm your bones and dry your clothes. You feel miserable, but it's only been a single day. To the west is Hooktongue Lake, while north, south and east is the dreadful marsh known appropriately as the Slough.
"I am inclined to agree with sticking to the marshy areas, as we will be too vulnerable to attack from the water if we go upon the lake." Servayn offers. "Was there not a group, deputized the same time as ours, sent to tame this area? I do not recall clearly, as it was some time ago, but I don't recall hearing any great success on their part..."
"If so, and we can uncover signs as to their fate, or perhaps even locate survivors of such an expedition, we might at least put to rest any lingering questions their families might have."
You set out early, with a cloud cover that seems to grow lower and darker with every hour. The arcane mounts save you hours of travel and from treacherous bogs who, as you can see, can be found everywhere.
After noon, the rain starts, which at least chases off the mosquitoes and other insects. As the coast of the lake seems to angle west, a wide river oriented north-south comes to connect with it. It is too wide to cross, and you spy in the distance old buildings in ruin. From the look of it, an abandoned inn or farm.
"On it." Kriger moves ahead a bit and keeps an eye out as mentioned, drawing his axe in the process.
Servayn will definitely dismount, both to improve Ember's maneuverability, and to give his sore tailbone a rest. Ember might be ride-able, and even saddle-able, but he's no horse, that's for sure!
I'll stay mounted, for maneuverability.
As you get within a thousand feet, Kriger spots some movement from the ruin and from the area around. His instinct tells him it's an ambush...
Kriger narrows his eyes at the sight of movement as he reduces his speed. "Looks like we got hosts, Chief. And my gut tells me they like 'surprising' their uninvited guests. I'm in for opinions on how to go about this. I'm for moving along by myself and drawing 'em out while the rest of you go with our own ambush. But I'm good with whatever equals burying my axe in their skull," he says, grinning wryly.
"We should not separate, if only to keep your delicate hide close to Malaswyn's healing hands." Servayn says to Kriger, with a small grin, hoping not to offend.
I cast a communal Protection From Evil.
"We should not separate, if only to keep your delicate hide close to Malaswyn's healing hands." Servayn says to Kriger, with a small grin, hoping not to offend.
Kriger gives a quiet chuckle at Servayn's words. "Good point. Okay then, let's keep it together and get ready to get jumped," he says, oddly excited about the idea, as he returns to leading the way.
Servayn conjures forth glowing energy to reinforce Ember's scales and then infuses him with arcane energy, causing his size to increase .
Once this is complete, he urges Ember forward, and Ember takes to the sky and pounces towards the building, with a few strong wingbeats.
"If there is an ambush, I suppose we'll know soon enough..." he says dryly.
Kriger
Kalsgrim
Servayn
Malaswyn
B
BS
The moment Ember grows in size, a roaring croak erupts from the river area and the ruined inn. From the distance, you can make six boggards, though from the noise, it sounds at least like twice that many.
Map of the area, green is swampy difficult terrain unless you stay on your magical horses.
Kriger will mutters a quick prayer to Ol' Deadeye, increasing the amount of pain his axe will deliver.
Ember will leap forward through the air and come down just on the edge of the clear ground, outside of the marsh, in the direction of the farm house.
Servayn doesn't care for the range, and begins to slog through the marsh, as quickly as he can. He draws his wand of lightning, as he advances.
I urge my mount forward and call forth Her purifying flames to strike our foes .
The Lords of Frieland - Round 1
Since the boggards are clearly hostile, Kalsgrim stands his ground and fires at them.
//Both arrows find their target despite the distance, and the boggard drops to the ground.
Kriger will mutters a quick prayer to Ol' Deadeye, increasing the amount of pain his axe will deliver.
Ember will leap forward through the air flying double move and come down just on the edge of the clear ground, outside of the marsh, in the direction of the farm house.
Servayn doesn't care for the range, and begins to slog through the marsh, as quickly as he can. He draws his wand of lightning, as he advances.
The Boggards - Round 1
From the river and from the buildings spring a great number of Boggards, armed with blowguns and morningstars. The ones in the marsh make a wild dash for the group, while the ones closer to the ruined inn set out to attack Ember.
The ones attacking Ember move close to the eidolon and let out terrifying croaks.
From the inn, you can hear a dark voice croaking mad words of power, and a cloud of green gas engulfs Ember, sending its stomach reeling.
Then another voice rises, and Kriger, Malaswyn and Kalsgrim see the weeds surrounding them come alive and attempt to grapple them. A fierce looking boggard of great size comes out of the ruined inn, ending the casting of his spell as he approaches, holding a trident and drawing a handaxe.
Area is Difficult Terrain (all squares count as 2 for movement).
Creatures in area make a Reflex save.
-Fail = entangled
-Success = may move as normal
Any who enter the area make Reflex save immediately.
-Fail = entangled and movement ends.
-Success = may move normally
Any who remain in the area at end of casters turn must save again.
Can attempt to break free as a move action by making Strength or Escape Artist check vs. DC of the spell.
Entangled Condition Summary
Move at half speed
Cannot run or charge
–2 penalty on all attack rolls
–4 penalty to Dexterity.
Must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell (or lose the spell).
Unable to see which direction would be the most direct route out of the cloud, Ember beats his wings and rises directly up.
Servayn slogs his way two paces the north and a step to the west and unleashes a lightning bolt from his wand upon the boggards approaching his position.