Kereek looks slightly disappointed at the prospect of not adding another human to his dating service, but he smiles and nods at the Beldame. "Maybe if Kereek come back? Kereek have many many idea about magic things!"
"Kereek has many ideas about MANY things," Jon corrects.
Then turning his attention back to Beldame, "Thank you for your hospitality. We should take our leave now to allow us time to make camp before night falls."
"Very well. It was ... interesting ... to meet you. I can't say I'll be sorry to see you again if you should come back."
The group leaves the fens, finding a drier spot to rest, and the night passes uneventfully.
"Goodbye Beldame! Kereek come back and see you soon! Goodbye scarecrow! We bring you brain next time!" Kereek waves and grins at the Beldame and her construct as he leaves, happily thinking up mad-cap ideas for magical items!
That evening when the two of them have some privacy, Orin will approach Prazil and ask "What was that all about? That thing you did in the Beldame's cabin?"
Prazil's brow raises in obviously mock confusion as Orin asks him about his behavior. Overly loud, the little kobold answers, "Prazil did thing in cabin? What thing? Prazil not remember thing." Then, whispered with a wink and nudge Prazil adds, "Prazil see you am liking... errr... prettiest! Yes, prettiest big hero in group! *giggle* Orin no worry though, secret am safe with Prazil!" The kobold offers a toothy grin, obviously delighted.
The trip south remains pleasant, with little other than the occasional squirrel and bird song to disturb you as you travel through the trees and hill. The region is dominated by a massive lake -- Candlemere -- to the east, an island in the center barely visible from the shore.
The crystal clear water of the lake makes it difficult to determine depth, but you suspect it's certainly over any of your heads.
You don't see any boats nearby.
"That must be the island Beldame was talking about," Agnar says, shielding his eyes with one hand as he peers across the water. "Doesn't look like much."
"Out there lies our fears", Trehsiell says as she looks at the island. She searches her bag and retrieves the handmirror she found in the kobold cave. Her eyes becomes distant as she looks into the mirror, like she's looking through it rather than at it, then holds the mirror towards the island, thinking. After a moment she returns the mirror to her sling bag. "I don't think they are related."
Back at the Old Beldame's:
Orin will wrack his brain to see if her description of the "Candlemere Lights" fits any creatures he may know of.
Knowledge (dungeoneering):
or
Knowledge (nature):
Lakeside:
Well there's only two ways to get out there, swim or build a raft. If we've got the time I can build us a couple of rafts out of some of the trees around here to ferry us across."
Craft (carpentry):
"I don't mind a swim, I'm sure we could all use a bath after our days of riding anyway." Then he turns to Prazil, "Can you do a quick check of our parameter to make sure we're not leaving our belongings for others to retrive?"
Prazil looks at Jon as if he's speaking a language other than Common or Draconic, confusion clearly painted on his grey scaled face. "Par-am-eat-her?" He holds his head, massaging his temples as if in pain. "Oooooo, Jon am use big words. Prazil am not sure what that am or how Prazil am to check it. You big feets want to swim? Orin am good swimmer!" Prazil offers Orin a sly wink and continues on without missing a beat. "Spike though, he am not good swimmer. Spike can watch things if we am for swimming."
Orin, you're not sure what the Candlemere lights might be.
"Swim? In water?!?" Kereek stares hesitantly at the wet stuff, looking somewhat mortified by the idea of it.
"Why do you want to swim where a boat could take you? What do you think you'll find on the island?", Treshiell asks Jon.
"Swimming doesn't seem the best option. If the water's too cold we won't make it 50 yards, let alone all the way to the island. What say we skirt the lake shore? If we find a boat, we'll use it. Otherwise, we can build a raft later and save ourselves the dunking."
"Yes yes! Boats much better than nasty swimming. Cold, wet, full of nibbly biting things! No thank you!" Kereek brightens at the prospect of not getting wet after all.
As you follow along the coast of the lake, you come to what you believe must be the Murque River, feeding into it from the west. The slow-moving river, its waters thick with algae and silt, is bordered on both banks by strips of swampy land that effectively double the river’s 100-foot width.
You'll have to cross it to continue around the lake or you can follow the north bank of the river to the west into unexplored territory.
Treshiell rocks her head back and worth to an inaudible tune as she occupies her time by pouring sand from one palm to the other. Once in a while she stops to cast a brief glance at the island before returning to her exercise of moving dirt from one place to the next.
As the group reaches the river she drops the dirt to the ground and looks at Jon expectantly.
Basically if the water is not too cold, Jon does try to swim to the island, though he doesn't expect anyone to follow in the same manner.
Treshiell tilts her head to one side and watches Jon wade into the water. "He really wants to get to that island. Somebody should tell him there is better ways that swimming", she says to nobody in perticular.
Kereek shakes his head as Jon leaps into the water. 'Silly Jon Jon. Does him not know about shrinkage? Like how tail curls up and gets tiny tiny when in cold cold water? Humans have silly backwards tails. They no need tails to get more tiny tiny!'
"City boy." Orin thinks as he watches Jon jump into the lake and begin swimming out to the island. Turning to the others he says "Someone should go get him and bring him back, lest he become a meal for whatever lives on the island."
Agnar moves to the edge of the water.
"Jon, Beldame said the island was dangerous. As an adventurer you've every right to rush off and get your fool self killed if you like. Thing is, you're not just an adventurer any more. You're a ruler. You have an obligation to your people. You rush on ahead of the rest of us and get yourself in killed, you're leaving Hartsland with an empty throne and the whole heap of trouble that goes with it."
"Besides," he says with a grin, "just because you're the baron doesn't mean I'm going to let you get out of helping us chop the wood for a raft. As your adviser I advise you to lend a hand or I'll be tempted to thump you in the name of Erastil."
Orin's able to spend the night -- which passes uneventfully, with no sign of the Candlemere Lights -- and next morning crafting together a raft, a process made much easier thanks to Spike's ability to help drag the felled trees.
By mid-afternoon, you've made it to the island, where you can see the remains of a lonely tower at its low summit, about a mile away from the shore. The island itself is covered with thick brambles and stinging nettles.
Jon does insist on swimming for some portion of the trip. Be he certainly doesn't blindly go off on his own or leave all the labor of building a raft to Orin.
"I know there are dangers all around us. But sometimes, a bush is just a bush and a lake is just a lake," Jon announce after seeing everyone hesitate to enter the water.
Then looking to Agnar. "I'd expect you of all people to encourage us to stay in touch with the natural world..."
Kereek looks at Agnar, then back at swimming Jon. "If Jon Jon get eaten by fish, can Kereek be king?"
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Treshiell sits crosslegged watching Orin and Agnar build the raft. "And a raft is a better way to cross a lake. I think your advisor would agree."
Prazil waves happily at Spike as they head across the water then nods sagely at Orin's obvious concern for Jon. He sits on the back of the raft, his tail idly swishing through the water as they slowly float toward the island.
You arrive safely at the island, which appears to be a couple miles across, the remains of a lonely tower at its low summit, about a mile away. The island itself is covered with thick brambles and stinging nettles.
"This island am bigger than it looked! Pointier too!"
"Ooo! This island make good wizardy place! Kereek put tower there, moat there, pit full with vipers there, creepy gold mine there..." Kereek trails off as his imagination runs wild redecorating the island in a suitably spooky fashion.
Prazil points to the tower, or at least what's left of it, off in the not-too-distant distance, "Kereek, tower am already here. See? We am should explore it. Will be fun!"
Agnar will take the time to examine the area, see if there are any signs of animal life or recent visitors around. He'll spend a round of speak with animals to tell Fang to have a sniff around as well.
You don't find any signs of large animals amid the heavy brush.
The site of Jon exiting the water is less majestic than usual. The long swim caused Jon's muscles to swell, making them appear bigger which with his unkept 'road' face gives Jon a very rugged look.
As Jon climbs a shore and joins the others in admiring the tower, he concentrates, checking to see if there is any sense of evil in the area, before suggesting the get a better look.
"Shall we?"
Orin pulls out his sword and begins hacking away at the underbrush "We should at least explore the tower." he says as he begins clearing a path as best he can.