The forest is quiet. Not a creature can be heard among the branches of the trees above, nor the undergrowth below. This quiet is accompanied by an odd stillness. A stillness so completely unnatural that the world seems to have stopped moving altogether.
This stillness is suddenly disturbed. In the distance a figure can be seen making their way gracefully through the trees. As they approach the world grows cold and frost begins to form on the ground and trees. This figure approaches to within ten feet before halting.
The figure is a hauntingly beautiful woman. Her skin is white as fresh snow. Her eyes are shocking blue with a jagged ring of gold circling the irises. Her hair is the same shade of blue as her eyes but with black highlights.
She stares for a few moments, completely silent, but eventually lifts her arm, holding her hand out palm up, as if offering it. A small smile crosses her lips. "There is a touch of destiny about you." Her voice is chilling, yet soothing at the same time. Closing her eyes, she brings her hand up to her mouth and blows. Snowflakes begin to form in her palm and float away on the wind of her breath.
The longer she breathes, the faster the flakes form and the faster they begin to move. As the flakes pick up speed they begin to wrap themselves around her, slowing blocking her from view as the world grows ever colder. The last thing that can be seen before the snow completely obscures her, is her smile, both beautiful and foreboding.
***
Ameiko awakens with a start to find herself comfortable and secure in her bed on the first floor of the Rusty Dragon Inn. She lets out a frustrated sigh. That's the third time that dream has presented itself to her, but she still had no idea what it was supposed to mean.
Getting up, Ameiko pours herself a glass of water from a nearby pitcher. After taking several large gulps, she lies back down and tries to relax, a feat that proves to be incredibly difficult. After ten or so minutes though she finally finds herself drifting back off to sleep.
_________________________________________________________________
The Rusty Dragon Inn, while not the only Inn in the town of Sandpoint, is certainly the most popular. On this fine morning, 26 regular patrons are enjoying the food each others company. Ameiko, the proprietor, is busy taking orders and delivering food. Occasionally her maid and old friend, the Halfling Bethana Corwin, pops her head out of the kitchen to say a few quick words to Ameiko or to deliver a particularly large platter.
Ameiko quickly retreats to the kitchen and then returns with a platter decked out with four breakfast orders. She makes her way to a table near the center of the room where ten people are seated. The only four to not have a meal yet, 3 men and a woman, are seated at the end of the table.
"Sorry for the wait you four." She sets a meal before each of the four, smiling all the while. "Hope you enjoy the meals. Feel free to call me over if you need anything." Ameiko makes to leave but then stops herself and quickly leans over the chair of one of the men sitting at the very edge of the table. "And Rauno, enjoy your week off, it's only week of the year you get to order me around. Better make it count." She smiles as she straightens up and then makes her way back to the bar, leaving the four of you to your meals.
It had been years since Aerin had last been in Standpoint, acctually she was but a child back then. Now a young woman in her own right, aerin had returned just the day before in town. She had grown into a very pretty girl (from the town boyish look that she had when she was 5 years old).
She had encountered some of her long time no see childhood friends or playmate and they all had made a rendez vous to the inn in order to catch up.
Aerin looked tired; but is looking at everyone with a warm smile, while eating breakfast
So what everyone has been doing, since we where kids?
Nearly tumbling backwards from his chair, the man is able to catch the heavy table with his foot and save himself an embarrassing fall. Bringing all four legs of his chair to the ground, he still boasts a constrained blush as he replies with a grin, "In that case, another round...if you please!" Turning back to those gathered at the table, they all see a man in his mid twenties with the deep olive complexion and colorful clothing of a Varisian. "Well, I been spending the past two year here in Sandpoint, helping Ameiko out here at the Rusty Dragon. Before that, been practicing my talents on teh road with ma ma and pa." If the clothing hadn't given it away, the man's heavy Varisian accent marks his roots. "Tis good ta see ya both again! I think the last time we bumped in to each other, we were still getting out noses wiped fer us. Though I ain't never met this other one here. Nice ta meetcha, tha names Rauno. Ya new ta these parts?" Rauno's last words are directed to Miles.
Somewhat ignoring those she doesn't know.
"Talents, what do you mean by talents because that word just covers lots of possibilities you know. And how are you parents Ray?"
As Ameiko is walking away from the table, one of the four she had delivered breakfast to puts a thumb against the forward brim of a deflated pork pie hat and tilts it up. His eyes glimmer playfully in the shadows. "No kind words for old acquaintances, eh, Ameiko?"
Though they shared a mutual friendship with Sandru, there had always been a touch of strain, Miles felt. He assumed it to be because she knew about his work in Magnimar. If she has the time to respond to him, he just smiles and thanks her for the chow, not wanting to get into the reason for his visit to Sandpoint right now in the middle of a busy breakfast shift. Instead he spears a greasy sausage link and savors it.
When Rauno addresses him, Miles shakes his head. "Wouldn't say new, no. These are old stomping grounds, but it's been a while. Miles," he tacks his name on smoothly at the end, extending a greeting hand to him even at the cramped table.
After making eye contact with Rauno, he does the same with Aerin. But something he sees on her face makes him not say anything directly to her. His smile softens a bit and he just nods his head to her before returning to his breakfast.
Ameiko returns with a second mug of Rauno's drink of choice. Grin on her face, she plops the mug down in front of Rauno. Turning to Miles, her smile lessens just a bit but there is still some warmth in her eyes.
"Not as many as you might like." Ameiko offers her hand to Miles, expecting a shake out of her old friend. "Since Sandru got back a few days ago I'm guessing you're here to pay him a visit and catch up? He's missed a lot in the two years he's been gone but it sounds like he had a lot of fun in the process. He had quite a few stories to tell."
A man at another table calls out to Ameiko. "Be back in a minute everyone." She heads over to the other table and has a brief exchange with the man before entering the kitchen.
After taking Miles' had in greeting, Rauno addresses Aerin, "Well, ya know how it goes. Spent da last few years getting in touch with ma family history while seeing more of da world." As if in emphasis, his fork started to play with the food on his plate of its own accord while he continued to speak, "Ya see, us Varisians have a history of magic in out blood. I just happen ta be one of the sods lucky enough ta be able ta use such magic. As fer ma ma and pa, they are doing right well, though still a bit upset over da passing of Madame Mvashti." Taking the offered mug, he shouts after the hurrying Ameiko. "Thanks be to ya there Ameiko! This town would fall apart without ya and yer inn!" Taking a deep draw from his mug, he lets out a sigh of appreciation beofre saying, "That hit da spot! How about yaself Aerin? What brings ya back ta Sandpoint after all these years?"
"Well," she starts, not really looking a Rauno, lowering her eyes "its kinda complicated, lets just say for now that i came back to see my parents and was hopping to settle back here. But it just didn't go that way, i was prepared for that but it hurts." her voice starts to tremble, and you can see her trying to hold back on the tears that are building up in her pretty green eyes. She pauses for a bit in order to regain some sort of composure. "Maybe i should wait until our friends has finished their breakfast if you wan't me to tell you my sad story Ray."
He does shake hands with Ameiko. They aren't close enough acquaintances for embraces. "That's about the sum of it. To hear him tell it, every excursion's an adventure. Wish we could all live that kinda life. Beats buttering the morning bread for weary travelers, I'm sure," he says, taking a bite out of the hearth-toasted bread. "I expect I'll be here a few weeks or so before heading back south. Maybe you and I could have dinner one night? Sandru's invited, too, of course," he offers a rakish grin. It was long ago established Ameiko was out of his league, but it had become something of a game to keep trying all the same.
"Magic's a marketable talent, Ray." It seems Aerin's nickname is catchier than his actual name. "It could earn a small ransom in Magnimar if you got the right connections. What's keeping you in Sandpoint? Just the fact that it's home?" he places an emphasis on the word, not in any derogatory way, but in the way that says he's heard a lot about how important such a concept is to others but never quite got it himself.
He ventures a careful query to Aerin, mindful of the sorrow she's keeping bottled up. "Who are your folks?"
"Well my father is the Venerable retired Cleric of Pharasma Arnulf Starsong, and my mother well lets just say that she is the Reverend's keeper."she says to Miles, with a harder tone in her voice at the mention of her father's name.
So Ray, in your trips with you're parents what exotic sight have you seen?, what kind of adventure have you experience? Lets hear you're stories.
"So. The preacher's daughter, and everything that comes with it." He nods, a touch of sympathy, trying to remember if he'd had any run-ins or heard any word about venerable old Arnulf.
Arnulf Starsong. Familly form the standpoint area, he had left as a young man for Kaer Maga in order to be trained as a cleri of pharasma, a familial tradition as he, a fact that he likes to point out, allways been in the employ of the clergy of pharasma. Of course not all of his ancestor where priest blessed with divine energy but they all served nonetheless. Had return to standpoint in his mid 40's as an early retired priest (but he had volunteered anyway to help overseer the local devotees of the church with the local priest). Married to a young local girl, although it has been told that she was his second wife. The first having died in childbirth, in the big city. Arnulf has a reputation for being a very strict man, who puts his clerical duties first and foremost. He is decently liked by his flock as he does tend to it well, but not soo much by of member's of other clergy as they call him, with reason, the Arrogant City brat".
"Well, 'home is where ya can put yer head' ma pa always said. My people are nomads at heart, so home is where ever we happen ta be. As ta what I am doing in Sandpoint, ma family decided ta stay here fer a bit, so here I am. O'course, it helps that I now have maself a bit a work, thanks ta da lovely Ameiko." Rauno's eyes seem to wander unintentionally in Ameiko's direction as he mentions the woman's name before taking a bite of food. "As fer where I have been, I've been seeing da world, or at least that part that Varisia lies in, been ta Riddleport and Korvosa and even Magnimar, though mostly ma family and me have been visiting da smaller towns. That's where de real charm is. Once saw a apple da size of ma head there is some hamlet between here and Korvosa. Looked so ripe and juicy, just had ta get me a bite. Well, da druid that grew da thing wasn't too pleased. Had ta give up our chickens as recompense. Better a few chickens than something more valuable I say." Listening to the man's tale, it is difficult to tell if he speaks the truth or not. "But at tha least, its good ta be back in Sandpoint, Desna bless. And ya Aerin, ya are looking in tip shape. What ya been doing that got ya so fit?"
Well my father had shipped me off to the Godsmouth Ossuary in Kaer Maga and even tough i got plenty to eat, well i also had long working hours. Tending to the dead in an poor lighted underground cemetery is hard physical labor, when you are young, small and nimble.
Well looks like you still managed to see something from this world, at least you held on the promise you made to yourself when we were little kids. I sure didn't but it looks like i might be able to see more then the inside of a Temple-Ossuary after all. at the last sentence you can almost see the bottled emotions rising up again.
As the conversation continues, two people from the large table get up to leave and make their way out of the Rusty Dragon. As they reach the door it is pushed open from the outside and another man walks in, holding the door for the two who are leaving, closing it behind them as the exit.
You all recognize this man as Belor Hemlock, Sandpoint's sheriff. He makes his way across the room to the kitchen entrance and disappears into it without so much as a glance at the room. The brief look you were able to get of his face showed that he is here on business.
"Ah," he says, remembering. "I know the name now. A friend and I used to loiter in the cemetary at night, in the company of dead adventurers, telling stories about their exploits. Most of them made up, I'm sure. Just kids being kids. Raising hells, drinking and smoking until we realized how inconsequential we are against the grandeur of the night sky. Anyway, your old man run us off with a shovel, but damned if he didn't seem like a psychopomp himself through whatever haze I was in."
He mashes boiled potatoes with a wooden fork, and then snorts a little laugh.
"Well...welcome home, I guess."
at the last sentence from Miles aerin's eyes starts to water and with hick-up as she replies: b]He threw me out, he doesn't want me to be here. He figured that a... cry... sob....cry crippled, discarded daughter that left the service of the priesthood is a disgrace that he never wants to see ever again.
cry.... cry... sob...cry
and with that Aerin breakdown crying all the tears in the world
Though Miles never looks directly at Hemlock, he does notice him peripherally. And then the preacher's daughter starts in with the waterworks. The forward brim of the hat drops as Miles suddenly finds his plate very interesting.
Cries Harder.......
Treygan had been busy talking with another member of the table, a family friend asking how things had been going with him since he had left the town militia. Sheriff Hemlock's entrance broke him away from the conversation, Treygan wondering what was going on when he realizes the pretty girl at the table was crying.
Treygan quickly looks at the others seated nearby, wondering what set her off. "Um, miss. I'm afraid to admit I wasn't paying attention. Please, let me know what's wrong and perhaps I can help...Aerin?" Finally getting a good look at her, Treygan recognizes her, having grown since he last remembered her. "Aerin, I didn't know you were back in Sandpoint. What happened?"
at the mention of the what happened you didn't think it was humanly possible but aerin cries even harder, raising her head toward treygan: O...Trey...Its...itscry....cry...sob...sob my father cry...sob... he doesn't....want me .....cry...... cause i am broken sob....cry...sob and i quit the service of Pharasam and then she cries a loooot more.
Treygan's at a loss for words at first, shocked to see Aerin after so long and to see her in this state. Fortunately his training at the temple takes over, "Aerin, please stop. No matter who says what, you're not broken. There's just no truth to that statement. By the Dawnflower, you've gotten so pretty I hardly recognized you. Right Rauno? And if you left the priesthood, that's a choice between you and Pharasma, no one else to tell you differently. Each of us must follow our own path set before us and if this is the path YOU have chosen, then don't let anyone else tell you differently. Please calm down and tell us the whole story."
It takes both the efforts of Treygan and Rauno for a few minutes to calm her enough for her to get her story out while crying softly:
Well you both know that i was send at the young age of five to the great Godsmouth Ossuary of Kaer Maga to serve in my father footstep as a cleric of Pharasma.Its a tradition for the past hundreds of year that the first born goes into the priesthood. Therefore as the only child i destined to become a priest of Pharasma. And all tough i ended up manifesting divine powers they manifested rather trough my emotions, my personality than trough wisdom and training, on a dreadful day not that long ago. As much as i tried i couldn't care much for the dead,working in the Godsmouth Ossuary's underground cemetery, with poor or no lighting at all, for 15 years while growing up has made me practically blind.
One day not that long ago i was working a very long shift in the underground ossuary as a high dignitary of Kaer Maga has lost is beloved daughter and had somewhat managed to pull enough strings to have her entomb there. It must have been lots of strings in fact for the clergy was very reluctant to grand him his wishes as trouble was afoot. No one knew outside the Ossuary that corpses had started to vanish and strange and unexplained phenomenon where happening in one of the lower levels. The one located just above the condemned level dedicated to Lissala and the 7 RuneLords. To give you an idea that level is more of an underground temple than anything else With at its center a 50 ft statue representing the 3 aspect of the goddess and 14 grand alcove in a crown formation sitting a 30 ft from the ground level. These alcoves each have a 5 ft statue of one of the ancient RuneLords bearing their corresponding Rune of Sin (on the left) or their corresponding Rune of Virtue (on the right). Not too far from that central room rest the bottomless pit (15ft radius).
To make a long story sorter, while Angie and i was making the necessary preparations in order to open one of sarcophagus on the sub level. we ended up hearing lots of noise and mysterious chain rattling. On our way back to the top having hasted our work we meet face to face with a zombie carrying a warped corpse. Recognizing the undead, angie and i proceed to flee. We figured that since it was a zombie we could out run it. But that was not destined to be like that, as that thing moved at normal speed. As we tried to run faster, angie's candle flame died out. we had not more light. While i knew my surrounding well i could have keep going but alas angie couldn't and the undead attacked her immediately. I tried to help as my almost blind eyes had somewhat adjusted to the darkness but being unarmed (even tough at the temple we were given basic training in simple weapons) there was little a could do. Angie was killed that night and i grievously injured. And as i was about to get killed, my emotions running rampant, divine magical energy came flowing trough me and in a semi state of consciousnesses i wielded positive energy and wounded enough to make it retreat with its prized.
I awoke a few hours later in the care of the Hight Priestess of birth. She explained to me that while the cleric were able to heal all my injuries. the internal damage to my stomach and an unknown alchemical compound that was present on the creature's claws left me with no possibilities of every having children's of my own. They had tracked the thing into the forbidden level dedicated to Lissala but where awaiting the permission of Delana Karaheis, High Priestess of Death away for the day on city business, in order to open the forbidden level.
Stuck on grief, remorse and fury and not wanting it to get away i snuck in the armory, grabbed armor and weapons and went there myself. I opened the locked doors and proceed inside. after a long exploration of the level. i intruded into a part that had been converted into living quarters with a library and a functioning laboratory. inside a man was standing over the corpse of my friend. I recognized him the moment he turned. He was a cleric of Pharasma that choose to resign rather than to be expelled over some notion that life could be prolonged trough death by means of Alchemy rather than Magic and that these form of undead not being tied to Negative Energy could receive the approval of Pharasma. Seeing my fiend rise again as well as the undead bodyguards he had i figured that he had succeed.
I barley managed to win but i was able to kill him and destroyed his work. A few month later i left the service of the temple.
I traveled there, as i had to go explain to my father, why i have to find herself a new career orientation. He has disowned me as i am not in the service of the Clergy of Pharasma, and he can't marry me off to anyone who'd want an almost complete blind girl who can't produce him an heir that will serve in my stead. I am what is called sometimes as a favored Soul but of whom and what i do not know.
During the minutes that it takes for Aerin to be calmed down and to tell her story, Hemlock exits the kitchen and makes his back out of the Rusty Dragon. Shortly after he leaves, Ameiko returns to the main area and waits patiently for Aerin's story to conclude, soaking it all in.
When Aerin's tale is over, Ameiko walks over behind her and wraps her arms around Aerin. "Sounds like you've had a tough time. I'm so sorry about what happened." Ameiko holds the embrace for a few moments before letting go and pulling a chair over from a nearby table.
Seating herself, she says, "How would you like to do the town a favor, all four of you? She motions to Aerin, Treygan, Rauno, and Miles. Aerin, this would be good opportunity to blow off some steam and show up your father by proving you aren't completely useless. What do you say?
Melting in the warm embrace of Ameiko, aerin relaxes and takes somme comfort.
Smiling again toward all those sitting at the table: " Don't really know about really wanting to show him anything, but i sure would welcome something and since i don't have any real plans for anything i have almost all the time in the world, no places to go. So sure count me in.
An anger rises gradually in Miles as Aerin confesses her grievances. It makes him all the angrier when she seems to acknowledge that it was fate, or misfortune, that led her to be barren, half-blind, abandoned and almost dead, and not her own father's unwillingness to be a father.
By the time she is done, the only reaction Miles has is a subtle one: his nostrils have flared outwards and his blood begun to boil a bit.
Ameiko's voice snaps him out of his dark thinking. "Having all of Sandpoint owe me a favor in return? I can see the value in that."
He lifts a cloth and wipes grease from his mouth, standing. "Hemlock having trouble with rowdy adventurers or something?"
Treygan reaches across the table and gives Aerin's hand a squeeze. "That's the spirit. I'm sure your father's words as well as your experiences in Kaer Maga have left deep scars. Time will help to heal them, and helping out the town is good for the soul either way. What kind of help can we do for the town?"
"Not rowdy adventurers unfortunately, that would be more easily dealt with. For the last several weeks the Lost Coast Road has been having trouble with goblins from Brinestump Marsh. Miles, you came from that direction, you must have heard something about it. They've been attacking caravans and lone travelers and have done quite a job of interrupting trade along the coast. Hemlock wants to get them dealt with. He stopped by to let me know that tomorrow he plans on announcing that the old Goblin bounty that was put into effect back when the Thistletop Tribe was a hindrance is being reinstated. 10 gp for every goblin right ear you bring back and an extra 300 if you get the head of the chief. Hemlock told me now because he said if I knew anyone who I thought was capable, I could give them a bit of a head start. So what do you guys think? Interested?
A frown crosses Treygan's face for a moment. "Goblins, huh. Filthy little creatures. It's a good idea he didn't send in the militia. They're good at defending the town, but assaulting a marsh. It'll take time just finding their hideout." The smile returns to Treygan's face. "You can count me in on it. What about the rest of you?"
I could track for a company of volunteers Ameiko, after all one doesn't live in an overgrown underground dungeon with out picking some tracking tips if only to find you way home. She says looking a her with a half smile.
Listening intently to Aerin's story, Rauno was about to respond when Ameiko came over. Letting the woman talk, his attention is drawn to the assistance that he could give. "Goblin, eh? Me and mine have had a few run ins with goblins over da years. I ain't no expert mind you, but anyway I can help, I am willing. It'll be a good chance ta practice ma magics outside of cleaning da dishes and busing da tables. Now let me think about what ta expect there in da swamp."
rising from her chair Rrey, Ray, looks like we are going goblin hunting after all, just like in some of the stories we made when we were kids. I'll go and get my things readied. Lets me all here and head out soon as we all good? I supposed that we could trouble you for some sandwiches ameiko for lunch? We should be back for diner as i don't think any of us wanna stay out camping around a fire with marshmallows in a swamp tonight."
After hearing the answers aerin will leave the table, head upstairs to get her bag ready.
Its take her about 20 min , and upon her return she is "dressed" with a heavy armor, a shield and a simple club.
backpack includes: compass, 50ft roop (knotted), grappling hook, 3 small bags, long walking stick (quarterstaff lenght) sling, 20 stones.
She nods to everyone present: "There all set to go"
Miles is thoughtful. Debating. He glances out the door where the Sheriff left and then sucks on his teeth.
"I'm gonna need to buy some watertight boots, but yeah. Yeah, that's something I can do. Dangerous work, but could be lucrative. I hate goblins, anyway. They're so..."
He has not the words. Only a disgusted shudder.
"I guess we'll put that dinner on hold until I get back. Do we need to go and tell Hemlock we're gonna do his dirty work, or just get right down to it?"
on her way toward the stairs aerin slowly turns around."We can just head out to the swamp. No need to tell him anything since we get paid by bringing goblin's ears starting tomorrow therefore we can head out now."" and then resume her walk
"No trouble at all, just give me a few minutes," Ameiko says to Aerin with a smile. She disappears into the kitchen for several minutes before returning with a leather bag. "Provisions for lunch." She passes the bag to whoever wants to carry it. "Also, a piece of advise before you get going. There's a halfling that lives near the northern edge of the swamp named Walthus Proudstump. He appointed himself as "warden" of the marsh a few years ago. He's a bit of a solitary figure but if anyone knows his way around Brinestump, it's him. If you follow the new fishing path you should be able to find his house no problem. I advise checking in with him to see if he knows anything useful."
At first he thinks to ask whether Aerin is really up to this: traipsing out into the middle of a swamp to hunt down those grotesque little creeps. Just minutes ago she was a ruptured waterworks. But he stops himself before doing so, clearly keeping whatever he was going to say to himself.
Maybe everything that's happened is exactly why she's so eager to get out of Sandpoint. And who could blame her for that?
"All right. I will meet you all back here. Just got to head to the hostel to pick up my things. Hadn't even had a chance to unpack yet, so that's just great."
After picking up his goods from his room, he heads to Vernah's Fine Clothing to size up some good watertight hide boots to keep out the swampwater and muck and all the ringworm and trench foot that comes with it. He also asks if there's any fine transparent veiling he can have sewn to the brim of his hat to keep the bugs out. "Headed south through swamp territory," he offers as explanation. "Perils of a fishing trip."
Once departed from the clothier's, he seeks out a hardware store to see if he can find hinged collapsible planks used in construction. He'll even explain that its just a pair of boards, double-hinged, that extend into little ten foot bridges. If asked why, he just says, "Sometimes you need 'em to get to the good ponds."
When he returns to Ameiko's, he might very well be the last one to arrive. If not, he loiters until everyone is present.
appearing a bit exhausted still by her ordeal aerin sends a warm smiles at everyone once miles arrives.
Well i guess us four will try our hands at something a little different in ours lives today. Lets head out shall we, i am sure one of you can lead us to where we need to go. And with that she starts moving toward the main road in standpoint.
Treygan takes the time to stop by home, donning weapons and armor and letting his parents know where he's heading off to. Returning to meet the others, he appears ready for a fight. "Finding the marsh should be easy, navigating it I'm not looking forward to. Part of my training involved spending two weeks in a swamp. I was hoping not to repeat it. But what can be done about it. That's where the danger has chosen to camp, that's where we shall tread. I hope your wilderness skills are better than my own Aerin."
Wilderness skills? No not really, you have to remember Trey that i lived the major part of 15 year only seeing the inside and the underground structures of a Temple Ossuary. the few things i have learned is to follow tracts and trying to find my way in a maze. But the same principal should apply to following track out here, and if a take my bearing correctly with my compass as we exit town i'll be able to bring us around.
His expression is dubious after both of those admissions. "We'll knock on the halfling's door and see what he has to say. Maybe he's got greasy palms and he'll take us right to the grubbers."
Sure lets stop at the "warden's" house and find found what he can tell us. Ameiko said Northern edge of the swamp. Lets move we have a few hours of walking before we get there."
The party sets out south along the Lost Coast Road. The journey takes you alongside the mountains that make up the western edge of the Devil's Platter, across the Cougar Creek, and past the cliff known locally as Hag's Plummet. Within an hour of travel the Brinestump Marsh comes into view.
After a few more minutes you come across a trail that breaks from the Lost Coast Road and leads south into the swamp. Rauno can identify this as the New Fishing Trail. Following it will lead past the best fishing spots in the swamp and eventually to the coast.
Walthus is likely to live nearby this trail so that he can keep an eye on people coming and going from the swamp.
Great as soon as we get to the warden's house we will get to find out more information...
So i bet we need to look around to find his house.
"I knew I shoulda brought a pole. Just in case we had some free time," Miles observes, looking out over the fishing spots on either side of the New Fishing Trail. "When I came up from the south I was travelling a ways east of here."
Meanwhile, he keeps his eyes peeled for anything of interest, including a house.
Amusing Miles, but if you want to fish we can always do that in a few days. I am sure it will take us a few forays to get to the goblin chief
The trail into the marsh is well enough tread that following it is not difficult. It leads a winding path through the marsh. The marsh itself feels... oppressive. The overhanging canopies of the many trees do an effective job of reducing the sunlight at ground level. Every now and then eerie noises can be heard out off the trail in addition to sounds of bugs and the wet bubbling of streams and moist earth.
After several minutes of travel, (seven to be exact), you come across a bridge that spans a river about forty feet across. The bridge is well built and stable and the crossing causes you no trouble.
The path winds on for several more minutes, (6 minutes), before you come across another bridge and river. This too is easily crossed. Aerin pauses for a brief moment on the other side of the river.
All the while Aerin has been keeping an eye on the ground, looking for tracks or any sign of recent passage. For the most part you find the tracks of animals. Shortly after crossing the second bridge Aerin notices a print in the ground slowly filling with water. It's barely half full so you can assume that whatever made the print passed through here recently. The print is about the size of human foot although a bit wider and bears three clawed toes rather than five.
Signaling a full stop, Aerin, crouch down on the ground, after a bit of reflexion: Hum interesting something passed trough here recently and going in that pointing direction. Its human size, not wearing boots as it has claws instead of toes. Since its close to the water all these tracks will disappear very soon. Either we follow it or we continue toward our original direction? as she turns toward everyone.