Hana was enjoying some of Yuto's breakfast when she notices just how skittish Arika is about heading to Old Megus. Though Hana never had the privilege of meeting the old witch herself she had heard enough stories to understand Arika's fear. "I would prefer it if you went us to Megus's. Strength in numbers and all that. But if you're not comfortable with it than maybe heading back to Sandpoint right now might be best," she says sympathetically.
Finishing off her morning meal, Hana readies her gear and takes a moment to align her ki with a breathing exercise her mother once taught her. When she's finished and ready to set out, she looks towards the others. "Hitting Megus's first and heading towards the ship and cove sounds like a plan. Let's try to make it her place before noon though. Getting stuck in the sun again like on that first day isn't exactly my idea of fun.
"I will not force Arika to follow us. I am myself not very convinced this is a good idea" Yuto rubs the back of his neck while standing up and starting to pack all the breakfast stuff and the bedroll.
Once that is completed, he will be happy to leave the goblin and help the group find Old Megus or the shipwreck, whatever appears first.
Arika looks at Hana, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. After a moment, she nods firmly to herself. "I should get back to Sandpoint as soon as I can. I don't want to worry my family more than I already have, and I'll be in enough trouble as it is."
”We can escort you to Lost Coast Road. That’ll take you back to Sandpoint, and there’s a trail branching off from there that leads directly to Old Megus’ hut.” Teruko smiles at Arika. ”So Ameiko claims anyway. Apparently her and her friends used to dare each other to go down that path. Most were too scared to go more than a hundred yards or so.”
Perhaps surprisingly Hana nods her head at Teruko's suggestion. She remembered that path, having been of one those overly brave friends who took that foolhardy dare. "Teruko's right," she confirms, looking the other Minkaian's way. "Place always felt awful... bad ki, I suppose. Still probably the best way to get to Megus since we can use it to avoid having to walk through the bush without a path."
"Ye-yes... that seems like a good course of action. We can help them to the main road so they have an easier time coming back to Sandpoint" Yuto nods in agreement with Teruko and Hana "We can then try to find that old path you say"
"Although I am starting to feel it is perhaps not the best of ideas to find this Old Megus..." the Tian trembles, then takes breath and finishes packing of his belongings.
"So, to the Lost Coast road, isn't it?" Yuto is ready and will start walking as soon as the rest is too.
The heroes and their companions leave the goblin village and make their way along the muddy Old Fish Trail. After a day spent trekking across the Marsh through its most hostile terrain, the path is a godsend. They barely encounter any difficulties at all - puddles of muddy water, sure, the occasional low-hanging branch, absolutely, but nothing nearly as troublesome as the journey from the Kaijitsu Star to the village was.
After nearly half an hour, they arrive at the Soggy River… but where there should be a bridge, there is only the rushing waters of the river, still somewhat higher and faster than normal from the previous day’s storm.
”Uh…” Cyrus hesitates, frowning at the water. ”I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it across that.”
Arika looks pale as well.
"...what was that?" Seishin looks around.
Yuto blinks startled at the absence of the bridge "Oh, oh. Something went wrong with the rains here? Wh-what do you think if I do cross and set a rope, will you brave it Cyrus? Arika?"
The Tian turns and looks at the river, in the distance "That was no wave, it was a roar from another Marsh creature... but I am not versed on animals and other strangest creatures of the marsh..."
Taking a long breath, Yuto sets himself into action, leaving the shield and taking the rope, he looks at how better to cross to the other side "Let me try"
Teruko frowns at the rushing waters. "This looks a lot faster than the other river we swam. Yuto, are you sure-" She's cut off by the strange roar.
Blinking, she stares into the distance. "That sounded almost like a drake." Not that she's ever heard a drake roar herself, but it's a very distinctive sound. No wonder half the books she'd read said something along the lines of 'You'll know it when you hear it.' "It's supposed to sound deeper though, so either this is a very young drake or, more likely, some different but related type of creature."
She shakes herself out of her academic musings as the situation sets in. "We need to go. Now. It's still far away; best to be gone before it leaves. Yuto, before you cross, just let me..." She reaches forward and grasps his shoulder tightly, muttering under her breath. "That should help. A little."
"A drake? Well." Seishin swallows. "Then we do need to be off."
Though he struggles mightily at first, Yuto makes it across the river with some aid from Teruko's spell, dragging the rope along with him. The rope itself is taut and soaked by the water by the time the others begin making their way across, but it is just enough for everyone to make it across.
"Ugh..." Arika shivers. "Gods, what I wouldn't give for real sunlight."
Cyrus has other concerns. "Dammit, I'm never going to get the stink of this swamp out of these clothes..."
Yuto smells his own clothing and laughs "Well, we definitely would benefit from some laundry"
"Be careful with your desires Arika, I wished a respite from the Sun, and look what we got" the man seems in a very good mood as he recovers the rope "It is nice to feel we get closer to Sandpoint and away from that drake shriek"
"Thanks Teruko, your prayers really helped there, in the waters. It is strange, how to say, but I felt encouraged"
Once everyone is ready, Yuto will continue undoing the path towards the Lost Coast road where the group is expected to split.
"A drake? Where?" Torra keeps looking up, hoping to see the creature. What would it be eating in this marsh, anyway? "Do drakes fish?"
Once they cross the river, the dwarf looks over her shoulder every few steps, wondering if the drake would come after them or not. Curiosity and excitement are mixed with fear.
"Not a clue," Hana idly replies to the dwarf's question, being a bit more concerned about crossing the river without getting wet. Once she gets on the other side of the water though does add by saying, "But I think the better question is whether they eat people, no? Either way, best we keep moving along to make some distance."
Putting her words into action, Hana moves out on the road while keeping her eyes and ears focused on spotting any other creatures that might be haunting the path.
”A drake? Isn’t that some sort of dragon?” Arika asks, palefaced.
”I think we ought to get going, yes.” Cyrus agrees with Seishin.
The party continues on their journey swiftly along the path - though there are hinderances here and there, they ultimately prove minor, and for a time the only sounds are the squelching of the group’s boots in the mud and the birdsong from within the marsh.
Eventually, they reach the end of the marshy flora, and step out into the sun. For a moment, they are blinded by the sunlight, but their eyes adjust quickly. Arika runs ahead, lifting her face to the sun, while Cyrus sighs, sagging with relief.
”If ever I come back here, it’ll be with a whole lot more preparations.” He says with a weary sigh.
"We-well at least we have braved it alive" Yuto manages a kind smile back at the troubled man "And now, it-it seems the time for us to split has come"
"I won't easily forget the time we fought together Cyrus. I hope we can see back each other in a few days and share a bit more story. Perhaps get to know each other better" the Tian kindly says godbye to Cyrus and also vows to Arika "Please, take care of the big man. And spare your family from the worse part of what you have seen"
With that, Yuto is ready to continue the groups trip to the depths of the marsh.
Torra stares at Cyrus as the two prepare to head back to Sandpoint while the rest of them continue into the marsh. "And we need to go back and bury your friends properly."
Probably not the best moment to remind them of their losses, but the girl was suddenly afraid that she'll never see Cyrus again, that he'll have moved on like adventurers do by the time she got back.
"Safe travels to you both." Seishin nods.
"I don't think it's a dragon. I don't even think it was a drake. Maybe a tatzlwyrm?" Teruko starts running through a mental list of draconic creatures before deciding it doesn't matter. "Hopefully we never find out."
As they reach the road, a genuine smile crosses her face as she tilts her head up towards the sun. "After how hot it was a couple days ago, I didn't think I'd ever miss the sun again. But I'm glad to see it now." She closes her eyes and simply basks for a moment.
"The road should be safe, particularly with the Licktoads gone, but be careful on the way back. Once you do get back to Sandpoint, could you stop by the Rusty Dragon and tell Ameiko what's going on? She's probably worried." As Torra mentions burying their friends, Teruko's face grows somber. "Koras' body is along the trail to Walthus' house, just after the first bridge. We did what we could for him, but we didn't have the time or the tools for a proper grave."
"We'll probably be out here for another day or two so it would be good to know that people know where we are in case that drake does try to make a meal of us," Hana tells the leaving pair. The tavern singer said the last few words half-jokingly, but she would have been lying if she wasn't concerned that they all might share the same fate of the Battered Shield.
With that in mind, Hana quickly adds quietly, "And if you can please tell my mother that I'm sorry for leaving like I did and that I'll back as soon as I can."
Yuto nods in agreement "Yes, if you can tell Koya and Sandu we killed the Marsh Monster and dealt with the Licktoads... that would be great to calm them. We only have to explore a shipwreck it seems ahead"
"The most dangerous left is just dealing with Old Megus, but I hope stories are just worst than reality in here..." this last one he says it more to himself, trying to cheer up on the idea what remains is not dangerous at all.
Cyrus sweeps as elegant a bow as he can manage with his clothes soaked and his injuries still reasonably severe. "Thank you all for your help. Stay as safe as you can out there, alright?" He looks grave at the mention of Koras, before nodding sadly. "I'll do my best to get them back to a better place to rest their bones until Pharasma gives them her judgment.
Arika reaches out and squeezes Hana's hand. [b]"Of course. It's the least I can do."
The group prepares to move southwards, as the sun continues its ascent in the sky. The Lonely Coast Road is positively comfortable to travel along in comparison to the trails of Brinestump, to say nothing of the trek through the marsh. Nevertheless, it takes them fifty-odd minutes to get down the path that leads to the Witch's Walk, that is rumored to take someone directly to Old Megus' hut.
A lot of frogs are coming out after the rainstorm, so Torra is very distracted by them.
"Well, at least the humidity has passed... I hope." Seishin sighs.
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The sight of the Witch's Walk is enough to make Teruko shiver. Even if she had been among the groups who dared each other to follow the path, she wouldn't have been brave enough to try. She's looking about for something to distract herself with when she sees it.
"Torra, isn't that a golden striped frog? Like the one you were so excited about earlier?"
Torra goes to look immediately, then shakes her head. "No, that's the male of the yellow-striped poison dart frog. Easily confused because of the single yellow stripe, but this one has a much darker coloration, see?"
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"Can't say I miss the feeling of swamp water leaking through my boots," Hana quips as she tries (and fails) to avoid a hidden puddle."Here's to hoping that Megus's place is well-kept. Doubtful. But I can hope."
"It cannot be worse than the two nights of terror at Goblin Camp" Yuto looks up the sky and smiles relieved from the arduous walking in the mud "Oh, a frog? I thought it was a small lizard, it seems I should walk more often in the wild lands of Sandpoint it seems, haha"
Still at good humor the Tian points a rock in the path "Mmm... haven't we crossed this place before? Might have we got lost distracted on the good weather and the wild life?"
The party progresses down the Witch's Walk, now more experienced than ever with moving through swampland, dodge branches and leap over muddy water that still lingers from the previous day's storm. Within twenty more minutes, they arrive at the Soggy River once more, with a very precarious-looking bridge extending over the rough-moving waters.
Teruko's been learning a few things about unstable construction ever since they entered the goblin village. She still has no idea how most of those buildings stayed upright, but it's helping her recognize potential problems now. "That bridge will collapse if more than one of us tries to cross at the same time. See those rotten boards?" She points them out so people know to be particularly careful of those sections.
"If I go last, I can help anyone crossing in case you need to catch yourself or something. Like I did with Yuto earlier."
"Agreed Teruko Sama, some of those boards are badly rotten" Yuto makes a test shaking a bit the handrails "Let me go first. If it supports my weight, it will be probably safe for the rest of you"
The Tian let's Teruko give her some divine guidance, and then slowly and very carefully attempts to brave the old bridge.
Hana could not help but cringe as she saw Yuto in all his armor makes way across the bridge. To say that it looked ramshackle and wormbitten would have been an understatement of the highest regard. Not for the first time since she entered the marsh, the kunoichi wishes she brought some rope of her own in case the samurai was unlucky enough to fall through.
When Yuto shakes the handrails, the bridge creaks alarmingly, but doesn't show any signs of actually breaking. He slowly begins walking across the bridge, taking care to test each of the boards that seem rotten beforehand. Only a few break, but one does squish particularly unpleasantly.
Eventually, he manages to get to the other side safely. A bird caws in the distance, and the rushing sound of the Soggy River fills the air.
Yuto looks up to the sky looking for the bird, but seeing nothing, he looks back at the group with an encouraging smile "It-it is safe. Just do not try jumping or da-dancing over it"
"Let's reserve that for our celebration after our return to the Rusty Dragon" with a vigilant stare over the flowing waters and the ominous caws and buzzing in the air, Yuto resumes the trek through the marsh once everyone has crossed.
Torra lets a couple of the others cross before braving the bridge herself, testing the planks with her foot before fully putting her weight on them.
Once on the other side, she takes a look at the trail, hoping to spot interesting bugs.
Seishin is the next to cross after Yuto.
With the boon of having a lightfoot and nimble disposition, Hana makes her way across the bridge without much trouble. Once she's on the other side with the rest of parts sans Teruko she makes a quip. "And to think, I was worried there for a bit."
"And to think, I was worried there for a bit."
Hana's words cause a jolt in Seishin's memory...
"--to think, I was worried there for a bit."
An affirmation of skill. Relief given a voice. A challenge, boasted idly to Karma.
The wind starts to howl, tugging at my clothes. Threatening to throw me off entirely, screaming all four stories down.
I shouldn't have said that I shouldn't have said that I shouldn't have said that Ishouldn'thavesaidthat Ishouldn'thavesaidthat Ishouldn'thavesaidthat ISHOULDN'THAVESAIDTHAT
Fortunately, the memory passes before long.
"We sometimes worry too much about things that never will happen" Yuto smiles Hana as he offers a hand for her to reach the other side as he has done with everyone else.
Noticing the troubled face of the Samsaran, he asks him "A-are you ok Seishin San?"
Though the bridge sways uncomfortably (especially given that it doesn't have any ropes, only "solid" wood) as Seishin passes over it, the party as a whole have no trouble making their way over the Soggy River.
Once again, they set off along the Witch's Way, dodging branches, stepping over roots, and disentangling themselves from low-hanging vines. Within fifteen minutes more, they arrive at a sagging one-story shack squatting in the sodden marshland. Lichen and fungus covers the walls, while to the northeast there is a partially collapsed shack.
Strewn across the nearby branches and the roofs of both structures.
"Sun and Blade protect us... do you think the stories about Old Megus eating little children are truthful?" Yuto's voice dies out with a shake "I... I... I think we should announce ourselves, we do not want her to over-react to us..."
While the group decides if they should announce themselves politely or just go in, Yuto directs his attention to the hole in the northern structure, peeking around to see what is inside.
Yuto approaches the ruined building, where he finds several rats. This wouldn't be anything unusual, but for the fact that these rats are the size of small (but vicious) dogs. The one closest to him turns and hisses angrily at his intrusion.
Fortunately, Yuto gets his feet under him first, reacting to the rats' presence and obvious hostility.
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Teruko is more than a little nervous herself, though she does her best not to show it. "Surely Shalelu or Sheriff Hemlock would have intervened by now if she actually ate little children. Most likely she's like Walthus; a hermit who prefers living on her own but doesn't intend any harm."
Gathering her courage she approaches the still-intact building and knocks on the door. "Old...Ms. Megus? It's Teruko Kaijitsu, from Sandpoint. We were wondering if we could speak with you for a few moments?"
With his katana sheathed, Yuto tries to use his shield at the first rat surprised by the incredible size of the thing.
Then, he steps back "This Old Megus really needs to look what kind of food is left at the shack... the rats here are pitbull size!"
The sound of a drawn katana and Yuto's warning sends into a run as she rushes forward to back him up. Seeing that there's seemingly only two entrances into the ruined hut, she takes one of the doors and prepares for whatever vermin that comes out. "How many of them are in there, Yuto?"
Yuto lashes out with his shield, striking one of the rats with his shield. With a crunch, he feels its bones shattering and it staggers away from him, badly wounded.
The other rats swiftly surround Yuto, lunging and snapping at him. Fortunately, even with his shield out of position, the young samurai manages to knock their blows away for the most part, and those that get through are blocked by his armor.
Meanwhile, Teruko's knocking gets no response, and she is swiftly distracted when Yuto calls out about the rats.
Teruko can't see the rats Yuto is talking about, but given the state of the buildings she isn't surprised that there would be rats around. She becomes a lot more concerned when she hears the sound of bodies hitting Yuto's wooden shield.
'Pitbull size?' Didn't Ameiko say something about running into huge rats once...
"Dire rats, they must be. Don't let them bite you; their mouths are filthy." Not that Yuto (or anyone else) would let themselves be bitten. Moving closer towards the shack, she gathers and releases a wave of energy to assist in the fight.