The Journey of a Thousand Miles (Jade Regent AP)

Game Master Sensen

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Hana couldn't quite make out the footprints Seishin was pointing at but she trusted the samsaran's assessment all the same. "So maybe it wasn't that river creature or the Battered Shield that attacked them? Maybe it was something else entirely?"

She shrugged, feeling particularly drained by that action alone. "I'm not sure it much matters right now. We need to move out. Get back to Walthus's or Old Megus's place so we can rest up. We definitely don't want to be here when the goblins return."

Before anyone can leave, or, indeed, speak, the door that had been sealed swings open. A terribly battered and bloodied man stands in the doorway, squinting in the light. He wears ripped leather armor and a battered buckler, he holds a curved sword - a falcata - in one hand, keeping it between himself and the party. He has brown hair and pale blue eyes, but most worryingly, there are several bandages stained brown visible through the tears in his armor. ”No. Most of us never made it here. We certainly didn't fight goblins here...” He says wearily, before looking at the heroes. ”Did Koras make it out and get us help?”

Teruko jumps as the door swings open, instinctively moving her crossbow towards the presumed threat. Her eyes widen when she sees a human instead of the goblins she'd expected.

"Cyrus Talbot?" It is a question, albeit one she can't imagine having any other answer. "We'd heard that you, Koras, Brunhild, and...and Arika...had all left for the marsh and never returned. We came to find you." She bows her head respectfully. "I'm sorry, but Koras did not make it back to Sandpoint. We found his body along the trail."

She glances over his shoulder to the room he'd come from. "If that room is secure, perhaps we should talk more inside. The goblins might return at any moment."

"Yes, I'm Cyrus..." He looks around at the party, a frown marking his brow. "So Koras didn't make it to Sandpoint, then." The warrior sighs heavily, before closing his eyes. "Dammit, man... He thought that he could lure that horrible thing away to the north."

Shaking his head slightly, he opens his eyes again, but before he can speak, a young woman's voice comes from over his shoulder. "Wait, is that Teruko? Teruko Kaijitsu? What are you doing out here?"

A young woman, looking equally battered and bruised, steps up behind Cyrus, staring in amazement at the heroes. This is, indeed, Arika Avertin, identical twin sister to Aneka, and younger sister of the late Captain Casp Avertin.

Seishin breathes a sigh of relief. "Arika? Your sister will be happy to know you're alright."

"Now, Mr. Cyrus... what was this monster you fought?"

"So my theory was half right," muses Torra. "Is it just the two of you? And how come you didn't fight the goblins here?"

Down by her side Teruko's fist clenches for just a second before relaxing. "Yes, it's Teruko Kaijitsu. Aneka asked Seishin to look for you when you didn't come back. Seishin stopped by the Rusty Dragon for information while the rest of us were there, and we decided the more of us there were in the search party the better the odds of success." She pauses. "I may not know you well, but I was...concerned, to hear that you were missing. We all were."

Cyrus shrugs at Seishin. "I have no idea. It was tall, had strange legs, and was white. Its face was disgusting... it had two bottom jaws."

Arika jumps in helpfully. "When it bit Koras, he got really pissed off."

"And he was one of the calmest people I know." Cyrus says, sheathing his falcata and leaning against the doorframe. "This," he adds, nodding back at the small shack that they'd been hiding in, "isn't secure. We were leaning against the doors when we heard you come in. If any goblins had wanted to come in, they'd have been able to."

The man looks at Torra incredulously, gesturing to his wounds. "First, because we were running away from the monster. Second, because the goblins didn't bother us, keeping hidden in their little buildings. Third, and most importantly, they'd have killed me in seconds with these wounds, and Arika can't fight."

"I can too! I killed that goblin by the ship!" Arika interjects, annoyed.

"Yes, the one that Koras had taken the hand off of, I know. You can't fight well, Arika."

"Oh." Arika pauses, before nodding. "That's fair." The (second) mention of her sister makes her pale in the shining light of Yuto's sword. "Oh, gods, Aneka must be worried sick... and pissed as Hell." She covers her face with a palm.

This happened a lot to Torra, where she said one thing and people heard another, so she doesn't outwardly react to the man's emotional outburst. "I meant, why did the goblins leave you alone. But perhaps they didn't know you were there. The river monster attacked us as well, we fought it off." She doesn't mean to sound like she's bragging, she's just relaying the facts, but it might come across that way.

Cyrus sighs, shaking his head. "I don't know. They didn't come out of their lairs until you came along, and we've been here, what... two days?"

"Only that?" Arika looks surprised.

"This," he adds, nodding back at the small shack that they'd been hiding in, "isn't secure. We were leaning against the doors when we heard you come in. If any goblins had wanted to come in, they'd have been able to."

"We should leave then, and talk while we walk." Teruko's hands tighten around her crossbow. "I don't know what's going on with the goblins here, but Yuto's still badly hurt, and I'm out of healing spells. They know we're here, they know we're injured, and if they come back I'm not sure we'll be able to fight them off again. Walthus' shack should be much safer, if we can make it there." A muscle jumps in her cheek. "Brunhild. What happened to her? Is she here?"

Cyrus shrugs slightly at that, looking out over the village. "Perhaps... I don't know." He says softly. "But I suspect they might've broken. This is purely supposition, mind you, but they didn't leave their homes once before you came here." He leans back against the doorframe, singing. "Besides, I'm not sure I can make it to the shack - especially since I'll have to swim, in the dark no less."

"Why don't we take them to the ship? That was close... right?" Arika suggests.

Cyrus looks reluctant nonetheless. "I'm not sure that leaving is safer than staying, at any rate... I have no wish to be eaten by that damn monster - or ever to face it again. Certainly not while I'm hurt like this."

Yuto is shaken by the appearance of the two adventurers. He breathes relieved when he spots Arika "Thanks gods you are well..."

The young man shyly remains silent, leaving the conversation to the others, while removing the goblin trash.
Anyone with detect magic? That mummified finger fits with the description of a hand of the mage amulet.

The Tien only breaks his silence to support Teruko when she proposes leaving "Yes, yes. Teruko Sama is right, we-we... we must leave immediately before the goblins return"

With a visible gesture of pain, Yuto shows his injuries "I am in no condition to fight the goblins, and hiding here only weakens us while waiting for an inevitable end. We are exhausted, and now that we have found you we cannot risk losing anyone else. Walthus, the ship, whatever. We-we have to leave now. We can decide where once we are out of the goblin village"

As the others talk, Hana sighs and pinches her nose. She was happy that at least some of the Battered Shield had survived the swamp, but she was also had hoped, if only faintly, that they'd have some healing resources to help mend Yuto.

"I would prefer we not to take the risk with the goblins," she says cautiously to Cyrus, her weapon still in hand if case the Licktoads decided to return for an ambush. "It's like Teruko said, our best bet to make for Walthus's, if only because he might have some healing for you, me and Yuto."

It was a far shot and she knew it. Walthus's was a while away even before they could actually see where they were going. But now with everything in the dark... "I'm not sure the river monster will be issue. Torra is right that we fought it off. Damn well nearly killed it. As injured as we are I doubt it would be willing to take another chance at us, which means this ship of yours might be safer now."

She shrugged. "Or maybe we could try to find Old Megus's like I said. Anything has to be better than here."

Cyrus sighs, apparently giving up for now. "Well, I'm not honestly sure I can find it in the daylight, let alone in the dark with only magic for light... but it should be west of here."

He turns to the heroes. "But if the chieftain escapes because of this, I won't forgive you. I want him dead. Brunhild and Koras deserve that much respect. They came out here of their own volition to help protect Sandpoint, and neither is going to get to go back. I want to make sure that Sandpoint is safer when I return than when I left."

Teruko's fist clenches once more, a strange look appearing in her eyes. "I don't care where we go, so long as we're able to rest for at least eight hours so Seishin and I can regain our healing spells. If the shipwreck matches that description, fine. If you think it would be safer to stay here, also fine. You've been in this marsh for longer than we have; I trust your judgment in this matter."

"But let me be clear, I didn't come here for the Licktoads. I came here on a rescue mission. So I don't care if the chieftain escapes. The sheriff can handle it. Or Shalelu. Or literally anyone else. Yuto already almost died-" She cuts herself off and takes a deep breath. Then very, very deliberately she says, "If the dead want their vengeance, they can damn well take it themselves."

It's the first time anyone present, including Sandpoint natives, would have heard Teruko say a curse word out loud.

"Then I'll have to do it myself." Cyrus says, straightening, his eyes narrowing. "You misapprehend exactly how willing I am to die for this sake, Miss... Kaijitsu, was it? If no one else is willing to see my friends' sacrifice mean something, I'll do it myself."

Arika looks troubled, before nodding her agreement. "I will too. Brunhild and Koras were good to me."

Cyrus shrugs. "So there you have it. If you are here to rescue us, then you'll have to stick around to make sure we live, no?"

Torra's head swivels in confusion between Teruko and Cyrus. Earlier he had snapped at her about being in no condition to fight, now he wanted to fight the goblins...? She sighs.

"Shalelu did send me here to deal with the goblins, so I'll help you, but it's a bad idea to fight now. For you, not for me."

Seishin observes the proceedings quietly before speaking up.

"Cyrus, you're hurt and you're angry. You have good reason to be angry, but neither you nor we are in good enough condition to fight more goblins. They are bound to have more resources at their disposal than we do--and we had to expend most of ours getting here."

"If you actually want to honour your companions' sacrifices, you can do so by listening to us and helping us. We aren't asking for much--just time to rest and prepare."

Taking 10 on Diplomacy for an 18.

Yuto looks at his belly, still open in flesh and blood, then looks at Cyrus and frowns at his tone towards Teruko. The young man makes a great effort to rise his katana, it shakes visibly while he steps forward to defend her "We-we have taken high risk to save you. Yo-you should speak better to Teruko Sama. She is saying truth. Seishin and her have given all, as I did myself, we are of little help right now"

The Tian trembles and almost faints, grasping on the door frame which is instantly covered with all the blood on his hands "I-if you know a way to heal ourselves. We can follow you, otherwise it is just a proven suicide"

HP 2/13

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Hana looks towards Cyrus with sad sympathetic eyes. Not for the first she thinks on about how guilt can both make one change for the better but also lead them utterly astray. With that in mind, she walks right up to the warrior and speaks to him directly, making sure he can see her face and eyes even in the dark. "Listen. We aren't trying to disrespect their memory, Cyrus. Quite the opposite in fact," she tells him calmly, her tone obviously empathetic to his anger.

"Gutwad is a threat to Sandpoint, yes. That much is obvious by the raids. And so we will put him down. But-" she dares to put a hand on his shoulder. "We can't do it tonight. Not as injured as well are. I will almost certainly mean the death of us all. But tomorrow? Tomorrow we can attack this place in earnest and track Gutwad down if he flees. You have my promise on that."

Cyrus hesitates, before Arika puts a hand on his shoulder. He sags and nods. "You're right, all of you. As I was saying before, I want to hunt him down, but... I think it would be best if we go sleep first. I wouldn't be of much help anyways..."

Arika nods, before looking at the heroes. "Alright. I... think it's to the west, near the coast of Sog's Bay."

"Yes, it was on the edge of the lagoon." Cyrus agrees.

He casts one last look around the place before descending the ladder (Arika swiftly following him) and trudging through the mud towards the front entrance. "Is everyone prepared? This will be a difficult trip." His tone says it all - he is not looking forwards to going into the marsh after dark.

Teruko doesn't say a word as the others talk Cyrus down. She doesn't move either, standing eerily still. Only when Cyrus and Arika descend the ladder does she shift position, and even then it's only to move towards Yuto and renew the light on his katana.

When she finally speaks there's no emotion in her voice whatsoever. "Let's go then."

As the group starts to move out of the village, Yuto is fast, or at least as much as his current condition allows, to descend the goblin ladder and move out of the palisade.

When Teruko approaches to renew the light on the katana, he mumbles, trying to avoid Cyrus and Arika to listen "Do we really need to find about this fireworks now? Can we not just move back to Sandpoint?"

The young man clearly seems willing to go back to his home and cuddle forever after the goblin battering, but he will follow the party if they decide to go to the ship.

The party and their two rescues begin making their way through the increasingly dark marsh. Cyrus falls into the muck three times, and the group has to double back to make sure they’re headed in the right direction a few more times. Thanks to these delays, the sun has dipped nearly beneath the horizon by the time they reach a familiar place, with Teruko’s light as the only source of illumination for everyone (save Torra).

Cyrus stops briefly around where he and Arika split off from Koras, before pushing onwards, and within another fifteen minutes, the group arrives at an old shipwreck, surrounded by a small patchwork fence. The ship itself is rather small, barely more than 100 feet long from bow to stern, and has a ladder set up at the bow. In one corner of the area there’s a small pile of rotting goblin corpses, while in the opposite there’s a mound of dirt with a plank of wood thrust into the ground nearby.

”So, here we are.” Cyrus says, before turning to look to the southern part of the fenced area.

”Good. She’s still here…” Arika says softly, looking at the mound. ”I was afraid something might have dug her up.”

Cyrus closes his eyes, shaking his head slightly.

A chill wind blows through the area, low to the ground and refreshing in the wet heat that has characterized the day so far.

Terrain Map updated, as has the Encounter Map, unlikely though it is that there will be combat here. Please feel free to RP/discuss with one another or the NPCs until you’re ready to turn in.

During the trip, Yuto helps Cyrus to stand up every time he falls, without giving a bad word back for his previous rudeness. He also approaches Arika and looks at her worried "Why-why did you escape like that? Your family is worried..."

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Looking at the mound, Yuto thinks to understand "Ho-how did she die?"

"Did you kill the goblins?" the young man looks at the corpses sprawled around "A-and... what areas of the ship have you explored already?"

Earlier

Torra looks at Yuto as he suggests returning to Sandpoint. "It will take hours to walk back." She chews on her lower lip, looking away. "This place has already killed half an adventuring party and it almost killed us. If we go back, who is going to come here and make it safer? Sandru's caravan managed to fight off the goblins, but next caravan may not be so lucky." She leaves it at that, but can't help thinking about Shalelu and the Heroes of Sandpoint. They could probably have taken care of all of this, but they were not here. Torra and Yuto and Hana and Seishin and Teruko were here, and they would have to do their best.

At the shipwreck

Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

The sight of the grave saddens Torra, remembering the medallion with the portrait of the Ulfen woman. There and then, she resolves to fix this. It was really expensive magic, but she would find a way. Torra now has a side quest - to resurrect Koras and Brunhild.

Survival?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Seishin looks around for a good spot to pray and set up camp.

Arika looks at Yuto for a moment, before sighing. ”Are you content just spending the rest of your life working in Sandpoint doing a daily job day in and day out?” She smiles a little sadly. ”Maybe you are, at that. I want adventure, excitement, and to help more people than I can in a whole lifetime of baking bread.” Her eyelids fall half-shut. ”I didn’t mean to worry them. I just wanted to get some experience before telling them. Mom’s never been the same since Casp died… and I don’t think she’d accept my choices.”

Cyrus looks away briefly at Yuto’s question. ”Your second question is answered by your third. Those goblins killed Brunhild. They were more skilled than the regular sort of goblins, and one was even a spellcaster, though Koras got that one.” He points at one of the rotting corpses. ”That one snuck up on me and nearly cut out my kidneys. Brunhild managed to get it with a spell of some sort long enough for me to cut it down, but… it hasn’t healed yet.”

After a moment, continues. ”We went around the outside - Koras saw something he thought was Tien, and wanted to bring it back because he knows there’re Tien folk in Sandpoint.” He nods at Yuto, Teruko, and Hana respectively. ” It was a part of the ship - the nameplate, I guess. Other than that, we mostly stayed on the ground nearby - who knows how long that thing’s been here? In a marsh, that’s not going to be intact any more - rotten floorboards, that sort of thing.”

That, uh, might prove difficult, Torra. But I'll try to keep it in mind.

Seishin notices a few places that are sheltered by the ship, but more might be inside - assuming that Cyrus isn't right about it being a half-rotten mess.

Yuto looks down at Arika's comments "Tha-that would be so great. To be as courageous and strong as Shalelu, or Ameiko, or Shandu, but... but... we are just not Arika... We have to admit it." the young man though tries to slowly pad the girl's back understanding "But it would be great really, to travel far, see things no others have seen, and make a better world slaying the evil beasts that torment our cities"

---

"If that was an spellcaster, perhaps some magic remains. Is there any magic among the bodies?" he looks at Torra, Seishin and Teruko who seems to him that they know about those things.

After hearing Cyrus and once Torra comments about Sandu and his caravan, Yuto frowns, braces his shield, and starts to make it forward with his katana at hand "Shandu will do this if he were here. What are we fearing, Cyrus and his friends already defeated the goblins here, so inside must be the best place in miles to rest"

The Tian advances himself and opens the fence. His pace though, becomes slower as he approaches the ship, and makes a long inspection of the plank before going further.
Perception (take 20): 20 + 5 = 25

Teruko pauses as they spot the ship, allowing the others to get several paces ahead before she starts moving again.

"We found the nameplate." It's the first time she's spoken since the goblin village, other than the quiet syllables necessary to cast the light spell. "It says Kaijitsu Star. This ship must have once belonged to my family, but I know nothing about it." She shakes her head and moves toward the goblin corpses. If there are any magic items there, she'll find them.

(She briefly looks towards the grave of the Ulfen woman who had also been a spellcaster, but whether she sees anything magical buried there or not she does not mention it.)

After retrieving anything of value she finds, she makes her way back to Arika and Cyrus. "I agree with Torra that the Licktoads are a threat. While perhaps Shalelu or...or Ameiko...would be better suited to the task, we are here. It only makes sense to finish off the last of the village tomorrow, before they have the chance to regroup." She blinks rapidly for a moment before straightening to look Cyrus specifically in the eye. "Also, I wish to apologize. For being callous regarding your desire to avenge your friends."

Arika grins slightly before shaking her head at Yuto. ”I don’t have to admit any such thing. If you want to admit to that, that’s your choice. I will push forwards. It’s not like Shalelu started out with all her skills, so why can’t I pursue my own? That is my goal, and I aim to complete it.” She turns her face away. ”That way, I’ll be able to fight back against anything that threatens my friends again.”

As Yuto enters the fenced-off area, he examines boards’ integrity carefully - to his (admittedly limited) knowledge of engineering, they look like they might handle his weight if he’s not rushing…

Cyrus looks at Teruko with a somewhat twisted smile. ”I understand. ‘Fear makes monsters of us all,’ and all that.”

”But I should also apologize. I did not mean to, well, blackmail you into staying. If you wish to return to get others to do this, I’ll stay here until they arrive… but I’d be infinitely grateful if you’d help out before that.” He offers her a tired, but nonetheless handsome, half-grin. ”The longer I wait, the more likely Gutwad is to escape."

Perception (Taking 20): 20 + 5 = 25

Though Hana's were focused on the ship and its confines, her ears did pick up bits of Teruko's and Cyrus's conversation. They seemed to be reconciling, which was more a little relieved to hear. If they did plan on ending Gutwad, or even surviving the marsh, they'd have to do it together.

Visibly gathering all his courage, Yuto steps on the plank and carefully goes into the ship using Teruko's light to better see on its interior.
Stealth: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (16) - 5 = 11
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

"If anyone else could have come I wouldn't be here." Teruko matches Cyrus' twisted smile with a humorless one of her own. "We were the only ones both available and willing. I doubt a day will have changed that."

"I understand wanting to hone one's skills. To...to protect people. I've been doing something similar the past few years, even though I certainly never expected to travel out here." Her smile is a little more genuine as she looks at Arika. "Just be careful, okay? For your family's sake." Her gaze drops to her hands. "But if anything goes wrong, I'll heal you and get you out. Both of you. I promise."

Hana and Yuto ascend onto the main deck of the Kaijitsu Star, and begin searching the ship for more clues of what happened here in the past. Unfortunately, all they find is ruined and uninformative - save a mouldering goblin corpse lurking in the bottom of the central structure of the ship.

”Hey! Be careful up there!” Cyrus calls out as the two begin poking around the ship, before he turns back to Teruko. ”Well, at least someone was willing and able.”

Arika nods, smiling. ”Well, I guess I can’t complain about that.” She runs a hand through sweat-streaked hair, before sighing. ”I’m going to go get some rest up against the ship, if you need me.”

Cyrus nods. ”I’ll be along momentarily.” He looks to Teruko again. ”Thanks for coming, Miss Kaijitsu.”

Yuto moves the fallen goblin corpse out of the ship interior "Ei, Hana, can you help?" among the two, they clean up a bit the ship interior through some minutes, enough to make it a good place to rest.

"At... at least here we will be covered, and somehow hidden" the man sits heavily and removes the armor for a comfortable rest. He painfully uncovers the wound in his belly, although he avoids to cry out of pain.

"I... I do not think I will be much better tomorrow. This looks pretty ugly" the young man comments.

Anyway, he makes his best to make the place comfortable, and after a few bites to the dried goat cheese and the bread Koya gave him, he goes to sleep, quite fatigued from the long and full of emotions day.

Once Seishin has found a suitable place to pray, he gets into a lotus position and begins his prayers.

"Here, let me at least clean it up and bind it before you go to sleep," Torra offers to Yuto. She does a passable job of it, with clean water and strips of cloth torn from shirts and cloaks. "Next time, we don't leave town without healing supplies," the dwarf grumbles.

She tries to tend to Hana as well, but with less success.

Rolled 23 on Heal check to treat deadly wounds in Discussion.

"Oh, thanks, Torra San" Yuto observes how the dwarf makes basic treatment to the wounds. The young man grimaces a bit out of pain, but does not complain "Tha-thanks. Also-also for defending us out there. You... you made bits of earth fly and threw them at the marsh monster... and... and the goblins... where did you study that magic? Is-is it painful to do it?"

HP 3/13

Once they settle on a watch order (including Cyrus, but not Arika), the party settles down to sleep the night away... and to dream deep dreams.

Let me know what you thought about these in the discussion thread. I was trying for something interesting that might help you guys pursue character development and the AP in general. Also, come morning, everyone who's injured gets 1 hp back.

Torra replies to Yuto as she bandages his midsection. "I didn't learn it from anywhere, if that's what you mean. I just... have it. Sabyl helped me practice and refine it. And no, it's not painful. I just need to be careful to not overextend myself."

Once that is done, she eats from her rations - cold, for they have not made a fire, drinks the last sip of water from her waterskin with good water, then curls up to sleep until her watch.

She awakes refreshed, despite the uncomfortable conditions and the danger they were in, going through a routine of stretches and breathing exercises while the rest awaken and make their own preparations.

The group awakens the next morning to the sound of pouring rain that batters the Kaijitsu Star mercilessly. Winds tear through the swamp, silencing all but the loudest sounds that Brinestump had offered the previous day. It is impossible to tell if the sun is rising or has already done so, and the mud is already growing into puddles. In the skies, a flash of lightning precedes a tremendous crack of thunder.

"Wake up!" Cyrus calls. "I'm not sure it's safe to stay here! The river's rising!"

Teruko awakens the next morning, decidedly less refreshed than she had hoped to be. For a moment the sound of pouring rain makes her think she's back at the manor. She'd always found the sound of rain on the roof rather soothing. Than Cyrus' shout registers, and she scrambles for her things.

"Ready!" Her spells are there at her fingertips, which relieves her. She's always a little afraid that they will disappear as swiftly as they'd come. "Seishin, could you perhaps pray to Tsukiyo for healing before we leave?"

Yuto revolves on his bedroll clearly concerned "Sorry!" he shouts, then suddenly stands up "Where!? Wh-where?!" without noticing the katana is unsheathed in his hands.

Looking ashamed at the others around, he carefully sheathes the blade "So-sorry... it is this skull that keeps haunting me in my dreams as of late..."

The young man gets out of the ship and let's the rain wash the worries of the night "Ri-rising Cyrus San? Is-is is it save to walk the marsh with this weather?"

Regardless, Yuto starts dressing his armor and gets ready. Yesterday's wounds looking much better thanks to Torra's treatment.

Hana awoke with her heart racing and a name daring to come out. How she manages to avoid screaming Ameiko's name out in the open to the others she'll never know, but she thanks Desna for the reprieve all the same. Fortunately, Yuto's outburst helps further mask her near one.

"No harm done, Yuto," she says sympathetically, her voice still very tired desperate her rest. She rubs her neck as if doing so would relieve some of her fatigue. "I don't think many of us got a goodnight's sleep out here."

Though she doesn't say it outright she wonders if the ship itself had something to do with her nightmare. Sure, she had amble enough guilt to dream up such horrid things, but it had been a while since she dreamed something so... severe.

An old memory of her former clan's restless overnight stay near some ancient Varisian ruins suddenly came to mind. As did the nightmare that she experienced there. The kunoichi feels a chill run up her spine that suddenly makes her want to be just about anywhere else but here. "Right, well, let's head out here before this river drowns us all."

With that she promptly gathers her weapons and armor in a notably anxious fashion.

Cyrus rubs his hands together before shaking his head. ”Probably not, Yuto, but I don’t know if we’ll be safe here, either. I think the Licktoad Village may actually be safer than here, because of the stilts.”

Arika has already gathered her equipment, and looks at the heroes. "I agree with Cyrus..." She hesitates, before nodding in agreement with Teruko. "It would be best if everyone is fully prepared to fight the goblins again."

Yuto breaths relieved by Hana's words "De-definitely not a nice dreams night eh? Did you have nightmares with the Marsh Beast?"

After dressing the chainmail, Yuto makes the mirror-plates on place. He seems to find a better placement for them today, or perhaps he became more used to the armor as he walks more like a person and less like a duck.

After listening Cyrus and Arika still want to claim revenge against the goblins, Yuto gulps and follows Hana outside "W-well, our friends wanted us to make sure the goblins are no more of a danger, anyway... I hoped for a talk, but that time seems to be beyond possibility now"

Extending his hand to measure how much is raining he adds "Well... at least with this weather the goblins will have a bad time hitting us with their fireworks"

Taking that as solace, Yuto finally follows the party towards the village.

Moving us on - I'll let Seishin channel healing if he wants before starting any combat, promise.

The return to the Licktoad Village takes the heroes and their two rescues roughly 45 minutes, as they trek through the increasingly muddy and soaked Marsh. Thunder claps overhead several times during their journey, and the wind makes the plants seem to come alive to hinder the party, swatting, poking, and grasping at clothing, weapons, and armor alike.

At least the heat wave has broken - the sun’s cruel light is effectively blocked by stormclouds, and the pouring rain has superseded the humid air of the swamp. Not even the stench of Brinestump is unaffected, as it is washed away by the torrential downpour.

As the group approaches the palisade once more, they hear no signs of the goblins - not that it would be easy to do, given the rustling leaves and branches as well as the constant wet thudding of raindrops on every surface.

Circling around to the gate shows that there are no visible signs of any goblins - except for those that they slayed the day prior, whose corpses still litter the ground and the walkway. Indeed, it seems that the goblins haven’t done anything to clean up from their previous assault.

The door of the central building swings and bangs against the (blade-scarred) doorframe… nothing seems to have changed, with the exception of the now almost-ankle-deep water and the expansion of the pond that borders the fortress-village to the northeast.

”We should get into one of the buildings!” Cyrus calls. ”If we can wait out the storm, so much the better, but if not, the walkways will at least keep us from slipping and falling face-first into the mud.”

Both maps updated.

Yuto observes the desolation of the village "Do-do you think they all left? It does not seem anyone lives here anymore" he gulps at the sight of the corpses no one cared to bury.

"We-we should move more planned this time" the young man points at the ladders next to the watch towers "The ladders are bottlenecks. We would manage to make more people up faster if we divide us in two groups and each group climbs through one of the watch-towers" as Yuto plans for combat he seems totally absorbed and his stutter disappeared.

"Teruko and Seishin can heal, thus each should go in one of the groups. Both Teruko and Torra can attack from range. They are better climbing the last ones and acting to cover us from below thanks to their range ability" then looking at the rescued adventurers "Cyrus, can you team up with Arika? I think I will fight along with Hana"

"Then we quickly try to join together at the central room and passageway" Yuto points the building he means. red arrows