Looking down at her bruised body Halei sways a little bit, the pain making her a little nauseous. She doesn't recall ever being hurt this badly, she's not used to pain and injury, and the current state of her body is giving her a sort of out-of-body experience, but she laughs humorlessly.
She doesn't see Resmae or hear her come over, but immense relief washes over her body as she heals.
When she finally notices Resmae, she gives her a big hug and a quiet thank you. Well, giving her the biggest hug that she can to her little harengon friend.
Then, she gives herself a big shake to brush off the lingering fear and turns to the others. "Is everyone all good? We should hurry on our way, Aros is getting worse by the second it looks like. Good job to everyone also, what a wicked fight!"
Chapley drapes Aros over his broad shoulders gently, and then shifts a few times to find a comfortable position. "Yes, a good fight indeed. I am certain that our struggle brought glory to..." His eyes glaze over as he trails off. Then he snaps out of it. "And with that, let's be off!"
Wildred, you search around in the mud near the now dissolved remains of the mephit for your silver coin. (You have a 5% chance of finding it. Roll 1d20. DC20, and you find it. If you have some arcane trick up your sleeve that can detect metal, DC13.)
Balliol's upbeat laughter at the victory is short-lived. Seeing Aros lying face down in the mud, he reaches down, grasps the back of her collar and yanks her from the mud. She is unresponsive. Balliol passes her to Chapley, who holds her lifeless little body draped over his arms. Chapley looks to the healer.
Resmae steps up to Aros, and with her golden amulet in her paws, she puts them on Aros's chest and starts to pray. Her shiny golden armour brightens and glistens, and you all watch with awe as she is surrounded by a bright golden aura and with relief to see Aros's eyes shoot open. She sits bolt upright, inhaling a rush of air through her nostrils. Aros looks up, around, and back at Resmae before bursting into tears.
Out of nowhere, Halei laughs. Resmae notices her injuries and pain through her odd response and sloshes through the mud over to her. With a half-hearted smile, she puts her little paws on Halei's wounds and whispers, "Thank you, Lathander." Again, the golden aura of light seeps from her paws, healing Halei's wounds and restoring her (to full HP again). Halei affectionately shares her gratitude with Resmae. Praise be to the Morninglord.
Halei points out the urgency of your journey, and you all look to make a move. Chapley positions Aros gently across his shoulders. He calls out your glorious victory with a noble and superior voice you've not heard before. But, halfway through his pep talk to be, he stops. A blank look washes over him before he snaps out of it and steps forward to lead you onward.
You make your way forward in the direction you believe to be where Sir Talavar pointed you. Several more hours of trudging through the muddy swamp are behind you. The twilight begins to darken. A foggy marsh stretches out before you. Rickety causeways made of wooden planks form a wide, web-like structure above the bog. Three hundred feet away, many of these causeways converge on an enormous, ivy-covered tree stump that rises a good ten feet above the twenty-foot-high fog bank that enshrouds it.
I have y'all travelling in the following order. Please let me know if you want to change it up. Chapley (carrying Aros), followed by Halei, Wildred, Resmae atop of Sammy, and Balliol at the back.
Balliol pushes on as quickly as he and the rest can go in the mud and gathering gloom. Eventually they seem to reach their destination - a series of boardwalks and the tree. He'd sort of expected more people around. More something. But the boardwalks and tree seemed to match expectations. He is ready to move forward with the others, but keeps a very close eye on things. At least the boardwalks should provide them with an opportunity to get their feet out of the mud for a while. He was beginning to wonder if this world should simply be called the fey-mud.
*Bugs simply follows the others onwards. Marching order seems right to me.
Where Halei hadn't really minded the mud before, now she can't wait to be out of it after the mephit ordeal, and she hurries to follow the leader. She observes what is before them, trying to decipher anything indicating danger, or friends.
Chapley stops momentarily to take in the sight. "Whoa,"he mutters. "How you doin' back there, Aros?" He says to the figure draped across his shoulders. "Oh... right. Well, shall we?"
With that, he begins trudging forward along the boardwalk once more.
Chapley, Aros is deteriorating but can respond to your questions and indicates she is still with you, "M' hmm!"
You gaze upon the maze of boardwalks spread out in front of you like it is a feast for the starving. The chance to get your feet out of the mud is an inviting prospect indeed, as you hop up onto the rickety planks.
The wooden causeways are mostly about 5 feet wide and in poor shape. They creak, wobble and wiggle under your feet or paws as you move cautiously along in single file.
The sky has darkened. You are unsure if it is from the thick fog or night. But it might as well be. As you travel along the labyrinth of wooden paths, you realise the swamp below has turned into bog and water. You hear a lot of sounds around. Things are moving in the water below and all around.
You have travelled quite a ways toward the centre stump, which is now about one hundred and fifty feet away.
For Balliol's eyes only...
An odd feeling that you are not alone suddenly comes over you and you become aware that somewhere along the way, a hunched, hooded figure has joined your group behind you.
Resmae is also thrilled to have her paws out of the mud as they continue on, Sammy shaking himself free of mud as they get onto the boardwalk, covering those near him with splatter. As they weave their way through the maze of the boardwalk, "I sure hope that stump is what we're looking for. If not? Where would we go from here?" The usually spunky harengon has seemed to lost all her spark and just looks down trodden as she continues to look up at Aros.
Balliol moves along the boardwalk when he notices that someone has joined them. As he walks he reaches out and lightly taps Resmae and nods backwards to alert her to the presence of someone walking directly behind them. He doesn't do anything else obvious, but he makes sure that is aware of them and their movements. His rabbit ears are primed to catch any extra sound. The newcomer might be a threat or they might not be.
Resmae, you turn to answer Balliol's light tap on your back. You catch his indication to remain inconspicuous. You spot a hunched and hooded figure silently stepping and following behind Balliol.
Halei looks at the ground as she walks on her bare tip-toes, maneuvering around to step on the safest wood pieces. She thinks about wearing her shoes for once, splinters are always just the worst, but the thought of putting her mud-caked feet into her shoes made her shudder in disgust. She spots the stump and starts to make her way towards it to investigate it further.
Resmae's eyes go wide as she sees the figure, but with Balliol's request, she does her best to not say anything about it. "Do you think this is the quickest way to the stump? I sure hope so!" She tries to act like everything is as normal as can be in this strange land.
You continue on your way, carefully along the causeway. Chapley carrying Aros, followed by Halei, Wildred, and Resmae sitting atop Sammy, the blink dog, and Balliol at the back.
Your journey to the stump in the centre of the maze of rickety boardwalks seems to be going nowhere. Despite your constant movement toward the centre stump, it looks not to be getting any closer, still some one-hundred feet away. It is pretty dark, and the bog below is now a waterway. The sounds of movement, animals, and water are all around. It is starting to feel like you are not alone.
Chapley, Halei and Wildred,
You spot little movements all around in the dark places where the others can not see.
Wildred,
You recognise some of those bumping sounds as the sounds of oars banging against a boat.
Balliol and Resmae,
You are aware of the hooded figure now silently creeping along behind Balliol. So far seemingly unaware that you are aware they are there.
Balliol groans inwardly as he realize that they are not getting any closer to the center - to the stump. He hadn't been looking ahead much since he was in the back, but after a while even in his position the problem was obvious. He glanced around for some sign of what to do about it but saw nothing. Once again they were floundering for lack of information. Well, if information was needed, there did seem to be an outside source available . . .
Briefly tapping Resmae again before doing so, he suddenly stopped and spun in place. He spoke loudly enough to alert everyone in the party to the situation, but not loud enough to be yelling. He wasn't trying to be hostile. "What's up, Doc? You seem to be following us. Where yah goin', Doc?" He smiled as he said it in an attempt to be friendly, but kept his hand near his sword and was ready to leap if needed. Meanwhile his mind wandered as it tended to do . . . there was that phrase again. It just kept slipping in. Not that he minded, it was a good phrase . . .
Halei squints and crouches down to peer into the shadowy places around them, and then suddenly spins around at Balliol's outburst, glancing around rapidly trying to find who the heck her friend was talking to.
Chapley's eyes scan the shadows all around, darting hither and yon. "There's things moving about in the shadows. How big are the mosquitos here?"
Chapley peers harder trying to make out details, (perception: 16 )
Chapley,
There are some pretty large insects around. But that is not so much of a concern as the humanoid figures you can see as you peer deeper into the darkness. You can see them all around almost as if they are floating atop of the water.
The frustrations are palpable as they get no closer to the stump and Aros gets closer to well... she doesn't want to think about it. She can't help it when a tear escapes and falls down her bunny cheek. The tap on the shoulder is a welcome distraction and she turns around to support Balliol in his confrontation of this strange being. She sure hopes they are friendly and will help! They don't need anymore distractions. She does her best to smile at them.
"What's up, Doc?" mimics the figure. Laughing as he casts off his hooded cloak with a flourish.
Several skiffs containing humanoid figures emerge from the darkness, surrounding you. The sound of a bagpipe erupts in the distance playing a familiar tune. The figure, which you now see as a harengon, is wearing studded leather armour and carrying a red hot branding iron and a small round shield and has a long blue scarf trailing around his neck. A wide grin on his rabbit face, he bounds around you all, from one plank to another, circling the party and singing along with the bagpipes.
With sticks and stones, we’ll break your nose; We’ll beat you blind and steal your clothes. But none among us can compare To one wily, swift, and stand-up hare— Scarf that’s glorious, thief notorious, His deeds are truly meritorious!
He sings as he bounds around you. Wading boats, also carrying folk, are closing in from all around. You are surrounded as the energiser bunny continues to taunt you with his tune.
With a wink and a grin, he’ll show his cunning; A flash of his scarf, he’ll take off running. Quick as a bolt, his long scarf trailing, Gasping, grasping, you’ll end up flailing. You’ll pout, you’ll moan, you’ll huff, you’ll sneer; Thanks to Agdon Longscarf, brigand prince of Prismeer!
Aros, Balliol, Halei, Resmae, Sammy and Wildred, The tune sinks in the pit of your stomachs as you remember your earlier encounter with the harengon bandits.
Looking down at her bruised body Halei sways a little bit, the pain making her a little nauseous. She doesn't recall ever being hurt this badly, she's not used to pain and injury, and the current state of her body is giving her a sort of out-of-body experience, but she laughs humorlessly.
She doesn't see Resmae or hear her come over, but immense relief washes over her body as she heals.
When she finally notices Resmae, she gives her a big hug and a quiet thank you. Well, giving her the biggest hug that she can to her little harengon friend.
Then, she gives herself a big shake to brush off the lingering fear and turns to the others. "Is everyone all good? We should hurry on our way, Aros is getting worse by the second it looks like. Good job to everyone also, what a wicked fight!"
Chapley drapes Aros over his broad shoulders gently, and then shifts a few times to find a comfortable position. "Yes, a good fight indeed. I am certain that our struggle brought glory to..." His eyes glaze over as he trails off. Then he snaps out of it. "And with that, let's be off!"
Wildred, you search around in the mud near the now dissolved remains of the mephit for your silver coin. (You have a 5% chance of finding it. Roll 1d20. DC20, and you find it. If you have some arcane trick up your sleeve that can detect metal, DC13.)
Balliol's upbeat laughter at the victory is short-lived. Seeing Aros lying face down in the mud, he reaches down, grasps the back of her collar and yanks her from the mud. She is unresponsive. Balliol passes her to Chapley, who holds her lifeless little body draped over his arms. Chapley looks to the healer.
Resmae steps up to Aros, and with her golden amulet in her paws, she puts them on Aros's chest and starts to pray. Her shiny golden armour brightens and glistens, and you all watch with awe as she is surrounded by a bright golden aura and with relief to see Aros's eyes shoot open. She sits bolt upright, inhaling a rush of air through her nostrils. Aros looks up, around, and back at Resmae before bursting into tears.
Out of nowhere, Halei laughs. Resmae notices her injuries and pain through her odd response and sloshes through the mud over to her. With a half-hearted smile, she puts her little paws on Halei's wounds and whispers, "Thank you, Lathander." Again, the golden aura of light seeps from her paws, healing Halei's wounds and restoring her (to full HP again). Halei affectionately shares her gratitude with Resmae. Praise be to the Morninglord.
Halei points out the urgency of your journey, and you all look to make a move. Chapley positions Aros gently across his shoulders. He calls out your glorious victory with a noble and superior voice you've not heard before. But, halfway through his pep talk to be, he stops. A blank look washes over him before he snaps out of it and steps forward to lead you onward.
You make your way forward in the direction you believe to be where Sir Talavar pointed you. Several more hours of trudging through the muddy swamp are behind you. The twilight begins to darken. A foggy marsh stretches out before you. Rickety causeways made of wooden planks form a wide, web-like structure above the bog. Three hundred feet away, many of these causeways converge on an enormous, ivy-covered tree stump that rises a good ten feet above the twenty-foot-high fog bank that enshrouds it.
I have y'all travelling in the following order. Please let me know if you want to change it up. Chapley (carrying Aros), followed by Halei, Wildred, Resmae atop of Sammy, and Balliol at the back.
Balliol pushes on as quickly as he and the rest can go in the mud and gathering gloom. Eventually they seem to reach their destination - a series of boardwalks and the tree. He'd sort of expected more people around. More something. But the boardwalks and tree seemed to match expectations. He is ready to move forward with the others, but keeps a very close eye on things. At least the boardwalks should provide them with an opportunity to get their feet out of the mud for a while. He was beginning to wonder if this world should simply be called the fey-mud.
*Bugs simply follows the others onwards. Marching order seems right to me.
Where Halei hadn't really minded the mud before, now she can't wait to be out of it after the mephit ordeal, and she hurries to follow the leader. She observes what is before them, trying to decipher anything indicating danger, or friends.
Chapley stops momentarily to take in the sight. "Whoa," he mutters. "How you doin' back there, Aros?" He says to the figure draped across his shoulders. "Oh... right. Well, shall we?"
With that, he begins trudging forward along the boardwalk once more.
Chapley, Aros is deteriorating but can respond to your questions and indicates she is still with you, "M' hmm!"
You gaze upon the maze of boardwalks spread out in front of you like it is a feast for the starving. The chance to get your feet out of the mud is an inviting prospect indeed, as you hop up onto the rickety planks.
The wooden causeways are mostly about 5 feet wide and in poor shape. They creak, wobble and wiggle under your feet or paws as you move cautiously along in single file.
The sky has darkened. You are unsure if it is from the thick fog or night. But it might as well be. As you travel along the labyrinth of wooden paths, you realise the swamp below has turned into bog and water. You hear a lot of sounds around. Things are moving in the water below and all around.
You have travelled quite a ways toward the centre stump, which is now about one hundred and fifty feet away.
For Balliol's eyes only...
An odd feeling that you are not alone suddenly comes over you and you become aware that somewhere along the way, a hunched, hooded figure has joined your group behind you.
Resmae is also thrilled to have her paws out of the mud as they continue on, Sammy shaking himself free of mud as they get onto the boardwalk, covering those near him with splatter. As they weave their way through the maze of the boardwalk, "I sure hope that stump is what we're looking for. If not? Where would we go from here?" The usually spunky harengon has seemed to lost all her spark and just looks down trodden as she continues to look up at Aros.
Balliol moves along the boardwalk when he notices that someone has joined them. As he walks he reaches out and lightly taps Resmae and nods backwards to alert her to the presence of someone walking directly behind them. He doesn't do anything else obvious, but he makes sure that is aware of them and their movements. His rabbit ears are primed to catch any extra sound. The newcomer might be a threat or they might not be.
For Resmae's eyes only...
Resmae, you turn to answer Balliol's light tap on your back. You catch his indication to remain inconspicuous. You spot a hunched and hooded figure silently stepping and following behind Balliol.
Halei looks at the ground as she walks on her bare tip-toes, maneuvering around to step on the safest wood pieces. She thinks about wearing her shoes for once, splinters are always just the worst, but the thought of putting her mud-caked feet into her shoes made her shudder in disgust. She spots the stump and starts to make her way towards it to investigate it further.
Resmae's eyes go wide as she sees the figure, but with Balliol's request, she does her best to not say anything about it. "Do you think this is the quickest way to the stump? I sure hope so!" She tries to act like everything is as normal as can be in this strange land.
You continue on your way, carefully along the causeway. Chapley carrying Aros, followed by Halei, Wildred, and Resmae sitting atop Sammy, the blink dog, and Balliol at the back.
Your journey to the stump in the centre of the maze of rickety boardwalks seems to be going nowhere. Despite your constant movement toward the centre stump, it looks not to be getting any closer, still some one-hundred feet away. It is pretty dark, and the bog below is now a waterway. The sounds of movement, animals, and water are all around. It is starting to feel like you are not alone.
Chapley, Halei and Wildred,
You spot little movements all around in the dark places where the others can not see.
Wildred,
You recognise some of those bumping sounds as the sounds of oars banging against a boat.
Balliol and Resmae,
You are aware of the hooded figure now silently creeping along behind Balliol. So far seemingly unaware that you are aware they are there.
Balliol groans inwardly as he realize that they are not getting any closer to the center - to the stump. He hadn't been looking ahead much since he was in the back, but after a while even in his position the problem was obvious. He glanced around for some sign of what to do about it but saw nothing. Once again they were floundering for lack of information. Well, if information was needed, there did seem to be an outside source available . . .
Briefly tapping Resmae again before doing so, he suddenly stopped and spun in place. He spoke loudly enough to alert everyone in the party to the situation, but not loud enough to be yelling. He wasn't trying to be hostile. "What's up, Doc? You seem to be following us. Where yah goin', Doc?" He smiled as he said it in an attempt to be friendly, but kept his hand near his sword and was ready to leap if needed. Meanwhile his mind wandered as it tended to do . . . there was that phrase again. It just kept slipping in. Not that he minded, it was a good phrase . . .
Chapley's eyes scan the shadows all around, darting hither and yon. "There's things moving about in the shadows. How big are the mosquitos here?"
Chapley peers harder trying to make out details, (perception: 7 )
Halei squints and crouches down to peer into the shadowy places around them, and then suddenly spins around at Balliol's outburst, glancing around rapidly trying to find who the heck her friend was talking to.
Chapley,
There are some pretty large insects around. But that is not so much of a concern as the humanoid figures you can see as you peer deeper into the darkness. You can see them all around almost as if they are floating atop of the water.
The frustrations are palpable as they get no closer to the stump and Aros gets closer to well... she doesn't want to think about it. She can't help it when a tear escapes and falls down her bunny cheek. The tap on the shoulder is a welcome distraction and she turns around to support Balliol in his confrontation of this strange being. She sure hopes they are friendly and will help! They don't need anymore distractions. She does her best to smile at them.
"I see them to!! I think they are using boats I can hear the oars.We are surrounded!!"
Wildred edges closer to Halei in a vain attempt to feel safer.
"What's up, Doc?" mimics the figure. Laughing as he casts off his hooded cloak with a flourish.
Several skiffs containing humanoid figures emerge from the darkness, surrounding you. The sound of a bagpipe erupts in the distance playing a familiar tune. The figure, which you now see as a harengon, is wearing studded leather armour and carrying a red hot branding iron and a small round shield and has a long blue scarf trailing around his neck. A wide grin on his rabbit face, he bounds around you all, from one plank to another, circling the party and singing along with the bagpipes.
He sings as he bounds around you. Wading boats, also carrying folk, are closing in from all around. You are surrounded as the energiser bunny continues to taunt you with his tune.
Aros, Balliol, Halei, Resmae, Sammy and Wildred, The tune sinks in the pit of your stomachs as you remember your earlier encounter with the harengon bandits.
Chapley, you do not know fear.