Both Kaelroc and Mender are able to read the map better than their goblin companion. You know that both the waterlogged and wooded areas will be arduous to cross (counting as difficult terrain). Given the approximate three hours of travel time it took to arrive here - over two hours through the swamp forest and an additional hour of easy walking before that - the journey to the Negbar Ruins will take around fourteen hours of travel time, and from there to Mermosapolis will take an additional nine hours, no matter which way you slice it.
"So it looks like it'll take around... 14 hours to get to the ruins and another 9 to get from there to the city." The kobold would say with a frown. "I guess we better get going if we hope to get there before it gets too dark.. Unless you all have a different plan?"
Mugwort looks over at Mender. "Is that the 'normal' swamp movement or your 'special ground changing' magic movement? Either way, it is past time to move out or we will be travelling in the swamp well after dark."
"I guess we will see what it takes to move through the swamp?" The kobold would reply with a little shrug. "I mean i can part the dirt and part the water.. and all of it kind of goes back to normal after a while so everything should be ok... I think..." Mender would then pull out his book and review some of the spells... "Yeah... I'm sure we will be fine.. I probably didn't over look too many things like I did with that identify spell."
"We shall see what we shall see... I heard that once, somewhere. It seems to fit here." Mugwort will begin a rambling 'lecture' on the swamp and how to survive it using all one's senses.
"... now, take sight. While walking in the swamp you will see dripping trees with black trunks, rotting vegetation, scummy water, reeds, frogs, slugs, leeches, catfish, craw fish, beetles, spiders, snakes, flies, mosquitoes, gnats clouds, lizards, bats, algae, dead trees, quicksand, crocodiles, alligators, worms, rippling water, curling mist, moss hanging from tree branches, rotten dead fall, trees leaning over the water… get too engrossed and you will miss other obvious 'clues' for what is going on. Never assume a stick is a stick in the swamps. It MIGHT be a stick or a snake or worm or ... other things. Always carefully approach sticks."
He goes into a bit of a sidetrip into leeches. How they can cause some real issues, but can also be used for some infected wounds and poisonous bites.
"... oh, and smell ! That heady scent of decay, rot, briny algae, sweat, methane gas bubbles rising through the water, and the musky odors of some passing creatures. Now, if you smell something MORE than all that, you best give a shout because something odd moved into the area."
Mugwort speaks of odd flowers and other plant spores, both beneficial and deadly. How some creatures use those plants as 'lures' and to cover their own scents.
"... speaking of moving into an area. That touches on sounds. Dripping water, splashes, the slurp of mud, frogs croaking, flies buzzing, the snap of twigs, the screech of animals/birds hunting and being hunted, heavy silence, the burp of trapped air breaking the surface. WE will be making a right rucus passing through and most of the swamp life will hunker down until we pass. Just be keen on what 'does not sound right'. Just like the odd smell; an odd sound is something to pay attention to."
He scratches his nose and licks a finger to determine the winds. He sticks his tongue out and goes cross eyed looking at it.
"... TASTE! Believe it or not, the swamp has it's own flavors.. practically it's own soup. Thick, stagnant air, dirt and mud mixed with sweat running into mouth, stale water from a canteen, food carried in. That reminds me. Try to keep any food you have packed tight and well. Even though we will be the biggest noise and movement in the swamp, if a critter is starving -- they WILL come in to see what they smell... and might decide your arm or leg might be tastier than a ration left to 'perfume' the air."
He swats at a bug that was nibbling at his arm.
" that leaves touch, I guess. You will touch things... and things WILL touch you. Sticky clothes from the hot & moist air, water seeping into boots, the chafe of wet clothing, algae, dead leave fragments and mud clumps sticking to wet skin, the bump of something in the water against the leg (a fish, dead fall, a snake, a stick, a root, etc), a pole of wood clasped tight in the palm used for testing the depth of water or the solidity of the ground, the sting of gnat… The list for each of your senses could go on and on... and you will experience all that and more as we move forward, trust me."
Mugwort shrugs as he winds down and looks to each of his companions. "It is beautiful in it's own way, but it can be so deadly... and it's Home."
When Mugwort begins his lecture on swamp survival, Mender would quickly pull out his book and begin frantically taking notes. When the goblin was done speaking, he would quickly review the notes before looking up from the newly scribbled text. "I think I will just try not to touch, taste, or breath anything"
He would then fasten the swamp mask over his snout and fasten the swamp shoe to his tiny feet. Lastly he would pull a small medalian from his pocket and place it around his neck, letting it settle next to his conch shell.
"If you guys are ready, then let's go!" Mender would shout excitedly as he began heading off in the direction of the ruins.
Out of nowhere, Mugwort provides an informative (and not altogether un-succinct) rundown of his experience traversing the Mermosan Marsh, covering all five senses - each of you can learn something from it.
Mender enthusiastically moves for the entrance. Is everyone ready to leave?
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Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)
Mimzy smiles enjoying her Goblin bohunk's chaotic rhetoric and flits up beside Mender, "trying to not touch, taste, or breath anything you may find may not be easy as it seems. What is it you hope to find and ruins, and later the city?"The Fairy asked curiously.
Mender would smile and give Mimzy a nod. "I suppose that is true.." he would glance over to Fon and then back to her. "Well, I think the city was where the old innkeeper said we should go first... and I think that is also where Fon said that those guys were that he wants to get revenge on." The kobold would take a deep breath and let out a little sigh. "I would love to just go out and find the the Marid's spirit pool and kill the monster living there.. but I don't know that I'm strong enough yet. Your mom gave me a necklace that will let me know if we are close to any spirit pools. I figure if we walk through the center of this marsh on the way to the city and the necklace never goes off.. well then I can start putting X's on all the places we have been and help narrow down my search later on.." Mender would say with a smile.
Mugwort slides his full mask down over his face and settles it into place. "Best to be safe than sorry... so mask up! Mimzy or I will give warning if the more dangerous gasses, mists, or fogs spring up along our path."
Turning to face the path away from Griselda's hut, he pulls what looks like a long staff ??? or crude spear ??? with a pointed end from his shoulderbag and straps the broom across his back.
((( pokey stick for testing the swamp before his steps... )))
Kaelroc ask to the group, how do we know to kill the spirit pool and not rescue somethin instead? I may have zonked out. I am in either way, but I get confused easily
"Well, the Marid I saved uses the spirit pool to get home to the elemental plain of water. He said that something Evil has started living there that is preventing him from using it to get home. He didn't say we HAVE to kill it, he just needs it out of the spirit pool." Mender would look up to the goliath with a look of concern. "I assume that whatever large evil creature that is living in the spirit pool is also the evil creature that Mugwort saw... and the same creature that Mimzy's mom was talking about. I bet they are all connected..."
"I would love to just go out and find the the Marid's spirit pool and kill the monster living there.. but I don't know that I'm strong enough yet." Mender would say with a smile.
Mimzy just nodes, "Well I'll give you a hand where I'm able but for me... You might say that I'm just looking to do some sightseeing. Sometimes even Fairies get bored. But I wouldn't worry about the speed of getting things done, as they say all good things take time, great things take a little longer!"
"I would love to just go out and find the the Marid's spirit pool and kill the monster living there.. but I don't know that I'm strong enough yet." Mender would say with a smile.
Mimzy just nodes, "Well I'll give you a hand where I'm able but for me... You might say that I'm just looking to do some sightseeing. Sometimes even Fairies get bored. But I wouldn't worry about the speed of getting things done, as they say all good things take time, great things take a little longer!"
"The longer I am away from my island.. the longer that evil blue dragon continues to enslave my island... I am not sure why he chose to attack that island... perhaps the ancient brass dragon had been protecting more than just us kobolds..." He would trail off for a bit, his eyes looking off into the distance as he thinks about his family and friends. Then an instant later he would shake his head and lock eyes with the fairy once more. "Anyway... This place is much different than anything I had experienced before in my life. I plan to experience and enjoy everything I can while I am here... just so long as I am working towards my goal. I don't want to let the island or Doltryp down." Mender would smile and lift his leather hat, giving his scaly head a quick scratch. "I imagine this is new for you. I get the impression that your mother has kept you on a pretty short leash over the years. I imagine that I am not the only one getting the opportunity to see and experience new things in this group."
And so, it is time for you to depart from Griselda's lair. Packing what you need and talking all the while, you ascend the stone staircase and push through the rounded door into the darkness of the cavern. Following its path down a series of twists and turns, you eventually emerge from the roots of the gnarled black ash you had wearily stumbled upon late last night.
A bitter wind agitates the sallow sky, dispersing some of the gaseous gloom which had settled below the canopy yesterday. The sun, a fiery eye no longer lidded by the crest of distant hills, glares at you between the trees. In the light, the path ahead feels a little less foreboding - though it is no easier to traverse. Slowly and with no small deal of effort, you attempt to follow the map's route as faithfully as possible. As you begin your journey Eastward through the forest, the loops, snags and dead ends only become more tortuous, and by the end of the second hour, you feel you must stop to rest and reverify your direction. Whoever is holding the map and leading the charge, please roll a DC 16 survival check (if Mender would be willing to bless that person with guidance, they may add a d4 to the roll).
Both Kaelroc and Mender are able to read the map better than their goblin companion. You know that both the waterlogged and wooded areas will be arduous to cross (counting as difficult terrain). Given the approximate three hours of travel time it took to arrive here - over two hours through the swamp forest and an additional hour of easy walking before that - the journey to the Negbar Ruins will take around fourteen hours of travel time, and from there to Mermosapolis will take an additional nine hours, no matter which way you slice it.
Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)
"So it looks like it'll take around... 14 hours to get to the ruins and another 9 to get from there to the city." The kobold would say with a frown. "I guess we better get going if we hope to get there before it gets too dark.. Unless you all have a different plan?"
Sounds good to Mimzy, she'll gather up her things and be ready to head out whenever the boys are ready.
Mugwort looks over at Mender. "Is that the 'normal' swamp movement or your 'special ground changing' magic movement? Either way, it is past time to move out or we will be travelling in the swamp well after dark."
"I guess we will see what it takes to move through the swamp?" The kobold would reply with a little shrug. "I mean i can part the dirt and part the water.. and all of it kind of goes back to normal after a while so everything should be ok... I think..." Mender would then pull out his book and review some of the spells... "Yeah... I'm sure we will be fine.. I probably didn't over look too many things like I did with that identify spell."
"We shall see what we shall see... I heard that once, somewhere. It seems to fit here." Mugwort will begin a rambling 'lecture' on the swamp and how to survive it using all one's senses.
"... now, take sight. While walking in the swamp you will see dripping trees with black trunks, rotting vegetation, scummy water, reeds, frogs, slugs, leeches, catfish, craw fish, beetles, spiders, snakes, flies, mosquitoes, gnats clouds, lizards, bats, algae, dead trees, quicksand, crocodiles, alligators, worms, rippling water, curling mist, moss hanging from tree branches, rotten dead fall, trees leaning over the water… get too engrossed and you will miss other obvious 'clues' for what is going on. Never assume a stick is a stick in the swamps. It MIGHT be a stick or a snake or worm or ... other things. Always carefully approach sticks."
He goes into a bit of a sidetrip into leeches. How they can cause some real issues, but can also be used for some infected wounds and poisonous bites.
"... oh, and smell ! That heady scent of decay, rot, briny algae, sweat, methane gas bubbles rising through the water, and the musky odors of some passing creatures. Now, if you smell something MORE than all that, you best give a shout because something odd moved into the area."
Mugwort speaks of odd flowers and other plant spores, both beneficial and deadly. How some creatures use those plants as 'lures' and to cover their own scents.
"... speaking of moving into an area. That touches on sounds. Dripping water, splashes, the slurp of mud, frogs croaking, flies buzzing, the snap of twigs, the screech of animals/birds hunting and being hunted, heavy silence, the burp of trapped air breaking the surface. WE will be making a right rucus passing through and most of the swamp life will hunker down until we pass. Just be keen on what 'does not sound right'. Just like the odd smell; an odd sound is something to pay attention to."
He scratches his nose and licks a finger to determine the winds. He sticks his tongue out and goes cross eyed looking at it.
"... TASTE! Believe it or not, the swamp has it's own flavors.. practically it's own soup. Thick, stagnant air, dirt and mud mixed with sweat running into mouth, stale water from a canteen, food carried in. That reminds me. Try to keep any food you have packed tight and well. Even though we will be the biggest noise and movement in the swamp, if a critter is starving -- they WILL come in to see what they smell... and might decide your arm or leg might be tastier than a ration left to 'perfume' the air."
He swats at a bug that was nibbling at his arm.
" that leaves touch, I guess. You will touch things... and things WILL touch you. Sticky clothes from the hot & moist air, water seeping into boots, the chafe of wet clothing, algae, dead leave fragments and mud clumps sticking to wet skin, the bump of something in the water against the leg (a fish, dead fall, a snake, a stick, a root, etc), a pole of wood clasped tight in the palm used for testing the depth of water or the solidity of the ground, the sting of gnat… The list for each of your senses could go on and on... and you will experience all that and more as we move forward, trust me."
Mugwort shrugs as he winds down and looks to each of his companions. "It is beautiful in it's own way, but it can be so deadly... and it's Home."
When Mugwort begins his lecture on swamp survival, Mender would quickly pull out his book and begin frantically taking notes. When the goblin was done speaking, he would quickly review the notes before looking up from the newly scribbled text. "I think I will just try not to touch, taste, or breath anything"
He would then fasten the swamp mask over his snout and fasten the swamp shoe to his tiny feet. Lastly he would pull a small medalian from his pocket and place it around his neck, letting it settle next to his conch shell.
"If you guys are ready, then let's go!" Mender would shout excitedly as he began heading off in the direction of the ruins.
Out of nowhere, Mugwort provides an informative (and not altogether un-succinct) rundown of his experience traversing the Mermosan Marsh, covering all five senses - each of you can learn something from it.
Mender enthusiastically moves for the entrance. Is everyone ready to leave?
Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)
Kaelroc has everything packed and ready. He quickly scribbles a messy note as he writes he reads aloud.
Dearest Griselda
The food was delicious. Promise to be safe and look after the small folk. Maybe I can arm wrestle a crocodile on this adventure.
I hope you stay safe!
-love
Your grey boo-berry
P.s I won't forget to take a souvenir! *Smiley face, heart emoji*
Mimzy smiles enjoying her Goblin bohunk's chaotic rhetoric and flits up beside Mender, "trying to not touch, taste, or breath anything you may find may not be easy as it seems. What is it you hope to find and ruins, and later the city?" The Fairy asked curiously.
Mender would smile and give Mimzy a nod. "I suppose that is true.." he would glance over to Fon and then back to her. "Well, I think the city was where the old innkeeper said we should go first... and I think that is also where Fon said that those guys were that he wants to get revenge on." The kobold would take a deep breath and let out a little sigh. "I would love to just go out and find the the Marid's spirit pool and kill the monster living there.. but I don't know that I'm strong enough yet. Your mom gave me a necklace that will let me know if we are close to any spirit pools. I figure if we walk through the center of this marsh on the way to the city and the necklace never goes off.. well then I can start putting X's on all the places we have been and help narrow down my search later on.." Mender would say with a smile.
Mugwort slides his full mask down over his face and settles it into place. "Best to be safe than sorry... so mask up! Mimzy or I will give warning if the more dangerous gasses, mists, or fogs spring up along our path."
Turning to face the path away from Griselda's hut, he pulls what looks like a long staff ??? or crude spear ??? with a pointed end from his shoulderbag and straps the broom across his back.
((( pokey stick for testing the swamp before his steps... )))
Kaelroc ask to the group, how do we know to kill the spirit pool and not rescue somethin instead? I may have zonked out. I am in either way, but I get confused easily
"Well, the Marid I saved uses the spirit pool to get home to the elemental plain of water. He said that something Evil has started living there that is preventing him from using it to get home. He didn't say we HAVE to kill it, he just needs it out of the spirit pool." Mender would look up to the goliath with a look of concern. "I assume that whatever large evil creature that is living in the spirit pool is also the evil creature that Mugwort saw... and the same creature that Mimzy's mom was talking about. I bet they are all connected..."
Mimzy just nodes, "Well I'll give you a hand where I'm able but for me... You might say that I'm just looking to do some sightseeing. Sometimes even Fairies get bored. But I wouldn't worry about the speed of getting things done, as they say all good things take time, great things take a little longer!"
"The longer I am away from my island.. the longer that evil blue dragon continues to enslave my island... I am not sure why he chose to attack that island... perhaps the ancient brass dragon had been protecting more than just us kobolds..." He would trail off for a bit, his eyes looking off into the distance as he thinks about his family and friends. Then an instant later he would shake his head and lock eyes with the fairy once more. "Anyway... This place is much different than anything I had experienced before in my life. I plan to experience and enjoy everything I can while I am here... just so long as I am working towards my goal. I don't want to let the island or Doltryp down." Mender would smile and lift his leather hat, giving his scaly head a quick scratch. "I imagine this is new for you. I get the impression that your mother has kept you on a pretty short leash over the years. I imagine that I am not the only one getting the opportunity to see and experience new things in this group."
Mugwort gives a snorting laugh. "I can NOT imagine Mimzy on a leash. And I pity the fool that would attempt to place one on her."
Gazing eastward, he steps off into the marshy grasslands at a slow walk.
Mimzy just giggles, "not as short as one would think," she responds to Mender glancing over and giving Mugwort a sly Fairy grin!
And so, it is time for you to depart from Griselda's lair. Packing what you need and talking all the while, you ascend the stone staircase and push through the rounded door into the darkness of the cavern. Following its path down a series of twists and turns, you eventually emerge from the roots of the gnarled black ash you had wearily stumbled upon late last night.
A bitter wind agitates the sallow sky, dispersing some of the gaseous gloom which had settled below the canopy yesterday. The sun, a fiery eye no longer lidded by the crest of distant hills, glares at you between the trees. In the light, the path ahead feels a little less foreboding - though it is no easier to traverse. Slowly and with no small deal of effort, you attempt to follow the map's route as faithfully as possible. As you begin your journey Eastward through the forest, the loops, snags and dead ends only become more tortuous, and by the end of the second hour, you feel you must stop to rest and reverify your direction. Whoever is holding the map and leading the charge, please roll a DC 16 survival check (if Mender would be willing to bless that person with guidance, they may add a d4 to the roll).
Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)