((If by 'make a check before  you commit to the action', you are telling them to roll first, decide if they want to actually do what they intended, that's not how it works, and you're sticking your toes back in the same puddle I've tried to warn you away from repeatedly. If you don't understand my position on what seems to be your repeated attempts to metagame your way into rolls/outcomes going your way, we can have a discussion.))  

(mate, I'm genuinely honest here, I don't even know what metagaming even IS. I just don't want to kill Horatio and keep him out of my petty wrath.)

Hgru's head emerges and she's able to get a breath, her hair looking as though she was being pulled up by a mage hand, though none is visible (maybe Samael's but if so, it's by him). As she gets to her feet, her hair flops limp and wet against her as she glares at Samael, curling her hand in front of her and thrusting it in his direction. She reclaims her staff and stalks off into the swamp.

(*snrk* if she wants to fist samael,  she'll be sued for workplace harassment by his boss)

Morn, stuck again, takes a moment to catch his breath and watch the ensuing... comedy? Drama? Escapades? Whatever anyone would say, this marsh has definitely been harder to traverse than he first thought. If only he'd thought of this before leaving and planned for such an event. After a few minutes rest, he attempts to move again, leaning on his stick and slowly trying to place his feet (Athletics: 5). 

(OOC - this marsh is kicking our butts haha! Who would have thought?)

(well it's their fault for laughing.)

((Wow. Maybe I need to scale back any future encounters if the Under Ten Gang is going to roll in... How about this... we roll a d20 for luck. 16-20, you get your stuff together and make it to the next marker beyond this nasty DC 10 swamp, 11-15, you struggle but eventually get there, 6-10 you get there eventually, but it's 1d4 stressful, and 1-5 your splashing draws something's attention? If that sounds acceptable, sound off, and we'll go from there.))

Horatio watches Hgru stride off into the marsh. "Unfortunate." He muses softly. He eases himself over to Morn to at least get him to the next marker.

Ath: 17

(OOC - I'm happy to roll with whatever you feel is best as DM. But yeah, Under-10-Gang seems to be here to stay.)

(i'll cut it out....Samael just had been mocked for being a forced toady one too many times by cultists.)

(OOC - I wouldn't say you'd need to cut it completely. I mean, it makes for interesting RP and character development. And while this isn't the usual campaign, we will be spending a bit of time together so learning about pasts etc is bound to happen. Maybe just don't kill the guide haha. Some of the most fun PC relationships I've developed have come out of arguments and harsh words between characters. Just so long as we're not taking things personal or getting nasty.)

In time, you make it to the next dry marker, but it's a slog, and you all accumulate 2 Stress from your efforts.

Morn and Horatio spot the next marker further on, while you are back on the raised portion that may be remnants of an old road, it is much rougher here, and going forward and you occasionally end up needing to wade through water and muck.

After a few more markers, the overgrown roadway seems to have been swallowed by the swamp, but the area here is boggy, but passable. However, the next marker isn't immediately visible, but it wouldn't seem that you've arrived at any sort of destination.

"so now the swamp taunts and mocks us..." Samael hisses, then grumbles "what a familiar situation."

"Familiar?" Morn looks to Samael, "You've encountered the likes of this swamp before? It's a pity your past experience couldn't offer aid to make our passing here easier." Morn chuckles then pats Samael on the shoulder with a hand dirtied by the mud and muck they have traversed through, "It's alright. I don't think any of us truly prepared for what we were to encounter." He stops and looks about for the next marker that alludes (Perception: 15. "Does anyone see the next marker? Old Frankie didn't space them out so much usually."

18 perception

"let me see......"

"Who would have thought that,Toadsi has experience with swamps."

Trinjya says and starts looking around, not for a marker but for something that would indicate that they might have gotten to their destination. 

Perception: 10

((Three solid rolls in a row?))

Trinjya doesn't see anything that would make her think that they've reached Frankie's destination, but ranging a bit ahead and looking around, Samael spots a marker a bit to the left, clinging to a branch just above the water line. Morn spots it as well, but it wasn't visible from the previous marker.

Morn points out the next marker and begins the slow and careful trudge/wade to it. He turns to Hgru as the group make their way to the next marker., "Do the waters shift here in the Sorrows much? I wouldn't imagine that water levels would rise and fall all that much normally, but we've been seeing these markers in peculiar spots, some just above the water."

((Hgru hasn't returned. You can make a retroactive Insight check if you'd like on her demeanor after being commanded.))

(OOC - Ah, that's right... hmm. I think Morn would be more focussed on finding the markers and would likely not pay close attention to Hgru's demeanour. My Passive Insight is 13 if that makes any difference, but I'd say no, as much as I'd like to retroactively gain that little bit of info/insight, I don't think it would be the character's first thought. If anything, that plays out well for a diviner - so focussed on the future and finding items that he misses what's in front of him.)

Morn points out the next marker and begins the slow and careful trudge/wade to it. He turns to Hgru as the group make their way to the next marker., "Do the waters shift here in the Sorrows much? I wouldn't imagine that water levels would rise and fall all that much normally, but we've been seeing these markers in peculiar spots, some just above the water."

(Slight retcon)

Morn makes his query to their guide and turns to look at her as she replies, but then realises that she is in fact not with them. He stops, scratching his head a moment. "Ah, friends, did any of you see which direction our guide went? I do hope that she's alright out here, though I have the feeling she's probably better at all this than we are."