Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (Interlude)
Having set out from Crescent City seeking the Ragged Man at the Temple of Kharad, the Starborn have passed beyond the last boundary of civilization into the eastern swamps . . . the Hogglepot Marshes. Here they have encountered chuuls, swamp elves and an aboleth and its skum slaves. The swamp elf guides have left the heroes to their own devices, opting to stay in their village just east of the Crescent City River Fort. Greenroot, Lorelei's friend, gave instructions on how to reach the temple of the Dead God . . . continue east to a major branch in the channel and head south. In that branch they will see the Dead God in the water and should take the nearest sowthwestern tributary from there . . . the temple will be easy to find. Greenroot further advised that there is a priest of Marianism who has set up a mission in the area . . . they will find him north of the Dead God.
Traveling through the swamp is constant misery. Everyone sweats profusely in the hot, sticky air. The stench of rotting vegetation and dead animals assaults the senses. Biting insects buzz around incessantly, feasting on the adventurers' blood. Crickets, frogs and other unidentifiable animals chirp, belch and croak throughout the nights making sleep a serious challenge. While the battle with the chuuls was tough and the aboleth was a horror to behold, the unremitting misery of the journey through the swamp might actually be worse.
Around noon on April 30, two days after the fight with the Aboleth, the heroes come upon what must surely be the mission that Greenroot spoke of:
| In a cleared area to the side of the river stands a long wooden building, obviously not the work of the swamp elves. From inside comes the curious sound of many voices singing and having trouble with the words. From what you can hear, the song sounds like a hymn of some sort. |
A short rest in a sturdy building, one crafted by a civilized race, might be just the relief the Starborn need from the unrelenting wretchedness of the swamp . . .
posted by Brent Nall at 4:35 PM
4 Comments:
Ok, you guys keep up the theological debate, I'm gonna go make a quick survey of the surrounding area and check for any nasty surprises. Casey you want to come with?
OK, well, while Rygorh and Alev debate the finer points of law, chaos and a just society . . .
Casey, Seebo and Ashton break away from the group and scout around the place. They can hear the singing clearly as they approach the building. The people inside are difinitely singing hymns to Marius. Most of the singers are not on key, the timing is bad and some sound as though they are struggling to pronounce the words, but they make up with gusto what they lack in talent. One voice rings louder and clearer over the others.
There is a nice, well-tended garden behind the building and a trio of the skiffs that the swamp elves use. There is also a little storage shed with an open window . . . inside there are bags of dry goods and gardening tools and such.
Assuming someone casts detect magic that person detects no magical auras within range other than those that the party bring with them. Detect evil reveals no evil auras in the area.
Assuming someone moves within 60' of the building . . . no evil auras detected in or around the building. There are a couple of minor magic auras of the conjuration (healing) type.
It doesn't look like there are any surprises waiting. Someone wanna go knock on the door? Or do you want to just move on?
Post a Comment
<< Home