THE HIDDEN
SEGMENT 015
4/6/13
“THE MAP, THE SWAMP, THE BULLYWOGS AND THE CABIN”
EYRE 11, 999
The group hurries to the docks and find them largely disserted. The sun is just beginning to glow behind the Byfshk Mountains that separate The Shadow Marches and Eldeen Reaches. Several fishing boats can just be seen in the river way. Looking, they spot one last boat. It looks suitable but is very run down. A lone man is cleaning it up. He sees you and smiles and gives a short wave. When their looks stay on the ship, he puts his rags down and comes to the edge where the dock is. “Can I help you?”
“We are looking for a ship for something extremely important. We need passage into the swamps upriver.” States Truth.
The man looks up and down the dock and smiles. “Not many choices remain. Where were you looking to go?”
“Up river as I said. Then down into a swampy area to rescue people.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
“The people we want to save are the young children that have been taken.”
“The fires…? Ah.” The man looks at each member one by one. “You ain’t the ones that the Emerald Claw is looking for?”
“We… may have frustrated them recently.”
“Yes, the Big Black man was looking for you.”
“He is not a problem anymore” states RAF with a hint of pride.
“Oh… he was looking for you just last night.” Everyone stops and looks to each other.
“He doesn’t matter. It’s the young people we want to help. Will you help us?” pleads Truth.
The man stares at each one, especially the two warforged. “Sounds dangerous. The waters can be tricky…. They’re like a maze filled with dangers natural and unnatural. The unnatural ones are especially dangerous.”
“We will be there to protect the ship. We are not without resources ourselves.” Offers Cy.
“And repairs are expensive.” Says the man smiling.
Much haggling later and 5 gold later, they are on their way. They use the map and find the waterway that feeds into the main river. It is wide enough to go down with the pilots ship. Soon they come to a stack of upright poles, like depicted on the map. “This must be it.” States Truth.
The pilot promises to wait for them as he pats his pocket with the gold in it.
It takes several hours as they walk down the swampy walkway. Tom tracks the recent tracks and Maul uses its primal senses to follow also. They encounter a few dangerous creatures but manage. They spot red butterflies in one area. They mistake them for basic insects until they find the dead body the flock was feeding on. They move past them quickly to avoid any further possible damage or delays.
They come to area where the paths seem safer and better made. There are even log bridges connecting the land masses within the swamp. The down side, one cannot see more than 10-20 feet into the swamp. Vines, air plants and other vegetation block any deeper view into the swamp or its dangers.
Suddenly they are attacked from the very water it seems. Spears thrown by frog men, Bullywogs! The team works through several groups of them as they track into the swamp. Eventually they see a lone small cabin. Dozens of bullywogs rise from the water and several goblins also.
A cloaked man steps onto the moss covered porch and commands them to attack!