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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PieAndDragon" data-source="post: 2824529" data-attributes="member: 18108">Midday of Earthday, Twenty-second day of SecondmonthAfter swift travel along the Bandit's Road, yesterday saw us in the free town of Hopebridge, on the edge of Blackspider Wood. It is a den of thieves, cut throats, warlocks and swords-for-hire. The law is kept by mysterious forces and strangers are watched by floating skulls. I saw a few of my comrades from the last few years, mercenaries from my own clan and others from Falcon, and Horse. They told me someone in Hopebridge was hiring and paying good gold, but sadly I am under contract to Sakorat. Maybe another time.The others were not keen to stay and we soon headed on. The sort of place Lukkar could make a home in, and maybe Sakorat. But not the others.23rd of SecondmonthToday we saw four grey renders guarding a small cat. Sydnius talked of luring the cat off to have the renders guard us. An idea with merit, but the others thought it might be too dangerous. I could see that too. There was talk of packs of grey renders being known in the Deepswamp, up to thirty strong. If they don't find us, we won't find them.Evening, Otherday, 25th of SecondmonthToday saw me continue my savage warrior charade, as we reached the village of Blackcreek and the sage Demetrios. The doddering old man hired us, telling us some meandering tale about a cult which used a black flame in the swamp. He wants to put out the black flame, but needs some nuts roasted in them to make his magic potion. Not really sure what he was on about, and nor did the others. However, after some fast-talking by Sakorat, he increased on the first offer in magic artefacts, and a bargain was struck. We're the second adventuring groups he's hired. The other one didn't come back.The tower is a couple of days in the swamp, not used by the cult for a hundred years. Apparently they were destroyed by an armed mob from Westwatch. But as both the cult and the Westwatches are no more, no one seems to know much about it. Some wizard of the Red Conclave called Torith was using it a year ago, but no-one has seen him for months. A massive beacon of light has been visible from the tower, no-one knows its source. Torith's  apprentice apparently went out there with some hired help, no doubt to loot the place.He has hired another magister to go along with us, a pale-faced weak looking old man by the name of Kapix. If he lives through the swamp I'd be amazed, though I have been wrong before.Midday, 1st of Thirdmonth, 1534 Elemental ReckoningThe Deepswamp is a miserable, damp, murky hole of a place, where the siv live. It is also our home for the next week or so. The water often comes up to neck level, but Lukkar and Sydnius seem capable guides. The old man has disturbed us all with coughing and strange glances. The animals avoid him, seemingly scared for some reason.For now we follow the beacon of the tower, keeping watch for hydras, crocodiles and packs of gray renders.2nd of ThirdmonthKapix used his first proper spell today, exploding a ball of fire among a pack of blood-sucking bird-like pests. They didn't disturb us after that, serving only as food for other predators. He still coughs alot though.Midday of Wateday, 4th of ThirdmonthA patrol of siv stopped us near to Torith's Tower, claiming the lands in the name of King Yiss. As we don't want the lands, Kapix spoke to them, granted safe passage by a bribe of a bright pendant. Compared to other siv I have seen, they were actual savages, carrying clubs, slings and no armour. No doubt they are still deadly, using kicks and punches in place of swords. They also have the advantage of terrain, walking on the swamp like it was a cobbled path. Plus there are only seven of us, and several thousand of them. Nothing like numbers to even it up.Afternoon of Waterday, 4th of ThirdmonthWe followed an old road for the last few hundred feet to the tower, crossing a couple of bridges to reach some gate-house. Sydnius had a quick flyover on his wasp and fled from a wyvern nesting in the roof of the main keep. At the gate-house we met some Sohalese scum, who didn't want us around here. An attack on the base of the tower ensued, lead by myself and supported by a ball of fire and other magics from Kapix, arrows from the goblin, unknown spells from Ijiru and Sydnius on a solitary attack of the top of the tower. Two humans tried to attack from horseback, but that soon proved futile. One tried to get away through a trapdoor, but Ijiru proved this an unwise idea, scorching the guard's nether regions as he tried to haul himself up. We left him curled on the floor, oblivious to all around. A group of naiad crossbowmen and human guards awaited us on the second storey, but a prayer from Sakorat sent them into chaos, fighting one another and babbling incoherently. I butchered them as they deserved.Then we heard the ones remaining in the top storey had a prisoner. Assuming it was Sydnius and not yet wanting him to depart our company, we have stopped briefly to resolve the matter.End of Session Twenty-One</blockquote>

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