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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 7238560" data-attributes="member: 9255">THE HIDDEN: BEYOND NEW WATER04   NEW WATERSEGMENT 122“EXPLOSIVE ENTRANCE”8/18/17NYMM 20, 1000Keldrix is becoming a welcome addition at the Sugga and Peppa.  He constant presence has kept the goblins away.  However, the halflings would never admit this.   As normal, Tyson is the first to awaken.  He goes across the hall and collects a coffee, a roll and collects a somewhat recent Korranberg Chronicle.  (from last month)He reads about more issues between Droaam and Breland.  Also an article about how the earthquake and subsequent flooding of the low lands of the Mhor Holds is affecting the whole of Khorvaire as the Kundarak Banks are less than stable.  He is about to read an article about Yrlag when Zigland arrives yawning.“Hi Feldrix.  Hi Tyson…… ohhhhh coffee……”  He sits down and motions for service which Sugga is happy to come.    “Will we cook today Zig?” she asks.“Plans are to go do the New Water.   Soon.”Zigland is half way through his second cup of coffee and some Blue Wren eggs when Ayru arrives.  She sits down and orders tea.  “So.   When do we go in?”Tyson folds up his paper and sets it aside.  “If we are going to do this, lets keep it simple.  Set an easy direction and go down.   The museum suggested that to the east of the “Hidden” there are several pockets of islands that have not been explored much.   I suggest we do that.”“I was hoping to go into the valley.”  Zig comments.“Some of these islands have vegetation.   That suggests-““New spices?!?”“Yes.”“Do we…. Need a guide?” asks the knight.“At this point, I doubt we could find or afford one.” Suggests Tyson.   They finish their meal with small idle talk then return to their rooms.  They gather their gear and prepare for the worse.They walk west down the docks and towards Dragon Road and Low Town  ( the poor section ).  Then they follow a mushy road onto the mainland of Shadow Marches.  This follows the Dragon Road into the swamp.  Another group walks ahead of them.  This group is largely made up of humans with a dwarf carrying a ridiculously large axe over his shoulder.   At a split in the road they go left.   The group goes right.  This path goes on for a while until they reach a clearing.   Bones of a medium dragon can be seen within a tree.   Strange but with the strange ant nest below the tree, it is clear to stay away.  The ants are as big as your thumb and spikes and blue-purple mandibles. Then they reach New Water.The sun reflects off it’s dark but bright blue surface.  No wind.  Few insects.  No birds.   No people.  And this is for as far ahead as one can see to the south.Zigland walks up to the edge and looks in.  “The reports don’t get the feel at all.   This is….. beautiful.”“Zig-  don’t.” warns Tyson.“Don’t what?”“Go jumping in and splashing and playing in the water.”  He responds already thinking he will be on Ziggy Watch for most of this trip.Suddenly there is an explosion to their left behind a tree line.    Ayru is running before the smoke rises to sight.   “Here we go.” Exclaims Zig.“Hurmmmmm” mumbles the inquisitive as he begins to pick up his pace.Ayru is first through the brush.  Next is Feldrix as he doesn’t feel the thorns and briars he pushes through.  Zig is last as his arms and legs are covered by a thin layer of cloth.Smoke is billowing out of a small hole in a short and squat tower.   Pieces of wood and debris liter the grass with bits of flame.   They hear a bit of a whimper and cry mixed with a dry cough.  Tyson spots activity on the water.   A small boat with three large people using a pole to push away quickly.Feldrix and Ayru tend to an old man laying under a wooden table and Zig finds a young puppy here also.  It looks like an alchemy lab…. Or at least used to be.The old man barely can breath but recovers soon once out of the burning tower.  “I wouldn’t do it.  I wouldn’t at all.  Damned Gray Dusk asses.”“Do what sir?” Tyson asks politely.  Ayru gives him that look of can you wait as she washes the old man’s face and tries to make him comfortable.“The Dusk clan….. they have been bullying and attacking people along the shore for weeks now.  It’s not right.”  The old man stammers.“We’ll do something about it.   I guarantee it.”  Declares Zig with hard looks from the others ( not sure about Feldrix as he has no face ).“So much for keeping it simple.” Thinks out loud the inquisitive.</blockquote>

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