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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pedestrian" data-source="post: 3619669" data-attributes="member: 40208">The sun was low in the sky, and the shadows of the trees stretched long fingers, darkening with the encroaching night. The air was heavy with the smell of wet earth, and echoing through the boughs came the slow gurgle of a stream. The Dawn Way was submerged under boggy water, and the ground had become soggy, clogged with water from the Swift Creek. Jorr walked ahead, testing the ground with a stout length of wood to make sure that they not loose the road, Marduk working alongside him. The woodsman did not speak to the gnoll, but would grunt approval when Marduk displayed a bit of woodslore, which contented the beastman.“The Creek must have flooded – strange given the weather – which is causing all this bog. Pretty soon, we’ll be come up Blackwater Causeway. The mud there’s deeper, but the causeway runs through it, so none of us will have to swim.” Sure enough, a path of wooden planks, rising scarce a foot above the water, greeted them at the next view. Far more interesting, at least to the companions, was a ruined caravan, half-submerged in the murk by the river.Immediately, Sir Tarnus and Marduk waded back into the quagmire to investigate. Tom waved them off, emptying muck from his boots, while Marcus watched over the pair. Abruptly, the gnoll stopped and grabbed his friend’s arm to point out a large, strange snake coiled around the wreck. The pair unloosened their weapons before proceeding. They werewithin a few feet of the broken wagon when the snake, hissing, rose up and up, to be joined by five identical beasts, crests flaring as they writhed, joining together in a massive central body which looked like a cross between a lizard’s scaly hide and a bears huge girth.“Hydra!” Called Marcus, already invoking magic to shield himself. Marduk and Sir Tarnus wasted no time, charging at the beast, and Marduk landed a solid blow against it’s solid trunk, though not without cost as the monster tore at him with its savage maws. Injured, it retreated into deeper waters, leaving only its heads exposed. Sir Tarnus managed to cleave one away, but Marduk fell under another writhing onslaught, and Sir Tarnus only remained standing under the strength of his devotion, hacking wildly as the snapping, slavering heads that surrounded him.“Blasted murk! Blasted monster!” Shouted Tom, invoking the power of Kord as he rushed forward, Marcus giving cover as he flung arcane projectiles one after the other, fishing Marduk out from the waters he had sunk into, channelling healing energy into his friend, who quickly revived. The stout priest looked up at the monster in horror as its ruined neck stump began the horrific process of regrowing a head.Forsaking the meagre impact of his minor arcana, Marcus called upon the powers of the gems lodged in his spear. He summoned fire and sent a bolt of incandescent flame just behind the creature, blasting it, raising pained screams. Again, a globe of fire, and the reptilian cries filled the mire as the hydra’s exposed heads were blasted to pieces. With only two heads remaining, the creature abandoned its nest, retreating up the river. Sir Tarnus was all set to pursue it, but could not follow into the water.A quick search of the wagon revealed it to be a wrecked supply caravan of goblin origin, only bones and rust to tell of their fate. One skeleton, presumably of high rank, wore a breastplate that was still in excellent condition. Marcus examined it, determining that it was indeed of magical manufacture. It was quickly decided that Marduk should have it. Their investigation complete, Tom, Sir Tarnus and Marduk regained the causeway, where Tom healed the hurts of his friends using a white wand.They pressed on over the creek, fat with flood water from the mountains, and soon regained dry-land. The flood water subsided, and once again they were upon the Dawn Way. The darkness was growing thick, and Jorr advised that it would be best to camp for the evening. He was interrupted by a piercing shriek.The four produced weapons and looked about, seeking an enemy. Jorr pointed through the woods to a ruined tower, just visible through the trees. At the top of the tower, a ghastly green light flickered, and again came a cry of ghastly torment. “Vraath Keep.” Said Jorr by way of explanation. “Some say as it’s haunted, though I’m not so sure. That green light, that’s not been about before.” The old man sat down, unpacking some food.“Vraath Keep?” Repeated Sir Tarnus. The name was familiar… He reached into his belt, to produce a soggy parchment, long forgotten since arriving at the ferry. Their original reason for coming this far north. Though now almost illegible, some words could still be made out. Was that word Vraath, or was he just imagining things in the unreadable ruin?“Aye, Vraath. I reckon it might be place the goblins’d think to hole up in. Not many people like to go up there” the old man shivered “As I say, some say it’s haunted. Still, might be worth a look.”Marduk, having removed his armour for the night, paused for a moment, then reached into his own pack, producing one of the elixirs Captain Soranna had gifted the group with, a phial of crystal clear liquid. He showed it to the others. “I could go. I move quicker than you all. I’d be up there, and back, and they’d never see me. If there’s anything there.” Sir Tarnus nodded his approval.“Be careful, friend.” Advised Tom, fixing the gnoll with a serious look. “Mind out for anything… unnatural.” Marduk nodded, gulped down the potion, and was gone.</blockquote>

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