[IC]Secrets of the Fire Swamp

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 3:33 am

To Thrull: Fair enough. You staying here or coming with us?

To Drowning-Squid: Offer sounds good to me. Going with you if the others will.

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 8:20 pm

She blushes - at least, you can think of no other way to express the shade of purple that flushes over her face - and a tentacle hides her mouth. *It is a quest!*

"Ah yes, quests. Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles... Sure, there's danger involved, and rewards, but heck, sometimes the experience itself is its own reward. Especially when you've got some good company."

Many of the fungus-people stop and stare at Orr in wonder. One or two bring out sheets of paper, and appear to be taking careful notes. After he has taken a few bites, one thing and somewhat timid-voiced fungusman with a tall green cap comes forward and bows slightly, then asks... "What do you call that?"

Orr scratches his head. "Honestly I haven't thought about it. Umm... 'meatwich' is the first thing that comes to mind."

Darth Rabbitt wrote:Offer sounds good to me. Going with you if the others will.

"I'm down for it."

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 2:45 am

Darth Rabbitt wrote:To Thrull: Fair enough. You staying here or coming with us?

The rat nods. "I do not feel I have fully repaid you for freeing me from my imprisonment...and I would like to return to more familiar climes."

Orr scratches his head. "Honestly I haven't thought about it. Umm... 'meatwich' is the first thing that comes to mind."

Orr sees several of the fungus-men taking notes. One of the sprouts runs off, and fairly soon a pair of beefy-looking fungus men return with a foot-powered tablesaw. One of the fungus men begins to take charge of the whole experiment....

The Eldest Bro saunters over, holding a wide-rimmed glass full of smoking liquid and what appears to be a pickled eyeball on a stick. *The Water Road is not without danger. All waters flow through it - from the frigid rivers of Hell to the the moon-streams of the Fae realm. We would appreciate it if you allowed us to provide some supplies for your journey.*

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 4:09 pm

Archimedes manages a sharp-toothed smile, or what equivalent his snout can manage.

To Thrull: Glad to have you with us.

To the Eldest Bro: Never say no to free stuff.

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 8:14 pm

To Archimedes, Malogos and Thrull: "Think we should mention Draghul, the prophecy and/or that we spared the eggs to the Eldest Bro?"

To Thrull: "Yeah, glad you'll still be around."

To Eldest Bro: "Thanks for everything. Especially unpetrifying me."

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 5:15 am

Good question. What do you think, Malagos?

CapnTthePirateG · Post by **CapnTthePirateG** » Sat Dec 17, 2016 6:17 am

Malagos grimaces and rubs his head. Fuck. I'd mention the dragon and Draghul, these people live in the area and deserve to know at least..

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sat Dec 17, 2016 5:09 pm

Then let's do it, Archimedes replies. Either of you want to do the honors? Not a great speaker.

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Sat Dec 17, 2016 7:36 pm

"Sure."

"A few things we forgot to mention earlier. Draghula's possibly significantly more powerful mother, Draghul is presumably still alive in the cave, albeit asleep at the moment. We got this information from the dragon we mentioned earlier, who turned out to be her... ex. He said, ' She's supposed to sleep until 'The Chosen Ones begin the Final Battle' or some shit '. The dragon took custody of her eggs, and said something about giving them a proper education."

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Dec 17, 2016 7:58 pm

The Elder-fungus nodes its sagely cap.

*Ah, a rumspringa-drake. No wonder Draghula had been so active lately - but now that she is gone, we should have no trouble. None of you ventured into the Bone Catacombs beneath her lair, correct? Then the warding is still intact.*

In a mental whisper, he adds. *The prophecy is usually why we avoid associating with 'Hero'-types that drag destiny along behind them like a screaming toddler. Always looking to stir up an elder evil.*

Brunch ends, and the Eldest Bro begins directing the compiling of supplies. These amount to a goodly pile of rations and beer, new clothes - especially high water-proof boots and oilskin capes and cloaks - wire pads, brushes, and oils to keep Malagos from rusting, a kind of protective barding for the dog and pack-lizards, and a largish shallow-draft boat (large enough for the entire party to squeeze onto fairly comfortably) mounted on a pair of cartwheels for them to drag, along with oars, extra caulking supplies, and a supply of tindertwigs (25).

Dying-Squid says that the journey must begin at sunset, at the ford of the river that runs past the village, which gives you all time to sort out any loose ends or final preparations.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:55 pm

Archimedes checks his triskelion to make sure that the wax has held from yesterday's adventure. If it hasn't, he heads out to get some more.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Wed Dec 21, 2016 9:27 pm

The wax appears intact.

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:19 am

(I can't really think of anything)

Orr will just chill for a while.

CapnTthePirateG · Post by **CapnTthePirateG** » Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:18 pm

Malagos wasn't aware he was in danger of rusting, but decides to heroically take a nap anyway.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:12 pm

At the Sundown Hour
You gather at the edge of the river, the clear water rushing past, the sun a sliver of brighter glow on the horizon. Just before it dips below, there is a green flash, and Drowning-Squid bends down to just barely touch the water...and lifts, pulling it aside like a curtain.

Revealed to you is not the river bed, but like a tunnel of air beneath a sea, the floor lined with black silt - a sea that was not there a moment ago; even if she had simply parted the waters, you should see only the river bed...but this opening has depth to it. A salty exhalation comes from the tunnel in the water, and you see shapes moving in the walls of water along the walls of the tunnel - some thin and long, like serpents; others great shadows with fins and the intimation of teeth; and a few you cannot but guess at.

Drowning-Squid's eyes flash, nictating membranes blinking sideways over her great orbs. She gestures you forward. "Hurry-hurry. It will not be open for long, and we have far to go."

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:09 am

Archimedes sniffs the air carefully before heading any further, lest there be any new scents that draw his interest and/or require further investigation.

CapnTthePirateG · Post by **CapnTthePirateG** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 10:08 pm

Malagos is clearly uneasy about the whole thing, but takes the first step into the tunnel.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 10:35 pm

The water road smells of...water. Most folks pay little attention to the differences, but to Malagos' keen sense of smell, he can smell every variation of it - sea brine and spring water, the runoff of a mountain stream, the fly-specked stillness of an alley puddle, and everything in between. Drowning-Squid catches the iron half-minotaur's eye, the tentacles on her head swaying on their own.

"It is the All Blue. All waters come together here. Come."

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 11:43 am

Orr will have switched to waterproof clothing and put the barding on his dog and lizards.

He takes a deep breath, exhales, and then steps in.

To animals: "Come on then, nothing to worry about."

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 4:53 pm

Without much further ado, your group makes their way into the Water Road; Drowning-Squid takes up the rear, and closes the "curtain" of water behind you.

The result is not unlike being underground - save that the "walls" are made of liquid water, beyond which can be seen underwater scenes - and the air is so damp and choking you imagine a fish would have no difficulty breathing down here (indeed, a couple of lung fish are scurrying along the edge of one "wall" and disappear around a corner). The "roof" varies considerably, from so low you would have to crawl to the height of a three story building, and light comes through in patches a rippling phosphorescence as of sunlight through deep water.

The "road" itself is a twisting network of paths, very much like the galleries of a natural cavern carved out by water. The floor underneath is black silk, most of it packed and littered with sea shells and detritus - water-carved wood, barnacl'd wreckage of ancient ships, the occasional glint of bone... You stand now at a crossroads of sorts, where four such "paths" meet.

Drowning-Squid raises her face and seems to...not quite sniff the air, but to breathe it in. Her face has a wet sheen to it now that seems much healthier than up above, her graceful movements a little faster and more energetic. She pulls off a glove, revealing slender webbed fingers, and runs a hand along one "wall" - sending a trail of ripples along it - then cups her hand and brings it to her mouth. A bright pink slip of tongue is visible briefly as she tastes the water. She circles around, tasting each wall in turn.

"Four ways," she says. "We must find the water you seek from all the rest. These two paths" she indicates two of the roads "are closest; this way is Freshwater, toward the river; this way is Saltwater, toward the Boiling Sea. They meet together, but the roads are different, dangerous. Which way do you wish to go?"

CapnTthePirateG · Post by **CapnTthePirateG** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 2:17 am

Hey guys, where we were going again? Kinda lost it with the repeated earth drownings, petrifications, etc over the past few days.

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 2:49 pm

"Well, I thought we were headed to the river near where we first landed (uh, some distance <direction> from the now contaminated healing spring, unless the Scaly Ones have moved from there? Do you know anything else about these roads?"

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Jan 06, 2017 4:19 am

Yeah, Archimedes agrees with Orr, nodding his iron head. Thought we were going to the river, too.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Jan 06, 2017 12:13 pm

"The river leads to the sea," Thrull the rat says, stroking a whisker. "Going to one leads to the other. She has found two possible paths. We must choose one: freshwater or saltwater. Both carry dangers, for we are not the only creatures here...all life that lives in the water comes together in the All Blue."

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 5:09 am

Freshwater, Archimedes suggests. Sounds like an easier path. Of course, we can't keep our guard down...