Session 29 - Chapter 5 & 6 - Lost in the Swamp

Hello & Welcome!

The last cultist was cut down, his body lying near one of the rooms. A sudden quiet fell across the courtyard at the Roadhouse with the sudden end to the clamour of the battle. The vengance that Maerwynn wanted would go unquenched, but at least she would be reunited with her lost lover.

Dibse, on the middle of the stairs leading down, turned around to face his friends at the top of the balcony. He swung his glaive to the one side, blade pointing down over the staircase and he dismissed it with a puff of black smoke and a flash of purple light. He then smile at his friends and asked, "Is everyone alright?"

Pipp stood at the top of stairs, mouth agape. She was speechless at what she was seeing. It was Dafnae who replied, "Yes, Dibse, thank you for your help, we appreciate it. Seems Maerwynn was lost in the madness of her grief and could not accept any other answer than we had something to do with the murder of her lover. We can now see where her misplaced wrath got her and her travelling companions.

Bog Luck called out from the centre of the common area atop the balcony, "Alright, alright you lot. You had your fun and sorted out your disagreements. Now I won't have any more bloodshed here at my Roadhouse. We got's a road to build and it won't build itself if you keep messin about." Addressing the companions he continued, "You four, you made your mess now I expect you to clean it up. Get these bodies off of here and I'll show ye where ye can bury em - over with all the other fools that thought they had a lesson to teach someone else. Don't hang about - old Gristle Pete here needs to get everyfink ready for breakfast before you all get to work on the road."

Torsion huffed, confused at what he was seeing - how was Chard back in this new body? With a grumble he called to Dibse, "Dibse, give me a hand carryin this poor sod down the stairs." 

Dafnae put a reassuring hand on Pipp's shoulder and whispered to her, "Yes, come child, let's help the boys carry them downstairs.' 

This shook Pipp out of staring at Dibse. She looked-up at Dafnae, shook her head and blinked a few times as she regained some composure, "Oh, er, ah, yeah, right, let's get this all cleaned-up. I'll grab that one by the legs If you grab 'em by the shoulders." 

The four of them carried then down to the main courtyard. Bog Luck led them to the store room and unlocked it with one of the keys on the large keyring latched onto his belt. He went in for a brief moment and returned with four shovels. Thursting one into Dibse's hands he said, "'Ere, you take these and you get to digging," and he lead them to a plot of land not far outside the walls of the Roadhouse where there were already some makeshift grave markers. 

Torsion eyed the area, it was a sad little area. Knowing the dangers of this area, it was likely that what Bog Luck really meant was that some of the labourers and guards who lost their lives to the dangers lurking in the near by boggy Mere of Deam Men that ventured out of the swamp in search of food. He reckoned Bog Luck didn't want to scare the new labourers that had just arrived with such grim thoughts. 

They began to dig under the watchful eye of Bog Luck. After a few hours, he said "Alright, that's deep enough, chuck 'em in and get 'em covered. I still need you ready for guard duty in the mornin'." Indeed, this is the guise under which they had come up here - as guards to protect the workers building the road. "I'll still need you to clear out their stuff in the room they had," Bog Luck continued as they started to roll the bodies into their final resting places and began to cover them up.

Once the deed was done, the four of them surveyed their work before turning to follow Bog Luck back to the Roadhouse to clear the room of the Cultist's belongings. Torsion paused for a moment. In one mind he felt like he had to say a prayer for the four dead. But in another mind he felt like these Cultists of course did not deserve such final blessings, knowing what they were planning. Instead he took a moment to say a quick prayer of thanks to Tymora for reuniting them with Chard. He didn't think the gruff Half-Orc in charge of the Roadhouse would notice the difference or even care if said a prayer or not. But how did was he back? This was troubling his mind.

Back by the Cultists' former room, the four entered with Bog Luck standing outside. Luckily they had to slightly push the door closed in order to all fit in order to go through the trunks at the foot of each bed so Bog Luck could not notice that they took the quick opportunity to rumage through their belongings while collecting them in order to give them over to him so he can use them as extra supplies in the storeroom. 

Nothing really of value was found. But it was Dafnae who found a letter amongst one of their belongings, Walter's effects she assumed. She quickly gave it a read before stuffing it in her pocket.

Returning to their rooms, the three began to interrogate this new Chard to understand just what had happened. They all listed as he described how he woke up in Avernus, was met by Bel, and the bargain he had made with him. He explained that Bel had special interest in keeping Tiamat caged up on that Plane. He left out the details about helping him bolster his ranks with the souls of those in league with the Cultists. 

Dafnae listened intently, her expression staying cool and calm. She initially was thinking that she would give thanks to Tymora for the return of their friend but now she was starting to think Lady Luck had nothing to do with it. Maybe she would still. With all these forces at play, it probably would not hurt to give thanks anyway. Just what were they in the middle of with all these different factions vying for some foothold in this epic struggle? 

Once Chard finished his explanation, Pipp could not longer hold back her tears that were welling up. It was a combination of joy, anger, and sorrow. She was ecstatic to see her friend again, even if he looked different, it was still Chard. She was angry that they had lost him, had buried and mourned him, and then to have him back brought all those emotions back. But most of all she felt such deep sadness for what her friend had encountered. It must have been horrific she thought to herself. "Chard," she said, "Never leave us like that ever again!" She burst out crying and punched him square in the arm. "Or if you do, I'll run you through myself!" Then she gave him a big hug. How could she be mad at him - he travelled to Hell and back for them - that is true friendship. 

But it was Torsion really who struggled hearing about Bel's intentions and more alarmingly, disturbingly, that their goals are aligned with a Devil Lord. As a Cleric of Life Domain, how would he be able to rationalise that he would be working along side Devils. This was too much for him and with his characteristic grumble he left the room to get some fresh air.

---

Work would begin the next day and they had two jobs now. One was to perform guard duties for the workers and the other was to learn where the Cultists were going next. 

At breakfast Bog Luck explained the assignments to everyone. The cook, Gristle Pete, was frantically preparing food for everyone and complaining as he was. "Tarnaishins, what is going on round here then? If it weren't the noises keepin me up all night then it's the fact that our foodstuffs are depleting faster than they should." Calling out to Bog Luck, "Hey, how many times do I's gots to tell yeahs that there's rats in the cellar. And judgin by how much food they're takin, I reckon their bigguns. When are ya gonna do somefin about them?" 

Bog Luck snapped back, "Oi, quit yer yammerin and get back to cookin - you gotta feed this sorry lot so they can get out and build that road. I'll sort yer rat problem out, don't worry."

The work shift was easy enough work. No dangers or dramas. But also no information either. And in the evenings there was a general quietness in the group especially after the altercation. 

Two more days of work went by much in the same way. Gristle Pete and Bog Luck arguing over rats and no news. 

On the evening of the third day the Heroes overheard the voices in the rooms above them talking quietly. "Ya know those rats ole Gristle Pete keeps goin on about? Well, I reckon they're really Lizardfolk and Bog Luck is somehow connected to them, 'elpin' 'em I reckon."

Dafnae let the group know that in the evening after the camp was sound asleep she would try to sneak into the cellar to see what she could find. 

Under the cover of darkness, she was able to stealthily make her way to the door. She fiddled wth the lock with her Thieve's Toolkit. After a bit of a struggle she heard the quiet satisfying click as the lock gave way, but unfortunately she heard another, different click, and her lock pick broke in two in her hand. Uttering a quiet curse under her breath, she quietly opened the door just enough to sneak inside.

Inside, it was the usual content as when they saw it before when they collected the shovels to bury the Cultists - they got way more than they deserved she thought to herself. She crept to the other door and just as she expected it too was locked. Another quiet curse and a quick scan of room later, Dafnae decided she would not be able to get in with no lock pick and no key. Defeated, she stealthily crept back to their room, briefly updated everyone on her failure, and then went to sleep.

---

The caravan heading back the other way was leaving in the morning. They saw some of the remaining known Cultists in the group talking to some others they did not recognise having a chat near the gate and after a few minutes of dialogue, they gave each other a type of salute and then parted ways. The team clocked this and thought it would be helpful later.

Another uneventful day and the team hatched another plan for the evening. They would see if they could distract the people during dinner and steal Bog Luck's keys and get in that way.

At dinner, when everyone was there eating, the four of them took up a position towards the back of the area. Pipp would serve as the distraction. She had her fiddle in hand and asked Bog Luck if she could play some music for the people to give a little entertainment to help lighten the mood from all the hard work. "Sure, suit yerself." And Pipp began.

It felt good to perform again. And she was performing for real. A real diversion. They had been on adventures and been in battle but this was going to be their first caper. She was excited and her excitement came through in her performance. She gained and was able to maintain everyone's attention.

Dafnae set to work in the height of the distraction and she cast Mage Hand as inconspicuously as possible. She guided the invisible hand over to Bog Luck's side and carefully removed the key ring from his side. Selene was with her this day as she managed her Sleight of Hand with both grace and skill and returned the keys to herself and dismissed her spell.

The keys safely stashed, they Waite for another song and then Dafnae, Chard, and Torsion got up to leave to head down the stairs in the back. They descended the stairs and looped around them to open the door.

Luckily there were not many keys on the ring and so they ducked inside quickly. Inside, they could still hear the muffled music and the stomping of feet.

At the other door, Dafnae quickly found the right key and opened this door. Now why couldn't this have been this say when she tried the previous night ...

Inside, it was a typical store room. There was a locked cabinet which contained the various personal affects of the people stationed there that they wanted protected. In the corner there were just a few crates left that belonged to the Cultists. Where had all of the rest of them gone? They forced one of the crates open and sure enough it contained treasure. Chard took a few of the smaller necklaces. Stealing stolen stuff would be fine and maybe they would have nee for some gold.

Investigating further, they found rather prominent scuff marks on the floor, which, upon further investigating, turned out to be caused by sliding one of the other crates over. Beneath where it was, they found an opening with a ladder leading downstairs into a tunnel. 

Torsion remarked, "Ach, so this is how they're moving the goods. Maybe Gristle Pete was right this whole time." 

Chard added, "But maybe it's not giant rats he was hearing, but rather it was Giant Lizards."

Dafnae shushed them and said "This is where we are going then - follow the loot and treasure. We need to get Pipp and our stuff and get out of here."

The sudden realisation that their stuff was still back in their rooms - it was not customary to go to dinner in full gear.

Dafnae continued, "Right, you two stay here, I'll go alert Pipp that her concert is over and then we'll go get our stuff quickly and meet you back here. The other two nodded accordingly.

Dafnae climbed back up the staircase quietly so as not to draw attention to herself. She stood at the top of the stairs and tried to catch Pipp's eye. She was a good performer she thought to herself.

Pipp clocked the signal and then finished her last song and made her bows and prepared to leave when Bog Luck suddenly got up and shouted. "Oi, alright then. Which one of ye sods stole mah keys. Give 'em back now before I take 'em from ya!"

The two became wide-eyed and Pipp and Dafnae rushed down the stairs and rushed into the safety of the cellar, locking the door behind them.

Chard and Torsion heard the music stop, heard Bog Luck shot, and then the hurried shuffling of a lot of feet. "I guess you didn't manage to get out stuff then, huh?" Chard asked.

"Right then. One of you lot has 'em and I'm gonna turn out yer rooms until I find 'em. And then I'm gonna turn you inside out for takin 'em from me!" Bog Luck shouted as he pounded down the stairs.

"Unlock the door," Chard said quietly to Dafnae. His Glaive appeared in his hand with the familiar purplish / black smoke. "The only way out of this is straight on through. I'll distract the Meathead and you gals  rush to get our equipment Torsion, you help support. 

The lock turned, and the door swung open. Bog Luck was in the middle of the courtyard heading towards the rooms. Chard stepped out and caught Bog Luck's eyes as he turned around. "You!" Bog Luck shouted. "How dare you!" he continued in a feral growl.

But before he could advance, a voice from one of the rooms called out, "What's all this then - what's all the commotion about?" It was Ardred Briferhew addressing the camp, specifically towards Bog Luck. He was the owner of camp. Pointing at Chard he asked, "You, there, what is the meaning of this? What are you doing?"

Bog Luck was first to answer, "Well, it would seem that we have a little pack of rats amongst us after all. That crazy old bastard Gristle Pete must have been right in the end."

Chard replied quickly and loudly, "Sir, we are no rats. And we are no thieves. But it is your foreman, Bog Luck over here, that is robbing all of you blind. The goods that came in from the Caravan are being siphoned out secretly from the cellar. 

Ardred asked of Bog Luck as Ardred made his way down the stairs. 

Surprised, Bog Luck got his cudgel out of his holster and advanced towards Chard. 

But it was Ardred that intervened. "I will not tolerate any more killing and I don't tolerate common thievery. Bog Luck, put the weapon down and show me the contents of the storeroom.

"Sir, err, its not safe for you to go ..." Bog Luck was cutoff mid thought by Ardred simply by saying, "Do it."

It was then, quickly eying up his current predicament, that Bog Luck stopped, made the same hand gesture, and said, "You lot don't know what you are all involved in. Long live the Cult and long live the Dragon Mother" He blurted out what he could and then he ran towards the gate. At the gate he turned back to everyone and called out, "Thanks to all of you for helping us with our plans. The Mother of Dragons will rise yet again." Then Bog Luck made the same salute as the other Cultists and he turned and fled out of the gate. 

Chard dismissed his glaive and then lead Ardred to the cellar. Dafnae and Pipp were returning with everyone's packs and Torsion re-joined them as well.

They led Ardred to the corner were the tunnel was. Ardred reacted. "That bloody git. I help a Troll has his guts for breakfast. Right then, you four, thank you for ferretting out the truth and for that I owe you one." He continued louder  out into the courtyard, "Yo guards, prepare to keep watch over this opening overnight." Then he turned to the four Herpes and said, "You four get your rest.You'll need your strength to carry on to see where it leads." 

The four agreed and then returned to their room to get an early start on the tunnel and see where it leads. They were grateful for Ardren to step in and manage the situation for another bloodbath would have been problematic. 

---

The camp was busy early the following morning. The events of the previous evening were still on the lips of everyone still stationed there. Gristle Pete was feeling all the more vindicated and he made sure everyone knew as he dished out the morning grub. "See there? I right done told y'all that there was sumfin' crawlin' and scrapin' and stealin' our food But nunya believed me. But I sure done said it, yes sir I did." He went about the breakfast routine with extra gusto.

The four Adventurer's prepared their gear and made final preparations to explore where the underground tunnel led. They met Ardren by the cellar entrance who greeted them with much gratitude.

"Ah, good morning. I have much to thank you for bringing all this to light. It shames me that Bog Luck managed to do all this right under my nose. No doubt word will spread and perhaps this group he is part of will enact their revenge on me for putting a stop to their plans. But I fear no one and I will not be made a fool of in my own domain."

"The guards stationed overnight tell me that there were no visitors and no strange noises from the tunnel. We wish you safe travel and may you be able to put an end to whatever heinous designs they had in mind. We will wait a few minutes after you leave before we seal off the tunnel entrance permanently. We hope you will be safe on the other end."

They thanked Ardren and climbed down the staircase one by one. 

The tunnel was dark so even with Darkvision they had to light torches. They were able to walk two-by-two down the winding corridor. It was a roughly cut tunnel hewn out of the rock. They marched carefully, checking walls and floors but only found the odd scuff or scrape on the floor and walls. After they had travelled the first few hundred feet, they heard the echos of building work as Ardren instructed the men to seal off the entrance they climbed down. Chard whispered to his friends, "Well, as I said last night, the only way out of this is through it." Chard chuckled to himself.

They travelled for what seemed like a long time. Finally when they turned one last corner they saw the light shining in from the exit. They hurried the last several feet to get out into the open fresh air and they quickly realised where they had travelled to - the Mere of Dead Men. 

As they entered the Mere, the air became suddenly very dense and it felt like the swamp itself was trying to suffocate them. A thick, briny mist clung to the surface of sluggish, black water, which smelled of rotting kelp, stagnant mud, and ancient death. Ahead, the lightning scarred shattered, moss-draped skeleton of a drowned tree jutted from the muck like a giant scarecrow. Their boots sunk ankle-deep into the freezing, treacherous sludge with every step. Somewhere in the dense fog, a heron cried out—or at least, they hoped it was a heron! Everything was wet, and each step taken in the ankle-deep, black mud was a fight, leaving a distinct, sucking sound that seemed to echo too loudly announcing their location to every living thing in the vicinity.

The plant life here was twisted by the salt, the cold, and the lingering necrotic magic of the drowned kingdom. Ironwood Mangroves of twisted, gnarled trees with roots that arched out of the water like the ribs of skeletal giants, their bark as tough as iron, and their roots providing the only reliable footholds in deep sections of the swamp.

Fungi clung to the rotting trunks of dead trees. Tall, pale grasses grew in dense thickets along the shallower banks. Submerged kelp-like vines flourished in the deeper channels.

There was very little solid earth. What looked like a stable patch of peat or a solid island was often a floating mat of dead vegetation. A traveler could easily step on a patch of moss and suddenly plunge chest-deep into freezing, opaque, oily black water. The swamp hid submerged hazards like jagged stones, protruding bones,  rusted armor, and sudden, plunging drop-offs. It seeped into all of their boots with every step. 

The deafening, monotonous croaking of frogs, the loud buzzing of insects, and the occasional, unsettling silence surrounded them. Together with the "slurp" of mud, the bubbles of escaping swamp gas, and mysterious, distant splashes overloaded their senses as clouds of biting mosquitoes followed the Heroes with every step.

The terrain was difficult. Travel was slow. And they had to keep a very watchful eye in order to make sure that they were following the tracks properly. They didn't want to get lost here.

Torsion led the way, carefully navigating around unstable ground and other hazards. But suddenly he made one wrong step and then quickly sunk halfway up to his chest in quicksand and he could feel the weight pulling him down. 

The others called out to him and Chard quickly tossed him some rope as he sunk up to his head. His arms held high, he reached for the rope and was able to grab it but the pull of the quick sand was too much for Chard to pull him free alone.

Dafnae quickly spring into action to grab Torsion's hand as his head sunk deeper, his head now fully submerged. She held on tight and with Pipp and Chard pulling the rope they were able to pull Torsion free.

Torsion lurched onto his back, coughing and gagging, a mouth full of sand. After a few moments, he grumbled, "We'll need to really watch our step - I don't want to be doing that again! Thanks for pulling me free."

They ventured forward, surrounded by muck. The sounds grew louder around them. After another hour travelling, it definitely seemed to them that the frogs were getting more plentiful in this part of the swap.

Pipp asked, "Chard, do you believe in F.O.U.S's?" 

Chard replied, "Frogs of unusual size? No, I don't think that they exist."

And with that, first it was then, then two, then four, and after that, they lost count. Each with a BLOOP, one by one, giant toad heads emerged from underneath the swamp water, staring right at them.

At first they tried to avoid them, but it was clear these swamp dwellers had other intentions and they advanced.

Dafnae scrambled up the near by tree to get the height advantage while the other three took up defensive positions to take out the frogs as they approached.

Torsion readied his hammer and shield, Pipp activated her Fantastical Fiddle, and Chard launch Eldritch Blasts at the advancing creatures. 

They fell easily but there were quite many of them advancing. They seemed to gravitate towards Pipp. Being the smallest of the group, they must have thought her to be bite size was they repeatedly tried to bite and swallow her but she luckily managed to always break free.

From her perch, Dafnae was easily able to shoot at them with her hand crossbow and take them out, one by one. 

But when it seemed like they were getting the upper hand, other noises joined in, still frog-like but somehow more organised. Almost like a BLEP-BLEP-BLEP-BLEEEEEP language.

And this is when they notice also emerging from the inky water and from behind the vegetation Bullywugs. But these seemed more dangerous, albeit with crude armour and weapons - they were still more organised than the giant frogs.

The battle continued, Bullywugs launching spears, the Heroes fighting back with arrows and blasts of their own. 

The Bullywugs were individually not very strong but what they lacked in individual strength they made up in numbers.

It was harder to fight within the muck of course, movement being hindered every step off the way. But they pressed on and were able to defeat them without too much trouble.

Once the ordeal was finished, they continued. It was getting more difficult to keep sight of the trail. And they lost it at some point and spent an hour trying to circle back. Chard was the first to become exhausted and he was the one most beset by the biting insects and one bite especially he felt on the back of his neck. He swatted it away and kept trudging forward with the rest of his team.

They managed to find the trail again and they hoped they had not lost a lot of time. The swamp continued to wind and stretch out before them and they came to a new section.

Here the Mere of Deadmen felt like it was even more dense than the rest of the swamp they had travelled through thus far. The sounds here were a bit more quiet. And it felt like something was watching them.

The pushed on carefully, slower now to allow for Chard to keep up. They reached a portion where they had to jump over some water to reach continue on the muddy patch. Each one in turn took a running jump to leap over the gap and with a loud squelch, each one was able to make it over.

Once over and after they started to continue forward, it was Pipp first who saw the cluster of bubbles under the water near them. Then she saw it, or rather them. One by one, where the bubbles were previously, a head emerged. Then another. And another. Followed by two more. Each head attached to a snaking neck which in turn was attached to a large body. A Swamp Hydra!

Pipp took the first assault of all 5 of its heads, 4 hitting, 2 of them Critical. It was a tough start. 

And as the team assaulted it and tried to move forward to get a better position, the Hydra would duck under the water and swim away.. The team used this time to advance to a safer position in the mud and between the trees while preparing their attacks should the heads emerge again.

And they did emerge. Heads flailing in all directions, snapping at any of them it could find.

Chard was able to use his fire enhanced Glaive to land extra damage which prevented new head growth.

Another gap in the water required them to leap across which they had to do while avoiding the snapping and snarling heads. 

Eventually the four made it to a larger patch of muddy land and could better regroup. And just as well they did because the Hydra made one last assault on them. 

But it was Chard who, with his flaming Glaive, was able to land the killing blow, simultaneously lopping off one of its heads. The Swamp Hydra crumple to the muddy ground, and with most of its torso still submerged, slowly sunk under the water dragging its remaining heads down with it. 

The team didn't want to spend more time in the Mere of Dead Men than they had to, but they were in need of healing and so they took a much needed short rest. Afterwards, they pressed on.

Again, it was difficult to keep sight of the track and so they got lost again. Chard became more tired and also this time both Dafnae and Torsion also became exhausted. So it was up to Pipp to lead the way. 

She managed to find the trail again and she led them forward to another section of the swamp.

In this portion, it was the trees that were the most unsettling. They seemed to sway contrary to the way the wind was blowing.  

Quite exhausted, the team pressed on, slowly, and kept an eye out for any danger among the trees.

Sure enough, they were set upon by a few Needle Blights that were hiding amongst the foliage. 

They didn't put up much of a fight and instead retreated deeper into the Swamp. The four of them gave chase as they were retreating in the direction the path led. 

Deeper and deeper in amongst the trees, the canopy became more and more dense and seemed to block the sun out completely. 

The final Blight destroyed, their brief moment of victory was cut short as two large tree branches slammed in amongst them and manage to grab Torsion and pull him deeper into a clearing up ahead.

This was no small Needle or Vine Blight. No, it was a full fledged Tree Blight!

Torsion was grappled and was taking considerable damage with each constricting squeeze of the branches. 

But the team fought hard and took large chunks of wood out of it.

Chard too was struck by another branch and was crushed and dragged toward the trunk. Chard was secretly pleased about this as it would help him get closer in range since his movement was so slow due to his exhaustion. 

They fought and fought, giant tree limbs slamming into the mud, sending large clumps of it flying in all directions. Wood splintered off with each hit. 

Finally, the limbs holding Torsion and Chard splintered and broke, freeing them, and the Tree Blight succumbed to its injuries and it slunk to the ground much like many of the other dead trees around them.

Another hard found battle, but they were victorious. Battered and bruised, they slowly made their way forward.

Weary from the travel and battle, they got lost again and this time everyone gained some exhaustion. They would need to rest soon. 

They came up to a fork in the road They saw the tracks lead around a patch of Razorthorn brambles and resume on the other side. It seemed a long way to go around the brambles and to try to limit their time in the Swamp they decided to cut through the brambles as it would be faster. They got a little cut nn the way but it was worth it to not lose time.

On the other side of the brambles they saw a slight hill rise out of the water and give way to what looked like dry land above the swamp. They rushed their way to the clearing and were relieved to find indeed some dry land slight up out of the trees which was a makeshift campsite. It was quite rickety but it was a campsite and the first sign of refuge they had seen after 8 hours of travel. It would have to do.

And as they started to break for camp, Chard rubbed the back of his neck and mentioned to his friends, "Boy, that mozzie bit me pretty badly - its itching badly and feels quite hot and burning. I think I need to have a little sit down and see if this campsite will stop spinning for a few minutes." And with that Torsion rush over to his aid as he was becoming light headed...

Until next time!