Post by Geckilian on Oct 30, 2016 19:40:52 GMT -7
Reward as per Character Level
Session Date: 10/30/2016
GM Geckilian - Miere Klerrin (CL)
Player Loot:
Mike: 2 Influence.
Fenix: 2 Influence.
Jared: 2 Influence.
Reginald: 2 Influence.
Zarall: 4 Influence.
2 Influence base, +2 for Zarall for finding the way out of the mists and finding the Bloodwort respectively. Productive guy.
Zarall, newer to the sellsword life, was relaxing in a tavern in a small community to the southeast of the Free Cities. The town didn't suit his sensibilities and could clearly use some refinement. By happenstance the tavern also played host to several other mercenaries who had adventured with at least one other in the group previously. Noticing Zarall on his own whilst clearly attired similarly to them and not a regular, the group invited him over and some introductions were shared. Half a day towards the east was the start of a mangrove swamp. The settlement they were in was used as a waypoint for the Free Cities for excursions to the swamps in part due to it's proximity as a rest stop and thanks to it's supplies. The group knew slaving expeditions often went into the swamp and every now and then some went missing, as did the occasional forager and hunter who went for flora and fauna respectively. As such it deemed a great idea to wander inside and procure items for gold, though first they had to figure out what would be good to grab. Asking the bartender for any apothecaries, they were directed to two of them - old man Jenkins, and a much younger, if odder, lady. jenkins ran what could be seen as more of a true apothecary's store, linked with alchemy, whilst the lady dealt more in tinctures and craft supplies.
Jenkins was more than happy to explain about the plants he was after, specifically bloodwort as it was not only a great thickening agent, but several of it's properties were used in several of his mixes. He was also happy to buy any tusks of marsh boars should they be found, but pointed out that they were relatively rare and somewhat large. His shop also usefully sold a bunch of equipment useful for traversing the swamp, or so his customers said, so the group appropriately stocked up. As the group went to ask the lady as to her wants, Jenkins warned them that some of his customers had mentioned to him that she was remarkably... odd. As such, he warned them to be careful even though he hadn't pried as to why. Taking his warning into account, the group went to say hi. She seemed normal enough, though once she'd confirmed Reginald was a gravedigger, she happily stated she would buy any fresh human organs from them, though didn't elaborate as to why. She also had some remarkably sparkly paints and colours, though Mike decided that accepting her offer to look at one of her paintings privately was likely a bad idea. Davos, his hireling, seemed put off by her, so the group quickly exchanged pleasantries and took their leave. It wasn't till they were far away that Davos pointed out both her eyes had been made of glass.
Putting the lady's weirdness behind them, and not suited up in swarmsuits and galoshes, not to mention equipped with some anti-toxins and anti-plagues, the group made their way to the edge of the swamp. The mangroves were suitably gnarled and twisted, with the ground appropriately murky and stagnant. It certainly seemed like a less than pleasant swamp, and the mist certainly added to the less than inviting atmosphere. After a quick check, the group began to head inwards and search for the bloodwort. It was fairly quiet all around them, though several members of the party were sure they'd seen some movement in the trees. Jared, thinking climbing would be reasonable enough, went to explore the canopy to see who had been trailing them since there had been no response to loud enquiries. His efforts were greeted by a tranq dart, causing him to fall to the soft ground. Zarall looked at the dart and recognised the toxins from a form of tree frog, though in a quantity low enough to sedate rather than kill. With the dosage being easy to manipulate, Zarall pointed out that whoever was watching could easily have killed Jared and chose not to, so it was likely some form of warning shot. Appropriately, the group decided to stay out of the trees for now.
Mike meanwhile was having difficulty. Even with his protection, the mists of the swamp were beginning to addle his mind. As he began to hyperventilate in mild shock, he turned to his allies and promptly disbelieved them, as well as his surroundings. With blood beginning to leak from his eyes, he flailed around and lost more of his mental faculty each time he tried to rely on the 'illusions' around him. The rest of the group noticed the mists were thickening and the exit looked far further away than it should be. Zarall, thinking quickly, stuck Mike with the dart to knock him out, before heading for more solid ground. Davos picked up his employer as Jared finally woke, but before long a giant leech undulated from the murk and stuck outwards. It was swiftly brought down, but in the heat of combat Mike's body had been left on the ground - where it was promptly dragged underwater by another hungry leech. Zarall, rushing to his rescue, dragged him back out of the murk as the rest of the party swiftly dispatched the remaining leech. As it detached however a tiny grub could be seen wriggling in through a bloody cavity in Mike's side, clearly wriggling in between his ribcage and seeking refuge amidst his lungs. With everone's expert advice, even though it wasn't actually required, Zarall plunged a knife in and instantly killed the little grub, dragging the body out again as the wound was cleaned and healed over. The rubbing alcohol on the wound brought Mike back to the land of the awake, though by now he was raving and delusional, so was punched unconscious for his own good. As the party reached solid ground, dragging a leech body with them to sell later, Zarall looked around and found some bloodwort growing underneath the roots of the mangrove tree they stood by. With everyone's help a large amount was collected, before a warning was issued from above that the group should leave or else they'd be seen as enemies by 'the guardians'. Jared decided to climb up again to converse easier, and received the advice that they should ignore what they saw and instead head back the way they came to escape the swamp.
The group duly took the advice, aided by Zarall actually knowing the direction they had came from in the first place. Though the exit was nowhere to be seen for most of the group, Zarall led them true and suddenly they found themselves once more of the swamp outskirts, where moments before it seemed like the swamp had stretched in all directions. It was late evening by the time they got back, but Jenkins was more than happy to pay for the cleaned herbs and the leech body was adequate payment for a night at the local tavern, not to mention a hearty meal of leech stew.
Session Date: 10/30/2016
GM Geckilian - Miere Klerrin (CL)
Player Loot:
Mike: 2 Influence.
Fenix: 2 Influence.
Jared: 2 Influence.
Reginald: 2 Influence.
Zarall: 4 Influence.
2 Influence base, +2 for Zarall for finding the way out of the mists and finding the Bloodwort respectively. Productive guy.
Zarall, newer to the sellsword life, was relaxing in a tavern in a small community to the southeast of the Free Cities. The town didn't suit his sensibilities and could clearly use some refinement. By happenstance the tavern also played host to several other mercenaries who had adventured with at least one other in the group previously. Noticing Zarall on his own whilst clearly attired similarly to them and not a regular, the group invited him over and some introductions were shared. Half a day towards the east was the start of a mangrove swamp. The settlement they were in was used as a waypoint for the Free Cities for excursions to the swamps in part due to it's proximity as a rest stop and thanks to it's supplies. The group knew slaving expeditions often went into the swamp and every now and then some went missing, as did the occasional forager and hunter who went for flora and fauna respectively. As such it deemed a great idea to wander inside and procure items for gold, though first they had to figure out what would be good to grab. Asking the bartender for any apothecaries, they were directed to two of them - old man Jenkins, and a much younger, if odder, lady. jenkins ran what could be seen as more of a true apothecary's store, linked with alchemy, whilst the lady dealt more in tinctures and craft supplies.
Jenkins was more than happy to explain about the plants he was after, specifically bloodwort as it was not only a great thickening agent, but several of it's properties were used in several of his mixes. He was also happy to buy any tusks of marsh boars should they be found, but pointed out that they were relatively rare and somewhat large. His shop also usefully sold a bunch of equipment useful for traversing the swamp, or so his customers said, so the group appropriately stocked up. As the group went to ask the lady as to her wants, Jenkins warned them that some of his customers had mentioned to him that she was remarkably... odd. As such, he warned them to be careful even though he hadn't pried as to why. Taking his warning into account, the group went to say hi. She seemed normal enough, though once she'd confirmed Reginald was a gravedigger, she happily stated she would buy any fresh human organs from them, though didn't elaborate as to why. She also had some remarkably sparkly paints and colours, though Mike decided that accepting her offer to look at one of her paintings privately was likely a bad idea. Davos, his hireling, seemed put off by her, so the group quickly exchanged pleasantries and took their leave. It wasn't till they were far away that Davos pointed out both her eyes had been made of glass.
Putting the lady's weirdness behind them, and not suited up in swarmsuits and galoshes, not to mention equipped with some anti-toxins and anti-plagues, the group made their way to the edge of the swamp. The mangroves were suitably gnarled and twisted, with the ground appropriately murky and stagnant. It certainly seemed like a less than pleasant swamp, and the mist certainly added to the less than inviting atmosphere. After a quick check, the group began to head inwards and search for the bloodwort. It was fairly quiet all around them, though several members of the party were sure they'd seen some movement in the trees. Jared, thinking climbing would be reasonable enough, went to explore the canopy to see who had been trailing them since there had been no response to loud enquiries. His efforts were greeted by a tranq dart, causing him to fall to the soft ground. Zarall looked at the dart and recognised the toxins from a form of tree frog, though in a quantity low enough to sedate rather than kill. With the dosage being easy to manipulate, Zarall pointed out that whoever was watching could easily have killed Jared and chose not to, so it was likely some form of warning shot. Appropriately, the group decided to stay out of the trees for now.
Mike meanwhile was having difficulty. Even with his protection, the mists of the swamp were beginning to addle his mind. As he began to hyperventilate in mild shock, he turned to his allies and promptly disbelieved them, as well as his surroundings. With blood beginning to leak from his eyes, he flailed around and lost more of his mental faculty each time he tried to rely on the 'illusions' around him. The rest of the group noticed the mists were thickening and the exit looked far further away than it should be. Zarall, thinking quickly, stuck Mike with the dart to knock him out, before heading for more solid ground. Davos picked up his employer as Jared finally woke, but before long a giant leech undulated from the murk and stuck outwards. It was swiftly brought down, but in the heat of combat Mike's body had been left on the ground - where it was promptly dragged underwater by another hungry leech. Zarall, rushing to his rescue, dragged him back out of the murk as the rest of the party swiftly dispatched the remaining leech. As it detached however a tiny grub could be seen wriggling in through a bloody cavity in Mike's side, clearly wriggling in between his ribcage and seeking refuge amidst his lungs. With everone's expert advice, even though it wasn't actually required, Zarall plunged a knife in and instantly killed the little grub, dragging the body out again as the wound was cleaned and healed over. The rubbing alcohol on the wound brought Mike back to the land of the awake, though by now he was raving and delusional, so was punched unconscious for his own good. As the party reached solid ground, dragging a leech body with them to sell later, Zarall looked around and found some bloodwort growing underneath the roots of the mangrove tree they stood by. With everyone's help a large amount was collected, before a warning was issued from above that the group should leave or else they'd be seen as enemies by 'the guardians'. Jared decided to climb up again to converse easier, and received the advice that they should ignore what they saw and instead head back the way they came to escape the swamp.
The group duly took the advice, aided by Zarall actually knowing the direction they had came from in the first place. Though the exit was nowhere to be seen for most of the group, Zarall led them true and suddenly they found themselves once more of the swamp outskirts, where moments before it seemed like the swamp had stretched in all directions. It was late evening by the time they got back, but Jenkins was more than happy to pay for the cleaned herbs and the leech body was adequate payment for a night at the local tavern, not to mention a hearty meal of leech stew.