8 - The Toll of Mist and Fire
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| Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite Frostbite2 | Ashira Brolin Frostbite |
Branding is not nice
The air was heavy with the damp chill of the swamp. Mist clung low above the dark waters, swirling around the group as they trudged forward, guided only by the starmap Dhanell carried. Frostbite, as ever, moved with purpose, his massive frame cutting through the swampy terrain. His companions - Zephyr, Ashira, Brolin, Maeve, and Dhanell - followed, navigating the uneven ground and hanging vines with varying degrees of grace. The sounds of croaking frogs and buzzing insects created an oppressive symphony around them.
The tree stump - the brigands' tollway - was their destination. They had heard of Longscarf, the Harengon brigand leader, and knew that passing through the tollway would not be easy. But before they could reach it, rustling sounds came from the swamp plants ahead. Frostbite pressed forward, unconcerned, while others hesitated. The source of the noise revealed itself as the group emerged into a clearing: six hobgoblins, their limbs bound to wooden stilts, moving with uncanny ease through the swampy waters.
The party exchanged wary glances, but it was Dhanell who broke the silence, greeting the creatures in Common. After some confused chatter in their guttural language, the hobgoblins gestured toward Downfall. Their answer in broken Common was cryptic but clear enough: "Go there." Frostbite listened impassively, his draconic heritage lending him an intimidating presence. When Dhanell made a joking remark about needing a woodworker to fashion similar stilts, Frostbite wordlessly brandished a handaxe instead of the massive greataxe strapped to his back.
Chaos on the Causeway
Hours of travel later, a shadow loomed in the mist - a massive tree stump rising ten meters above the swamp, with wooden causeways snaking toward it like the roots of a long-dead giant. The group climbed onto the slippery planks and followed the path, but a sudden unease fell over them when Brolin spotted a hunched figure trailing behind. Frostbite took a moment to register Brolin's gestures before turning sharply and shouting, "Shoo!" The figure threw back its cloak, revealing a Harengon with a shield, a glowing red-hot club, and an unnaturally long scarf billowing in the still air.
With a wide grin, the Harengon began singing the familiar brigands' song, his voice amplified by the eerie wail of bagpipes from somewhere in the mist. As if summoned by his performance, two boats glided out of the fog, carrying more Harengon armed with crossbows and melee weapons. They climbed onto the causeway, surrounding the group.
Longscarf spoke: "The toll to pass here is simple. You must each pay what you value most."
Brolin puffed up his chest, claiming to be the monarch and demanding respect, but the brigands only laughed. Negotiation was strained, and Frostbite growled, "Fighting's not the right choice... right?" But before the group could agree on a course of action, Zephyr cast a spell that slammed into one of the Harengon, and chaos erupted.
Frostbite reacted immediately, casting Shillelagh on his club. With a heavy swing, he struck a Harengon and bellowed, "Stop doing bad things!" But the brigands fought with surprising coordination, one distracting him while another slipped in with a dagger. Bloodied but resolute, Frostbite called upon his draconic heritage, unleashing an icy breath that froze two brigands in their tracks.
The battlefield was chaotic. Maeve played her lute, inspiring Frostbite, while Ashira's arrows flew true, felling foes with precision. Dhanell unleashed devastating thunder magic, sending enemies tumbling into the swamp. Brolin, now sporting his radiant wings, dove from above, raining blows with monkish grace.
Longscarf, however, proved a cunning foe. Frostbite felt the sting of the Harengon leader's fiery club, a burning mark seared into his neck. As Frostbite reeled, Dhanell's thunderous spell cleared the area around him, but Longscarf vanished into the mist. Moments later, he reappeared, striking Ashira with the same fiery brand.
When Brolin rejoined the fray, the tide turned. Zephyr wrested Longscarf's club from his grip, leveling it at him with a dark promise. Longscarf broke under the pressure, transformed into a gibbering wreck. He confessed that he was under the witch's power, forced to hand over anything of value he gained to her. The group decided to spare him, dragging him toward the towering tree stump.
The Stump and Beyond
Frostbite, unimpressed by Longscarf's plight, was the first to climb the ladder to the stump's top. There, a crude throne surrounded by scattered loot awaited. The Harengon brigands fled at the sight of the group, shouting warnings of their leader's defeat. Frostbite ignored the loot, moving to the edge of the stump to survey the swamp. In the distance, he saw buildings to the northwest, partially submerged in water. He called the others over, pointing out the landmarks.
After a brief rest to recover from the fight, the group descended the stump and commandeered a boat. The swamp grew broader and the mist thicker, giving the eerie sense of rowing into an endless lake. Suddenly, croaking sounds broke the silence, and another boat emerged from the fog. Two bullywugs stared back at them, their tattered garments a grim echo of the pompous attire the party had seen before.
And so, the journey continued deeper into the swamp, the mysteries of Downfall and the witch's influence looming ever closer.
| Session 1 | Session 7 | Session 8 | Session 9 | |
| ◀◀ | ◀ | ▲ | ▶ | ▶▶ |
| Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite Frostbite2 | Ashira Brolin Frostbite |
Updated on: 13:36
