Time to Retire
"So." The man at the desk looks mightily perturbed. "This mission is screwed six different ways, but that's yer lot today. Seems that a group of adventurers like yourselves took a local shrine object recently blessed by the temple of Gilead back to it's home location... Or they were supposed to. Seems that they never turned up. So you'll have to head into the swamp that they cut through - locate their bodies or them - and recover the object. After that you'll need to return it to the shrine it was supposed to return to. The good news is that the thing is in a huge sandstone box. You can't possibly miss it. Even in a swamp. Also on the good news we have a map of the trail they were supposed to take. So locating them shouldn't be so difficult either."
He proffers the map in question. "Clear?"
"That doesn't sound so good," Dolan agrees, having listened with crossed arms and apparent interest, and no trace of his usual cheeky grin. The mobile half of his face is all business, and he comes forward to take the map, studying it and holding it out so the others can do the same.
Khepri looks at the others blankly, before turning its yellow eyes back upon the man. "While the temples do retain outside assistance for certain actions, moving a sacred relic seems... unusual." It tilts its head. "How big is 'huge'? Will we need to procure a wagon and horses to move it?"
Smuldur listens attentively. For a gobber? He nods often, then reiterated. "Swamp bodies blessed by box with object. Clear." A final nod. Then he stretches up to peek at the map, lifting Torchie The Illustrious on high so that he may illuminate all. Mostly the map.
Nemori glances at the map... though it means little to her at the moment with her unfamiliarity with the surroundings. A thing to revisit, later. Probably when they're entering the swamp. "Unless whatever stopped them left with the object. Or unless they decided to take it themselves, or sell it to another interested group. Or unless they were not who you believed them to be. Perhaps finding them dead may be one of the preferable outcomes."
The man blinks at Nemori. "Ah... yea. In that case it would be." He seems to not have thought about the fact that the people might have tried to make OFF with the holy object. "Box is about yay big." He makes a motion with his hands. It's about the size of a fair-sized dog. Small enough to carry. "Last group hauled it off on foot. Said they didn't want to risk horses through the swamp. Don't blame them. Lots of nasty things in swamps'll eat horses."
Dolan turns his head towards Smuldur, both artificial and natural eyes fixed skeptically on the gobber waving the torch in the air like he don't care. "Yeah, okay. Careful with that thing." He pulls the map a little away so that Torchie isn't close enough to accidentally ignite the map.
"Until we get there, it's all speculation," he shrugs. "Could be any of those, or none. Let's start by tracking 'em back. Should be able to carry something like that. And yeah, horse'll break a leg in a swamp."
Khepri stares at Smuldur, before moving its gaze on to Dolan. "True. We will need to move on foot. I recommend hip-length boots. And insect repellent." It pauses. "However, as we are in the hot season, it may be less... wet than normal. That will work to our advantage. But let us not tarry."
"Torchie -always- careful," Smuldur points out. "Only burns what needs burned." No horses. Good. He doesn't like horses. Too tall, run too fast, really tough to chew. "Let's start!" He turns and starts skittering for the swamp, then screeches to a halt. "Which way?"
Nemori hides her displeasure at the thought of pitting herself against the nature of the swamp.. not well, but she hides it. She chose to be here, after all. "I will have to make some purchases. These boots will not be suitable.. and I like them too much to lose them in a swamp. I will meet you... where are we meeting? The one of the gates? The teamsters to try and obtain passage part way?"
GAME: Dolan rolls survival: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Khepri rolls survival: (7)+8: 15 GAME: Nemori rolls survival: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Smuldur rolls survival: (12)+8: 20
Turns out that the map of the swamp is actually a really good map. Well. Until you're in the swamp. Then every tree looks like every other tree, and every bog of water looks like every other bog of water. The muck is real. There are _things_ out in that swamp. You can see the ripples they cause in the water. Catch glimpses of things skittering on the edges of your vision. The sound of insects is everywhere, because the insects themselves are _everywhere_. Khepri was wrong about the bugs. It's been raining more than enough to provide them ample places to lay their eggs and propagate in number. By the time you reach the halfway point of your trip, its warm too. Humid enough that you're swimming in sweat which only serves to make you a buffet for the bugs.
GAME: Nemori rolls perception: (2)+9: 11 GAME: Dolan rolls perception: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Khepri rolls perception: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Smuldur rolls perception: (13)+10: 23
Swat. Swat. Swat. It doesn't seem to do a lick of good, really, Dolan finds. He's sweaty and gross and mucky, and the bugs are _everywhere_. "There's more fun ways to be breakfast, lunch, and dinner," he mutters, killing a bug on his arm with a loud slap. "The next time I agree to take a job in the swamp in high summer, remind me of this."
He stops, though, and stares off to his left. "Is that like a ruin or something? I can't see it clearly, it's all over vines, but - looks like a structure of some kind."
GAME: Nemori casts Endure Elements. Caster Level: 4 DC: 14
Bugs and humidity are rarely a recipe for good humor. Nemori is no exception. She is quite adept at not letting her discomfort and irritation spill over into her dealings with the other three in the expedition, though her worsened mood is plain to see. She had bought an ointment to use for bug repellant; it was either a scam, or not meant for these particular bugs. So not only is she itching, she is also radiating a somewhat unpleasant aroma as well.
At least her earlier cast spell is keeping her from being too uncomfortable in the heat.
"It would be a terrible thing if this all burned down," she does comment at one point. The delivery does not make the sarcasm obvious.
Khepri marches stoically through the swamp. The saving grace for it is that it doesn't react to the bugs -- perhaps they do not find it particularly good-smelling. That doesn't stop it from being waterlogged and streaked with mud, as it splashes through with all the grace of a bull in a duck pond.
When Dolan points out what might be a ruin, Khepri comments, "Why would someone build on this terrain? It would sink into the swamp. But then, perhaps this is not the first attempt. A testament to stubbornness -- or idiocy. After the third one sinks into the swamp, perhaps it would be time to build elsewhere."
One of Torchie's other mystical powers is bug-swatting, and Smuldur waves him around appropriately. How well that actually helps... who knows? He also has the advantage of height: harder for bugs to hit, and the swamp-water intermittently up to his chest (or higher) washes off all that nasty sweat! He follows Dolan's look and then points thattaways. With Torchie, of course (another amazing ability). "See it!" He then looks over a shoulder to Nemori and grumbles, "Water no burn easy. Tried. Too wet, not enough fire."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (13)+5: 18
As you come to a stop, a log floating near Khepri suddenly lunges up and snaps at it! Clearly, not a log, the crocodile misses the war golem by mere inches and instead snaps up a mouthful of water. Irritated it rolls away back into the swamp water, partially concealed by the muck and mud but it's got that gleam in its eye that says that it intends to try again. Worse? There's another 'log' floating 'aimlessly' near Smuldur.
GAME: Khepri rolls weapon1: (9)+4: 13
The reptilian attack actually causes Khepri to rear back a bit, because it wouldn't think it was particularly appetizing. Still, you never know, and as its blade comes singing out of its sheath, the bells on the pommel jingling, it calls out. "'Ware! We have visitors! They appear hungry!" The golem swings the blade at the crocodile, but the blow simply bounces off the creature's scales.
GAME: Nemori casts Murderous Command. Caster Level: 4 DC: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (12)+2: 14 GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1: (20)+8: 28 (THREAT) GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1: (16)+8: 24 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+5+2d6+5: (3)+5+(4)+5: 17
Nemori has never seen crocodiles before. It's possible she's never even heard of them. Certain parts of her life were rather secluded. But she's seen them now, and seen evidence of the big mouth and presumably sharp teeth. She immediately shouts, "Your friend is your enemy!" Yes, the big lizard has no chance of understanding her. Perhaps that is why the spell fails to take hold.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (5)+5: 10 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Khepri rolls perception: (18)+8: 26 GAME: Dolan rolls perception: (3)+10: 13 GAME: Nemori rolls perception: (9)+9: 18 GAME: Smuldur rolls perception: (18)+10: 28
The call immediately pulls Dolan's attention from the ruins off to the side, and the sheath and harness come off at once, his sword in his hand. His only concession to the water is that the sheath gets wrapped around his neck instead of being unceremoniously allowed to drop.
With sword in hand, he looks around for targets - and the little gobber with the big torch isn't much more than a snack for these things. "Hey. Over here!" He calls out to the crocodile, then slams the massive two-handed blade down across its bac. The blow is sure, but while it doesn't manage to sever the head, it sure does leave a deep gash, and blood seeps into the muck.
The crocodiles retaliate, still hungry, though Dolan's strike and yell garners the attention of the one that had been eyeing Smuldur. It chomps at him, but misses by a fair margin. Likewise the one that chomps at Khepri misses it, teeth grinding across armor uselessly. Still, it seems that the fight has caught the attention of someone or something else as two figures come toddling out of the ruins.
That was just a log. Until Dolan made it an angry log! Smuldur growls back at it, then notices more things moving. Maybe that's what the 'Over there!' was really talking about? Oh, they're people. Bodies. They are looking for bodies. "Bodies!" He turns from the hungry toothy log and skitter-slosh-slogs his way towards the ruins and the figures there.
GAME: Khepri rolls weapon1: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+2: (5)+2: 7
Khepri locks its shield and lets the crocodile slam against it pointlessly. "I do not suppose they are open to negotiation?" It then makes the point moot by shoving the croc back and lashing out with its khopesh again, this time drawing blood with the polished edge. "While I am uninclined to expend spells on these beasts, we need to put them to flight."
GAME: Nemori spends ONE use of BIT OF LUCK. GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1: (9)+8: 17 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+5: (4)+5: 9
"Good luck," Nemori simply says to Khepri, fingers barely touching his elbow after his sword bites into the crocodile.. and then she's pulling away. As she pushes through the swamp to try and keep pace with Smuldur, she draws her own rapier in case the crocodiles turn their attention to her. Or there turn out to be more of them.
And suddenly, the two squishies of the party have run off to face - something. Yes, Dolan spotted them, too, but he figured they could wait a minute. It seems that his cohorts disagree, and thus is he left on his own. So, there is only one thing to do, and that is to put the crocodile out of his misery. This he does, with a swift sword point through the back of the skull. Not the best placed, but it's enough, and the body is left to become part of the marsh once again.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16
The crocodile doesn't want any more of what Khepri gave it, so it turns tail and flees in the other direction. Or maybe it's the bodies headed toward you that scared it off. They disappear into a hole in the mire only to reappear in front of Smuldur. Their mouths drip with black ooze and their bodies are covered in vines. You're not sure if they're zombies, or if they are infested by... something. Either way their dead eyes suggest that the hosts are no longer living. their attacks don't hit Smuldur, but the goblin has to work pretty hard to stay away from the weapons they wield.
GAME: Smuldur RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 8 temporary HP GAME: Smuldur rolls weapon7+1: (12)+8+1: 21 GAME: Smuldur rolls damage7+1 fire: aliased to 1d3+4+1 fire: (2)+4+1 fire: 7
"There! They-" Smuldur blinks as the things vanish "no see th-" and then they are back, right in front of him. Also swinging at him with blows battering his Smuldur-ing shield. "Found again! Gwah!" Fine! He can hit things, too! With a growing growl and a yell he bonks one of them. With Torchie The Destroyer, of course.
GAME: Nemori rolls heal: (20)+3: 23 GAME: Smuldur rolls fort: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Khepri casts Bless. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Nemori casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15
When the crocodile loses interest, Khepri relaxes a touch, uninclined to continue attacking a natural creature. That lasts until the two new arrivals join the fray and attack Smuldur. "An unpleasant development," the golem intones, as it strides towards where Smuldur is engaging. Raising its khopesh, the Executor intones a benediction upon itself and its comrades: "The Harpist's eyes are upon you. Stand fast, and you will be righteous in Her eyes."
GAME: Nemori rolls 1d20+4+3: (14)+4+3: 21 GAME: Nemori rolls 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5
Nemori has no intention of sticking around to be a target of these unfortunate souls.. though the soul probably doesn't factor into them anymore. "Keep your distance! The bodies are hosts! Ware their spores!" she calls out, backing up away from the advance... and sort of abandoning Smuldur to them. Apparently, watching over the little man only holds to a point. As she backs up, she reaches into a pocket to grasp her token dedicated to Ceinara.. and utters a prayer that summons a larger, translucent and faintly red version of her rapier to cut at one of the spore zombies.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (3)+6: 9 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (9)+6: 15
The two mindless spore-infested corpses swing their weapons aimlessly in the direction of Smuldur, but don't connect with him at all. They don't seem to mind.
GAME: Smuldur rolls weapon7+1: (19)+8+1: 28 GAME: Smuldur rolls damage7: aliased to 1d3+4: (2)+4: 6
"Bodies we want!" It might be a question, or it might be Smuldur just wants them to be bodies of the unmoving kind. When their movement is trying to hit him, is that a bad thing? So he hits one back. Again. With a bonk-sizzle of sturdy oak and hearty heat.
GAME: Smuldur rolls fort: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+5: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Dolan rolls fortitude: (4)+9: 13 GAME: Dolan rolls fortitude: (14)+9: 23 GAME: Khepri rolls weapon1+1: (15)+4+1: 20 GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+3: (1)+3: 4
Seeing the crocodiles flee, Dolan is content to leave the other one be, instead turning and slogging through the muck after the others. Seeing the little gobber with entirely too much company, he wordlessly slashes at one of them, trying to draw its attention.
Khepri stalks forward, brushing past Smuldur and Dolan. "Lady of Graves, guide the edge of my weapon so I might deliver these poor shells." Its khopesh glimmers with a faint iridescence along the edge, the bells continuing to jingle as the golem's arm rises and falls. Slashing a mild wound into one of the creatures, Khepri intones, "Return to slumber. This is not your place."
GAME: Nemori spends ONE use of BIT OF LUCK. GAME: Nemori rolls 1d20+4+3+1: (13)+4+3+1: 21 GAME: Nemori rolls 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5
Nemori almost considers withholding further blessing. But no.. she reminds herself, pettiness tends to be frowned upon in this region. So once again she attempts to pass on some good fortune to the war golem while she tries to keep him between herself and the shambling vegetables. Her summoned rapier continues to poke holes in one of them as well.
GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (8)+6: 14
There is something about these oddly vegetative things, something disturbing, and Dolan ducks back just a little bit. That moment of hesitation costs him, though, and the sword goes well wide as he nearly stumbles.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+2: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Smuldur rolls fort: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Smuldur rolls fort: (12)+7: 19
One of the vine-zombies actually manages to thrust his dagger into Smuldur, stabbing the little man and allowing some of the vines to crawl up his arm. Smuldur acts quickly though, pulling back and the vines crumble to dust on his limb.
GAME: Smuldur rolls weapon7+1: (18)+8+1: 27 GAME: Smuldur rolls damage7: aliased to 1d3+4: (3)+4: 7
"Agh! No! No like veggitables!" Smuldur snarls and flails at the things trying to crawl up his arm. He might even brush at them with the burning end of Torchie. Fire good. Then he promptly turns that hot end back on the viney-thingy and whacks it again.
GAME: Smuldur rolls fort: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Khepri rolls weapon1+1: (4)+4+1: 9 GAME: Khepri rolls weapon1+1: (15)+4+1: 20 GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+3: (8)+3: 11
The golem pushes into the melee. "Fall back. These creatures seem attracted to living humanoids. I am apparently not to their liking." Khepri rams its khopesh into the shambling vegezombie's ribs, twisting and snapping bones. Its free hand grabs it by the neck, and with a whirring sound of artificial sinew, the wargolem rends the creature in half, letting it crash into the muck and grime.
GAME: Nemori rolls 1d20+4+3+1: (4)+4+3+1: 12 GAME: Nemori rolls 2d6: (10): 10 GAME: Nemori spends ONE use of CHANNEL ENERGY.
GAME: {*} Dolan rolls weapon1: (10)+8: 18
Nemori's summoned rapier continues to attack, though the blade of force misses its mark this time. Nemori is too busy to pay it much attention; her curled fingers press her token into the palm of her hand almost painfully as she opens herself up as a conduit to holy power. At least she's getting a little more used to it now... as the light fills her, then pulses out to wash over her allies, she doesn't stumble this time. It still leaves her near breathless for the span of several seconds.
GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+5: (10)+5: 15
"All right, I've had just about enough of you." It's clear that seeing that vine try to wind its way to Smuldur unsettles Dolan, and he's remained all focus, now slamming the blade into the vegezombie. This time, the sword bites deep, finding holes in defenses and in structure alike, and the vegetable zombine crumbles into the muck.
GAME: Dolan rolls perception: (12)+10: 22 GAME: Smuldur rolls perception: (3)+10: 13 GAME: Khepri rolls perception: (17)+8: 25 GAME: Nemori rolls perception: (7)+9: 16
Khepri turns its head in the direction of the ruins. "I hear something. Or someone." The golem shakes its khopesh to rid it of the worst of the sludge, as it intones, "Are the rest of you fit to move?" It pauses, eyeing Smuldur, and reaches over to tap the gobber on the shoulder pointed. "Are you all right?" it inquires bluntly.
GAME: Dolan rolls heal: (13)+7: 20
A vine-creature falling in the swamp may make a sound (probably a splash, too), but Smuldur doesn't seem to especially notice it. Instead, there is Torchie. The swamp seems to dim further, but The Great Illuminator is present, so all is well. The gobber isn't growling anymore, though is still swinging Torchie about. Slowly. Lazily. His eyes following the glorious glowing contrails of The One, True, Torchness.
"I am fine. Smuldur seems... not," Nemori answers, her summoned rapier fading away as she turns around slowly to see if the fight has attracted anything else. Like more crocodiles. Or whatever it is that Khepri has heard.
"Aww, those bastard critters." Whatever they were. Dolan turns to look at Smuldur and his adoration of Torchie, and shakes his head. "Yeah, I hear it too, but we have bigger problems. They're poisonous or something. Looks like it's eating his mind." He stabs his greatsword two-handed into the most stable hummock he can find that is clear of the muck, and unslings his pack, digging into it without setting it down into the mire. It takes him a minute, but he comes up with a vial of a clear liquid, stoppered with green wax. "Let's hope to all the green garden hells that this can stop it."
He breaks the wax seal and pops the top off, striding towards Smuldur. "Hold him still."
GAME: Dolan used a Antitoxin.
Khepri reaches down to grasp Smuldur's shoulder. Gently, though. Holding the gobber in place so that he can't get away from Dolan. "It is times like this I wish I was more conversant in natural lore. A place with this many growing plants should surely have some efficacious root or blossom somewhere." The golem tilts its head quizzically. "Will there be side effects?"
Smuldur doesn't notice the grasp so much. "Fire. Good." He's still staring at the burning beauty that is Torchie. Moreso than normal, even. All else is rather fuzzy, and he can still wave the flame about a little to draw patterns in the air, even without using a shoulder.
Nemori glances back over her shoulder at the pair dealing with the tripping goblin. "Are you certain you know what you are doing?" she asks, even as she knows it's not like there's much other choice. "You could try fire. He seems to like it." Then her eyes are back to the perimeter, watching for whatever the others have heard.
"Besides tasting like morning mouth after a bender, I don't think so." Dolan reaches for the gobber's little head, but pauses to look over at Nemori. "Pretty sure. Won't hurt him, and I think it'll help. That cloud around those things was pretty noxious." He turns back to Smuldur, then, and tips his head back to pour the liquid carefully down his throat. He is conscious enough that instinct should take over, and the possibility of the Daeusite getting sucker-punched is very real.
Fortunately(?), when Smuldur does notice that his gasping inhales are less of fetid, humid swamp air and more of fetid liquid without air, it is too late. Some is swallowed, some is coughed and sputtered up, but enough seems to go down the correct pipe. He blinks and rubs at his face with swamp water to clean off the other stuff, looks around. "Where bodies go?"
Once Smuldur appears to be... well, more 'with it' than he was, Khepri lets go of the gobber. "The perils of being a creature wrought purely of flesh," the golem says. Was it being smug? Hard to tell, it doesn't really have facial expressions apart from its eyes. With that, Khepri begins marching towards the sound of the weeping, sloshing along and being distinctly unstealthy.
Nemori eyes Smuldur a little bit longer; perhaps mistrustful that the elixir was as effective as it seems to have been, despite Dolan's assurances. But the goblin doesn't seem immediately ready to attack anyone else.. specifically her.. so she turns and starts wading through the swamp again to try and keep pace with Khepri.
Seeing Smuldur come back to himself, Dolan nods satisfaction and promptly - read, _quickly_ - lets go of the gobber, instead stuffing the empty vial into the open pack, closing it up, slinging it over his back, and turning to wrench his sword out of the mucky ground. Once the sword is safely in his hand, he's cleaned it as best he can, and he has all his stuff, he turns to follow the others.
Obviously, the bodies moved! Or there are more in the swamp. There is still the big box they must find, anyhow. So Smuldur skitter-sloshes on after them, with Torchie leading his way.
You move toward the sound of crying, a sound that gets quieter and quieter as you approach it. You get the distinct impression that someone is trying to be quiet so as to avoid a grizzly fate. You pass by a sandstone box approximately the size of the one you're looking for. It has intricate carvings on it, but for the moment it's safe and you continue toward the sound of tears.
There in the ruins, hiding in a hole between rooms is a member of the adventuring party that had come through here. The man tearfully explains that the group had been attacked by vines and his comrades went mad. He's not sure why he didn't also. He's immensely grateful for your rescue. Certain that he was about to be next because the others have been harrying his location for days.
With him securely in tow the rest of your mission is an easy one. He decides to stay in the village and retire. Sometimes you're glad just to be alive. Sometimes that means that it's time to live a little. At least, that's the opinion of one retired adventurer.
-End