Descent into the Swamps

[Jareth]

Links to previous chapters

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=68208

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=68632

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=68984

Gradually the wasteland became less dry and between the desert and swamps lay a thin strip of farmland. Allthough still to barren and hostile to have anything approaching a town, small villages and caravanseai did exist. It was at one of these gatherings that Quivver traded the Minotaur provided mounts for a pair of Sargasso rafts. As usual, Mr. Tanish was less than pleased.

"That's not a boat, that's a heap of seaweed and rotting wood!"

"I'm sorry sir, it was the best I could do."

"Well, I'm not riding on it, it's not safe."

"It's more safe than a regular boat," Interupted Belladonna, "The salt in the seaweed keeps most swamp creatures away from us."

"Yeah, well, it's keeping me away too! Look at that rotting wood."

"They're very easy to maintain and repair."

"Then why has't this one been repaired?"

At this point the Tacomancer saundered over and ended the conversation. "Okay, you've made your point, we'll buy a real boat. Give quivver the gold and he'll find the best deal he can."

Mr. Tarnish glared at the group, shouldered his backpack and jumped on the raft.

Soon the four of them were alternating poling and rowing through a section of the swamp which showed signs of timber harvesting. Allthough many of the trees were tall and covered in tillandsia moss, there were also stumps, both new and old, and the new growth of small saplings that sprout whenever a forest giant falls.

Unfortunatelly the sargasso rafts did not protect them from the mosquitos, but seeing how the grasses were quite short, the foursome decided that it was afe to concentrate on getting through the swamp as quickly as possible.

With a splash, four creatures leapt out of the water. Two landed on the trolls' raft. Quivver was barelly able to defend himself from the flurry of blows with his archer's bracers and the other creature kicked Belladonna's staff to the bank. A third landed on the bank and threw a curved stick at the Tacomancer's staff. Unfortunatelly, the stick hit the mage's head instead. The creature that landed in front of Mr. Tarnish reminded him of half-tanned leather, all sickly blue and smelly. He grinned without humor and shifted the grip on his pole. The two fought to a standstill, Tarnish's quarterstaff was being parried most of the time, but it's length also kept the strange sticks from giving him more than a glancing blow. Unfortuatelly one of the glancing blows sent a strange cold tingleing numbness down his arm.

In a flash a lithe muscular man swung down on a vine, kicking one of the swamp creatures back in the water. In a gracefull spin, he shouldered quivver out of the melee and started trading blows and parries with the reamining creature, double sticks agianst stick and axe. Quivver, no stranger to the chaos of battle, swept up his bow and fired at Tarnish's opponent.

Allthough the arrow just glanced off the monster's slick hide, it was distracted long enough for tanish to land a solid blow with the hickory staff. The remaining creature on the bank shook it's stick threateningly and dove back in the water.

An awkward post-battle silence filled the air. Belladonna began paddling over to her staff. Quivver cleared his throat. "Ahem, Thank you for your assistance. I am Quivver."

"And I am the Tacomancer, would you like to join our quest?"

"What!" Yelled Tarnish, "This could be a setup! We don't know this human's name and he uses the same weapon as thise slimy things."

"Ah, allow me to explain, My name is Hasan bin Sarab, and I hunt the 'slimy' namazu when there are no trees to be cut."

"And the sticks? Why do you use one of their sticks if you aren't friends with them?"

"Do you not plunder your enemies? Besides, a situt is the best weapon to parry a situt."

"Hmmph, but you still can't come with us. We are on important buisness for lord Ssilyrrlith, and we don't want anyone from Kaliphlin along."

Hasan's face darkened. "It is true I was born in Kaliphlin. Born a slave. But I chose to run away and become a free man of Nocturnus. What makes your birth in this land better than my choice?"

The Tacomancer stepped between them. "So, will you please help guide us through the swamp? It's obvious you're meant to join us."

"grumble"

"And you know the dangers of the swamp better than us." added Quivver.

"Grumble."

"We knew retreiving the key from the waters would be near impossible. His help will make it possible."

"GRUMBLE!"

"I would be honnored to help my adopted land in any...."

"No Way! I don't trust him!"

"Please Mr Tarnish, We can trust him. He's a ranger, a player character. And who better than a ranger to help us through the wilderness?"

"No!"

"And who's going to swim for the key? You'll get your armor all soggy."

after a long pause Trarnish finally grunted in frustrated and began paddling downriver. "Fine, but I still get a quarter of the reward! You four can share the rest."

Links to following chapters

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69512

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69518

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69550

Edited May 12, 2012 by Jareth

[soccerkid6]

Good work on the trees and guardians Looking forward to seeing the final chapter