Expedition: Golgarth/Bogling Ruins - October 12th 2021

[Stirling]

Pinewood Vale. October 12th 2021.

The group of intrepid adventurers gather together with the rising dawn, breakfasting on a meal of salted bacon and fresh eggs in the Ogres Two Heads tavern. Innkeeper Grizzly Woman' slices thick sourdough bread with a sawtoothed carving knife for toasting on the open fire. The atmosphere is jovial and optimistic, unlike the weather which blows a cold wind, stripping dying autumnal leaves from the surrounding forest and gathering them in piles by the inn doorstep.

A keg of ale is donated, "to 'the cause', to help morale when needed and to remind you to pick up a brace or two of croc skins." She says with a stern but motherly word. A veteran of many expeditions she understands the challenges ahead.

Golgarth in polished chain mail and family heraldry heads the group. The strategic aims of the expedition growing from the intial burst of enthusiastic treasure hunting and ruin raiding to delving deeper mysteries of wug-wards. There is plenty of concealed armour and blades, enough to ward themselves from obvious swamp dangers.

Dawg Dann, swain of the logging yard takes the guys to his swamp pirogue. It is a shallow draft long barge cut with cypress planks. A small cooking stove one of the few accessories. Long paddles for rowing and a large punting bargepole the main equipment along with coils of rope which are nestled under the raised squared headed prow. Curled up among the coils is a large otter. It's shiny black eyes watch you with disinterest as rests. The bony remains of a freshly caught carp scattered about. Whiskers licks his lips and paws long cheek whiskers. Clambering inside, the group are ready to begin.

okay guys, finish your 'meet & greet in the tavern thread and then we will start here. Marullus will move it to the 'announcements' section.

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[Jernau35]

I still have a little bookkeeping to do with Marullus. Tollander's abilities work best with low encumbrance, so he had a mule to carry his gear and a hireling to watch the mule. At the moment I don't know if he has a hireling and there definitely no room on that boat for a mule!

[Stirling]

The mule can stay in the stables at Pinewood. I would not be against you bringing Billy along if you want as your personal npc.

[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

Views the swamp barge. It looks sturdy enough and just the thing for getting up and down creeks. Not sure about speed. Still we are not in a hurry and he has several days of rations.

He looks to Dawg Dann for setting the course across the river.

[Spearmint]

Dawg Dann

"That area be 10 miles away. Whole morning rowing in the shallows against the flow. Just the current, no waves. River Gaul rising with each rain but a while yet before the mountain ice melt floods the plains. Strong backs what we need so you warrior type grab an oar each. Mind my boat, 'Crocodawg' served me an Whiskers well. Tarpaulin here keep you dry and if you ferret beneath the hold yonder, some 'moonshine' keep us warm at night. Put your packs in there, they be safe and dry."

The logger points out the rudimentary areas of the boat. It is pretty much as seen. Four oars help row the craft. He loads 'Grisly Woman's' keg of ale and another keg hich contains lantern oil. Several empty bottles are doubled as ad-hoc candlesticks with small stubs of old candles in the bottle necks. Dawg Dann punts with a long barge pole from the front to aid the steering. He waves his fur tailed hat at the frontier town as they leave the town jetty.

[Jernau35]

Tollander boards the boat and stashes his pack where Dawg Dan indicates. Retaining a satchel over his shoulder, he takes up an oar. "Can't say I ever done this before. Hope I don't fall in before we go ten yards". He smiles thinly and focuses on keeping his balance.

[GreyWolfVT]

Galmit looks at the group then at the boat "I dun mind rowin' but ya think that thing'll hold us all? I sink like a durned rock an i dun wanna go out drownin'."

[Jernau35]

"Woah! Almost forgot these!" Tollander grabs a cage of ten doves that he'd left on the edge of the dock whilst boarding. He looks for a place to stash them. "Careful now. These will be useful to us all later on".

Current Spells:

1st Level
Cure Light Wounds
Cause Light Wounds
Light
Protect from Evil
Cause Fear

2nd Level
Curse against Bullywugs
Delay Poison

Touch Abilities
Cure Light Wounds x2

[Paul]

Sten Danilmaga

The cleric purses his lips as he stares at the "boat" but says nothing.
He waits for the others to board just in case it sinks

Spells memorized:
Cure light Wounds x2

[rossik]

Griswold

Just look the boat, nervous. He had worked once or twice with boats, but they were bigger. He put his backpack on the proper place, but keep his weapons.
His net idea didnt had much approval, so he just keep his spear in case a frog man jump on board.

"So...what dangers should we expect on the way?" he asks openly

[Stirling]

The inauspicious barge creaks and sways as the party step aboard. It is rustic and basic but surprisingly (to some of you anyway) watertight and takes your combined weight, displacing the poundage along its broad beam. The rim of the boat not more than a foot and half above the water. With the extra packs taking up his sleeping place, Whiskers frets among the dozen limbs until deciding to abandon ship and swims behind. Dawg Dann takes to the prow, punting on a ten foot pole in true expedition style. Folk pair up to row and Griswold as spare man takes the 'first watch', standing amid deck on the lookout for dangers. For the most part they are the flotsam and jetsam of the river, drifting branches and tangling roots.

The faster flowing Orctongue joins the River Gaul just a little upstream so you exit Pinewood Vale's wharf against a stronger current. Useful for pitching logs down river but the craft struggles to make much headway going directly against the waters. The experienced river man Dawg nods to 'go with the flow' and for a mile or so you take the opposite intention to your stated direction. Though with each back bending pull of the oars and some expert maneuvering the boat slowly u-turns across the wide River Gaul and against a slower east side current, the 'Crocodawg' makes good.

Dawg Dann explains the major swamps are actually north of the town but the ruins of the Keep, White Tower and old town are on the east lands. Swamp and marsh creeks make inlets up to a mile from the river proper, rising in depth as the floods come from seasonal winter rain and spring melt. He points out one creek with copses of tall trees, quality timber within but regales the group with a dread tale of the loggers withdrawing camp, beset by 'night terrors'.

It is actually quiet scenic on the river and towards the east side creeks. A blustery day causing a covering of leaves to float on the surface. Red, tan and browns the colours of Fall rather than luscious greens. Even the evergreen pines have dimmed a shade. Tall white barked cypress trees filter the sunlight. Weeping Willows hang low, bent in ricketty shapes as if weighed down in sorrow and lichen covered sycamores cling spreading roots into the gravel beds. After a couple of hours slow rowing you have covered about three miles upstream of the town.. Animal sounds echo around you, some familiar, of wading birds cawing and clacking bills and fat toads croaking riversong. A splash behind you gives Griswold an alert. A large predatory pike snatching a stray gosling. A timely reminder that all may not be as tranquil as it seems.

Boat watchman Griswold gets a familiar tight feeling in his chest, heckles on the back of his neck rising. You sense you are being watched but not sure by whom or what. You can carry on rowing the open river waters upstream under the shadow of the treeline or pull in to one of the creeks and navigate a way through the denser coverage of the mangroves.

action posts please. Message sent to Griswold.

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[Spearmint]

Dawg Dann

Happy on the water, the logging swain punts the bargepole and points out familiar spots. "Over there some shallow rapids, beyond a section of covered granite rocks that'll skin your boat to the bone." He whistles in Whiskers as they get closer to the swampy creeks. "We can haul in and catch a breather. Check out if things follow us. Not need to rush. Can take it sneaky and quiet through the backwaters."

He wipes a sweaty brow and listens for unnatural or threatening sounds and looks deep in the shadows to perceive any threats.

[Jernau35]

Tollander grunts and sweats with the effort of rowing. He's glad of the chance to take a breather, knowing that his muscles will make him pay at the end of the day.

At the mention of something following them, he forgets about the aches and tries to hear any signs of something approaching. He unties his sling from around his waist and loosens the flap on the beltpouch where he keeps his slingstones.

[rossik]

Griswold

The man tight his grip to his spear. He senses danger, and alert his comrades. "I feel we are being watched".

"I think we should row to a space where we cant be ambushed. So a open area seems better. Any thoughts?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Galmit "Bein' watched hmm well i get that feelin er maybe there is a waterfall comin up somethin don't feel right is all I can say."

[Paul]

Sten Danilmaga

The cleric scowls as he glances at the vegetation covered banks.
"Ye be the experts in this accursed place, I shall follow yer lead."
He grips his flail just a little tighter and whispers a quick prayer to his lord under his breath

[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

considers all the concerns. He stops rowing to have a look around like everyone else. when he doesn't see anything troubling, "Best to keep moving." he suggests and sits down again to take up an oar alongside one of the others. "Maybe just a pair row and others watch around, 'softly softly catchy the monkey'. As Dawg Dann says, we are not in a hurry and sneaking quiet is fine. We can pull into the next covered creek along and take a little recce." he says

[Stirling]

East Bank of River Gaul.

9.00am

Convinced they are being spied upon by unseen eyes, the crew of the 'Crocodawg' take a little breather, allowing the barge to drift a little with the current and the expert steering of Dawg Dann on the punting bargepole. You navigate a little way off the main flow of the river, passing through some clumps of bull-rushes and blue leafed Indigo Chafers. The reeds growing out of banks of muddy silt and form a natural fence to clam the waters within the interior creeks. Above in the high cypress trees you note several large primates. They move in sloth like fashion, reaching slowly, long extensive limbs which seem to stretch to almost dislocating joints to grab in long nailed claws the next branch to swing to. They hoot at your presence but more so look with dark overshadowed eyes at the barge and the rippling wake behind you. The small tribe of rust coloured simians seem to shirk back from the barge out of reach above your heads.

Griswold surveys the pack of strange creatures but feels that the threat is not from their direction, suggesting to keep to the open waters. Golgarth agrees and rotates the rowers. He sits alongside Galmit the dwarf. As the barge turns a strong bump knocks the boat from underneath. Dawg Dann doesn't see any impeding branches, switching to his logging peavey to fend away any underwater barriers.

In a flurry of primal screams and frightened gasps, the primates give resonance to the eruption from the waters around you. Springing with an explosive charge, several large tentacles grasp around the boat to constrict it. A large mottled carapace with big glassy eyes the size of dinner plates emerges from the waters. From the armoured cartilage shell, almost a dozen tentacles rock the boat and reach out to grab the contents within. A beaky mouth snaps in anticipation like a parrot offered a morsel. You have been attacked by a freshwater variety of squid. 'Ole Beaky' [1d20] = 11 [1d20] = 8 [1d20] = 8 [1d20] = 3 As some limbs halt the barges progress and rock it, four long suction cupped limbs, each with a gripping claw, flail to latch on to some surprised victim. At the rear of the boat it grabs hold of the two seated rowers and begins to drag them with a powerful intent into the churning murky waters. The barge rocks but the wide beam and shallow draft makes the craft a stable platform and the guys standing each pass dexterity checks and keep their footing.

Golgarth and Galmit make a [3d6] vs strength save to stop being hauled overboard. Include the roll in your post and include any actions or attacks please.


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[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

Fights against the grappling tentacles. His martial prowess and those extra morning push ups coming to the fore. Biceps bulging he reaches to his waist and grabs an axe to swing at it. Sending the powerful strike to miss and hack into the boat.

Golgarth strength save [3d6] = 10 Golgarth hand axe [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8 [1d6+2] = 5+2 = 7

This could be a very short lived expedition and adventurer.

[rossik]

Griswold

horrified, the villager had never seen anything like this before. he takes a few seconds to regain his faith in one of the gods he cant remember right now, and gather his flask of oil from his backpack. He will crash the vial and burn the creature! (OOC: the one nearest him)