Session 161: The Stomp in the Swamp (9/17/23)

Verget the 9th

Our heroes discover that the source of the thumping and unnatural fogs are a pair of vile marsh giants, who engage them to make a handy snack out of the trio. The PCs survive the initial onslaught of rock throwing but then engage them in melee, which is nearly a fatal mistake, as the massive humanoids trip them with their gaffes and then pound them all over the swamp. Gary falls to the violence after trying to ward them off his friends with his 'blazing dive' maneuver, but manages to stabilize. Indrid and Finian are nearly reduced to corpses but through sheer luck and a few missed swings, they turn the corner and fell both of the creatures. After that they desperately heal themselves and search the creatures' belongings, taking their gaffes and some unusual items within, including a slimy whip. They decide on a very long 12-hour rest period and shift between watches. During the middle watch, Finian notices a strange two-tailed crow flittering about the Marsh, but it doesn't spot them in their concealed camp.


Verget the 10th

The following morning, the PCs continue their trek northward towards the Midge Creek, stopping to apply more healing along the way after the wounds they received from the giants. Gary identifies a few of the items' properties that they found, and later wild shapes into a bird to get the lay of the land and steer the party towards a thin column of smoke near the approaching river. He notices a commotion in the marsh canopy off to the west but the trio ignores it, and eventually arrives by evening at a humble campsite where they finally meet Brofous Bellowbroth. The dwarf is engaging in missionary work to assist refugees from Sothos Karr, and his companion, an orc named Oodagh the Kindly, seems to hold some sort of leadership position among said refugees. 

Finian presents him with the head of the Axe of Dwarven Lords, completing his quest for the Hall of Mercies, and paying off the raising of Gary from the dead. Brofous seems confused at first but realizes it may have something to do with his ancestry, and promised he will return to the Hall and begin his quest to find the rest of the weapon. Ale is shared with the PCs and then they are offered rest at the camp, which they take. Through the night, an occasional voice is heard of other orcs, male and female, who are either scouting or helping traffic more refugees to safety.

Verget the 11th

In the morning, a group of them has assembled for a breakfast fish fry, to which the PCs are invited. Oodagh says there is a strange bird that has been squawking their names, and despite Gary's attempt to drown himself, they realize that the weird two-tailed crow must have been sent from Oskar, as it cites their names and says 'Oskar wants you', 'Big Dig', apparently heralding the next Gravers' Guild expedition is almost underway. The PCs decide to return back to Floivin Keep, and are offered the camp's sole boat to speed their way, if they can in return send it back and perhaps some others. They agree to the terms, and rest and heal a bit more before embarking.

PCs: Finian Redfoot, Gary Greasewax, Indrid Hosspotch

NPCs:

Brofous Bellowbroth (dwarf male): A handsome young adult dwarf with flowing locks and a thick but well-maintained beard. He has thick arms and a barrel-chest adorned with a chain shirt of some excellent craftsmanship, and a gray tunic with a pair of crossed white battleaxes. His own battleaxe is handled with relative ease, and his left leg seems to disappear beneath the knee, replaced with a jointed plate legging and boot.

Oodagh the Kindly (orc male): A tall and lanky orc with pale yellowish skin, discolored eyes of red and green, and a prominent, broken tusk on the bottom left corner of his mouth. He wears a tunic and breeches that seem to be entirely composed of multi-colored cloth patches, while a wide straw hat and a pair of primitive wooden clogs round out his attire. A fishbone flensing knife and a knotted ash cudgel hang from a loose snakeskin belt.