On the eleventh day of the month of Octopus, Tienarth was busy enchanting Jerker’s armor. Many of the other members of the Raiders were occupied, but Jerker and Ollie schemed to make a trip back into the swamp north of St. Orlan. This action was expressly forbidden by Bremlai, but Jerker was curious about whatever arrangement Bremlai had with the mysterious green-cloaked nobles who somehow were offering protection to the town from the ongoing strife of the civil war.
Jerker convinced the cleric Bart, Saul and Ollie to come along. They recruited Thorfin the thief, and they met Longstream along the road. Saul’s lion came along. Saul brought the turtle he’d carried in a pocket for more than a year, but he’d recently decide to shun the poor turtle. The intent was to let the turtle go back into the swamp.
Before they left, they thought about the poisonous snakes they fought in the swamps in the past. They looked for Ferris. He was not available to offer whatever anti-toxin he might have. They also went to find Benabil and found his tent and and family gone. One of the would-be adventurers that squatted on the homestead explained that a few days before, a tall man with a black beard was seen talking to Benabil.
Together, they walked past the down and down the road towards Muleshoe, then crossed the river to climb the hills that ran along the southern border of the swamp. They spent the day sloshing in water that got as deep as Ollie’s waist. Presently, they spotted a ruined tower. Twenty yards away, they hid in a tangle of brush as Thorfin crept up to the tower. The inside was dark. He climbed up the outside and peered over the crumbling edge, thirty feet above the water. He could see a rotting wooden floor below. He climbed down to report what he saw.
The party convinced him to return to explore the inside of the tower alone. As the stepped through the gaping doorway, the head of a giant python darted out, grasping it in crushing jaws, then wrapping him up in coils. His eyes bulged and he could scarcely manage a wheeze as the life was squeezed out of him. Jerker replied with a boulder. Ollie followed with an arrow, and the snake fell lifeless into to muck.
At the sight of two more giant snakes, Saul’s lion turned and rushed into the swamp. Bart managed to place a blazing light upon one of the snakes, blinding it. Ollie stepped up to slash at the snake which turned to bite Longstream. The other snake snapped up Bart despite being blind. Jerk easily severed the snake head, saving Bart. Moments later, Jerker plunged his sword Ithush into the heart of the third snake, putting it into suspended animation.
Not another thought was given to Thorfin. His body was left to float in the swamp as they searched inside the tower. A grappling hook was anchored to the rotting wood above, and the mass was pulled down upon them to little effect. The tower was just a ruined shell. (This fight pacified Hex 0405 to d8).
The enormous snake was carried out of the swamp, over the hills and back to the homestead. It was well after dark when they arrived and stuffed the snake into a ten-by-ten cage. Saul
The next morning (8/12), the sword was removed from the snake and Saul cast a spell of Animal Friendship upon it. The snake was charmed. Next, they brought the snake to town to conduct a show. Saul used a spell to speak to the snake, commanding it to dance. The crowd was in awe. Never had such a monster been inside the city walls. Jerker and Saul earned a measure of fame (or infamy). The snake was taken back to the homestead.
Over the course of that day, Saul spent time talking to his snake friend, learning that while his meals are large (e.g. an entire sheep), he only needed to each about every 14 days.
On the thirteenth, they returned to the swamp to resume their search. Midday, they spotted thin wisps of smoke, indicating campfires (hex 0604). Jerker concluded it was the swamp dwellers they’d met before. Not wanting a confrontation, they turned around for home.
End Notes
- Days
- 8/11 – 8/14 Into and out of the swamp
- Treasure: none
- Combat 810 xp
- 2 Giant Pythons 405 xp each
- Characters 135 xp each
- Bart 149 xp
- Jerker (fight, 250 xp fame bonus) 400 xp
- Longstream (wilderness, fight) 138 xp
- Ollie (fight) 136 xp
- Saul and Lion (250 xp fame bonus) 399 xp
- Thorfin (died)
- Saul’s friend the snake: AC 14, HD 5*, HP 11, #At 1 bite/1 constrict, Dam 1d4/2d4, Mv 30′, Sv F5, Ml 8. (Yes, only 11 HP).