A Wine Cellars adventure: The Search for Sliish - part 1 5/20/2022
This adventure is the direct result of Carousing. Sliish was abducted by a Hag in disguise and now his concerned friends are mounting a rescue mission to locate him before terrible things happen!
The Players:
James W.: SKROG the Skald - Dwarf Axe master
Selina K.: Daamora Vut - Dwarf Axe master
Deborah K.: Fallyswaggle - Halfling Beast Tamer
Steven P.: Rook the
Joe P.: Ch-nuk Naris - Swamp Ranger & Sleek the Chameleon - Thief
Rook has recruited both SKROG and Fallyswaggle to accompany him to a nearby area known as the Blackmarsh. This vast marshy bog lies about a day's journey west of Marqest village at the mouth of the ____ river. A Dwarf warrior has asked to join them as well, she is a stern member of the Skullshead clan and seeks adventure. Some information is gathered by Rook from a scruffy man by the name of UGH! He tells the party to be wary of Howling Frogs, and to be sure and hire a guide as getting lost in the swamp is quite easy. The young man also supplies directions to the village of Stink, where they should begin their search.
Rook also seeks a tarot reading on the upcoming quest and is told the following:
"Be wary when the sky turns putrid yellow, and avoid the fungus below the ruined church."
With this in mind the party board the Viking Voyages boat and are flown to the border of Blackmarsh. Rook asks them to return at dusk every third day for a pickup, and to continue to do so until the party returns or is confirmed dead/lost.
After a short hike into the marsh the party locate what can only be the small village of Stink, as described by UGH! There are a few inhabitants roaming about doing their business and it is a scruffy bearded fellow that takes note of the group's arrival.
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| the village Stink |
"Greetin's, you lot look like ya'll could use some help." said the bearded man as he sauntered up to the party. "Don't git much in the way of visitors 'round here. What're ya in need of?"
Rook stepped forward, "Ah, yes. Well we have come to search for a friend of ours. He was recently abducted by the swamp Hag and we heard someone here might help us find her lair."
The bearded man's eyes widened, "Abducted you say? Well there's a a few hag's about these parts, and they like their privacy. For a bit a coin, my partner n me can take you into the marsh to search if'n that's what ya want."
After some coin was passed about, Rook hired a pair of locals and their skiff boat to help them search for Sliish. Rook also bought a fishing rod & tackle box from a grizzled local who refers to himself only as "man".
The bearded man calls himself Ch-nuk, and his partner is a halfling sized chameleon named Sleek. Their boat is the Delta and they bid the party stow their gear aboard, so they can get started. The guides note a few locations that are worth checking out for habitation by the Hag and a plan is formed.
Day 1: The marsh has many secrets
The first location the party is taken is the remains of a failed settlement. Comprised of a few still standing stilt homes and many ruined ones that encircle a tall spire of what seemed to be black rock sticking up out of the water. A light mist lay over the area and the appearance of a handful of "Stilt-walkers" gave the group pause and they continued on into the marsh. SKROG took note that his compass seemed to go awry near this place.
Rook decided to give his new rod a test and cast out into the water to see what he might get. Ch-nuk said if he caught something good they could have it for lunch. Soon the Thief had a pull on his line and he began to reel in his catch! It seemed to be of decent size and Damorra prepared a sack for him to put it in. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a giant leech!!! The thing bit the dwarf warrior on the leg and she was none too happy about that! SKROG cleaved the thing with his axe and kicked the chunk of stinking flesh back into the dark waters! Both the dwarves suggested that Rook put off the fishing for now.
The second location they reached about noon time. It was the partially sunken rotting hulk of a large paddle boat. Ch-nuk told how decades ago the boat was a sort of fancy transport up and down the river, but that all ended when the Duke sent the Hags into Blackmarsh. Rook was eager to check out the wreck and he went aboard with Fallyswaggle and Sleek to look about for old treasures or trinkets. Both SKROG and Damorra stayed aboard the Delta with Ch-nuk and told Rook to "Give a Holler!" if he encountered anything worth fighting.
A fall through some rotted decking put Rook in the sights of a lone bog-zombie! A slash from Fang separated it from it's legs! Then Fally put an arrow through the head and killed it for good. Or so the pair hoped. A couple of trinkets were found and Rook was able to salvage a small stained glass window depicting goblins on bats battling gnomes on hedgehogs. No clues to the location of their missing friend were uncovered here.
The third location was an old monastery, but Rook quickly turned down this location because of the warning he had from the Fortune teller back in Marqest. Also the unsettling appearance of a handful of stilt-walkers nearby made everyone uneasy.
At this point it was late in the day, and Ch-nuk determined they were better off staying overnight at a location he knew nearby than to attempt to make it back to Stink after dark. "Bein' on the water at night is real dangerous. Not only do ya' got ta worry 'bout the candle thieves and scumboggles, but Ole' hunger could be about too."
The group ended up sleeping in rigged up hammocks strung in the trees on a small muddy isle Ch-nuk brought them to. As the sun set the swamp guide laid a thick circle of salt out around the campsite. "Just ta be safe ya know." he muttered to no one in particular.
Day 2: tea & death
The group broke camp as the sun rose. The night had passed uneventfully besides the bothersome swarms of gnats that seemed to want to fly up your nose or into your mouth. As the party loaded their gear back on the Delta, Fallyswaggle spotted what appeared to be the tracks of bare footed children in the mud all outside the salt circle. "mmm-hhmm," muttered Ch-nuk, "candle-thieves." He winked at the halfling and began poling the boat back out onto the water.
The fourth location was called the broken tower, and it really was a broken tower. The top half had broken off and fallen into the swamp, while the bottom third stuck out of the mud grass like a snapped bone. There was a trail of smoke spotted wafting from the ruin as well.
"Could be ya'll gettin' lucky. Looks like somebody is home." said the swamp guide.
A half dozen stilt-walkers were scattered about the area, some few hundred yards in the distance. "I'll put ya's ashore with Sleek by the tower. Look fer yer friend and be quick. Them stilties won't let us linger her too long."
The party jumped from the skiff and were accompanied by Sleek, who immediately took to the trees. The cautiously entered the dilapidated ruin and soon encountered a fungus encrusted old man. The man was excited to have visitors and invited the party to have tea with him. In the meantime Sleek had climbed the exterior of the tower and was watching the proceedings from a hole in the roof.
As the kettle is warming on a fire, the group discover the old man is a sage and the sole survivor of an expedition that came here many years ago. They discover that he has many notes and information on the Hag of the swamp, very intimate information! "How closely to you watch the Hag!?" Exclaims Rook.
"Well my spyglass is top notch young man, and the nights are long here in Blackmarsh. Besides the hag has a Sister and they are bitter enemies at that!" the old man replies. The kettle begins to whistle and he turns to get it. Sleek watches as the man spikes the tea with some spores from his fungal growths.
Tea is served and the group partake as the old man gleefully begins to chitter about how long it's been since he had guests for dinner, literally! Saves vs. poison are made, chaos breaks loose! Sleek uses his blowgun and paralyzes the old man with a coated dart! The party are suffering the lingering effects of the spore tea and quickly scour the tower for anything useful after dispatching the Sage. It's not long before they rejoin Ch-nuk at the skiff.
With the sun setting they decide to return to Stink rather than tempt fate spending the night in the Swamp again.
Part 2 : The rescue! 7/8/2022
Day 3: a friend arrives
The group awaken and over breakfast look at the notebook they retrieved from the old mad sage. Amongst his insane scribblings they are able to piece together a crude map and possible locations where the Hag may be, as she seems to migrate around the swamp depending on the season.
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| Mr. White |
Just then a rush of excitement runs through the settlement as a guest approaches leading a familiar mule! Mr. White has arrived along with Mable to join the search for his friend Sliish. The arrival of Mr. White allows Fallyswaggle to beg off going out to search today as the fungal tea is still affecting him. He states he will stay here at base camp and await their return this evening.
The notes of the Sage set the group to go check a place called Shack Isle. Ch-nuk sets course and the skiff heads out into the swamp. During the ride Rook gives his fishing rod another go to see what he can catch, as the Dwarves both bemoan the fact that he seems only good at catching giant leeches!
Fishing doesn't quite go as well as Rook hoped as his catch of the day turns out to be a sodden pillowcase full of hippogriff feathers!? Both Skrog and Daamora find this greatly amusing!!
Arriving at shack isle the party soon discover the islands namesake. A large stilted shack sitting well above water level and a large pen filled with a single fat pig. "Could this be your friend?" asks Skrog.
"I smell sweet flesh!" comes a cry from the shack. Soon the party is greeted by Meg Iron-nails. A hideous Black-Hag that finds Rook most attractive!!! She is slightly repelled by Mr. White and turns her nose up at the Dwarves. "Tough and gamey." Meg states about the pair.
Rook leads the parley and inquires about getting Meg's prize pig and having it returned to human form. After a bit of back and forth it is determined that if the party can cook a fine meal that impresses the Hag she will indeed return the hog to human form. If they fail she gets to add them all to her larder! Meg tells them a large crayfish lairs nearby and that is her desire!!
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| the crayfish! |
The group lay out a plan and use rations, rope and a grapple hook to catch the crayfish. However, the thing is much larger than anticipated and quick use of a magic acorn by Daamora swings the battle back in the party's favor at the last minute!
Battered and bruised, the party return to Meg and with the aid of the Dwarves are able to cook a meal that impresses her greatly!
Meg fulfills her end of the bargain and transforms the pig back into a man. The only problem is that it isn't Sliish!!! It turns out to be a balding cleric named Sweet Lou!!!
Rook asks Meg about Sliish, a weedy scholarly type with a penchant for endless conversation. The Hag explodes in laughter stating that she traded him away some time ago to the Spider-woman because he driving her insane. With this info the group takes leave of Meg and head back to Stink as the sun is setting. Little do the party know they are being watched from the shadows of the marsh.
"My sister is too easy on these ones. Tasty treats they all will be for Jenny."
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| the watcher |
It was a good two hours after dark and Fallyswaggle was worried. They should have returned already. Scared but knowing he had to try something, the halfling headed out into the swamp following the edge of the canal that lead out into the deeper marsh.
Something large bumped the bottom of the skiff and alarmed Ch-nuk greatly! It was Daamora that spied something clinging to the front of the boat, causing them to slow.
"dislodge that 'fore we get mired down." asked Ch-nuk.
As Daamora reached forward she realized it wasn't a bit root or debris which clung to the skiff but a pair of pale white hands!! Jenny Greenteeth sprung from the water and lunged at the dwarf almost knocking her into the dark water! Rook, Skrog, and Mr.white moved to cover their friend as she recovered and a tense battle began on the deck of the skiff! Slashing, hacking, tearing claws, and terrible screams pierced the night as the battle raged!
The sounds of battle caught the attention of the Halfling. Fallyswaggle climbed into a large tree that overhung the waterway and drew his bow. He was sure this was his friends beset by some terror of the marsh as they made their way to the safety of the village. Then he saw them come round a bend in the canal. A single lantern had been lit to give the party a chance to see what they were battling. Fallyswaggle was terrified! It was a pale skinned nude woman with stringy long green hair and algae encrusted talons and teeth that tore viciously at his friends!
Jenny Towered over the party, bloody and strewn about the deck of the skiff. They knew she was toying with them, playing with her meal. "I'll stick you dwarves under the mangrove roots to soften up for later, and the holy man will be sweet, sweet treat!" the hag screeched and stepped foward to grab Mr. white when suddenly...
THWACK, THWACK!!! in quick succession a pair of arrows sank deeply into Jenny's eyes!!!! Her scream of agonizing pain shattered the night! And at that moment Rook, Skrog and Daamora all charged forward weapons swinging in unison dismembering and disemboweling the blinded hag! Her torn body twisted and fell overboard into the black waters!
The skiff passed under the tree where Fallyswaggle had perched and he used his wings to flutter down and join his friends. Mr. White thanked him for his sure aim, and complimented him on his wings.
Days 4 & 5: recovery
The next two days were spent in Stink recovering from the battle with Jenny Greenteeth. The party also used this time to find out where the lair of the Spider-woman may be in Blackmarsh.
Day 6: new friends and new adventures
The locals tell the party of an area of the marsh where giant spiders are known to dwell, and the best part is they can get there on foot. The dwarves are very happy about this as they have had enough of water travel lately.
Around mid-morning the party run into what at first they thought might be a large boar, but tirns out to be a young swamp troll on his way to woo his girlfriend. They talk with him and discover he is from the Stank-toe clan and they proceed to trade with him getting some strange items and making him very happy in the process. The troll gives the party better directions and warns them to be wary of the spiders for they are quite vengeful but can be talked to if you are careful and polite.
By midday the group find themselves in the territory of the spiders and they follow the advice given them by the swamp troll. They are escorted to great lair made of webs and moss hanging in the trees, where Rook once again takes the lead and calls out to the Spider-woman begging for any knowledge of their missing friend.
From the webbed abode a familiar voice calls back!
"Rook? Ish that you??" From a sort of window in the hanging lair the party see Sliish poke his head out and wave heartily at them. The thin man disappears for a moment then reappears sliding down a vine and joining them on the ground. "Oh my goshsh. You guyshs came looking for me!" Sliish wipes a tear from his face and gives Rook a hug. "Mable, Mishter White, you too!" he hugs them as well. Then turning to the dwarves Sliish places his hands on his hips and looks them over. "Schkrog my bearded fellow you're here too, and you brought another dwarf. Thank you both." He then turned and saw Fallyswaggle, "Oh my, you're the largesht faerie I've ever sheen! And your wingsh are magnifishent!!"
"Why thank you!" replied Fally with a bow.
Sliish then cried out to the web-home above them, "Honey, come down and meet my friendsh. They came all thish way to shave me from Old Meg!"
Soon the party was set up with a feast prepared by Sliish and his new wife. Yes that's right, Sliish and the queen of the Blackmarsh spiders were married and Sliish had a very important favor to ask of his friends.
But that is a tale for another time.
THE END
