[pnpgm] Game Update # 39 - File #236 - Swamp of Despair (get reference?)

[Scott Adams]

[Cut/paste from openoffice did not go thorugh so 
this is a notepad cut/paste it may remove 
formatting/tabs so view on site if needed ike map]



Sex.....Character Name...Player..................Type....Not	es.....
Male...Klorgar..........Tobie.Bonahoom...Tracker...Human,..........
Female.Varo Mineholder..Bess.Hadley......Merchant..Human...........
Male...Razgor...........Wout.Broere......Guard.....Human...........
Male...Rocky............Alex.Koponen.....Hunter....Dwarf...........
Male...Mournath.........Gilbert.Isla...............................
Male...Veren.Nor.Tarek..Npc..............Employer..Human...........
Male...Jaren............Npc..............Bodyguard.Human...........
Male...Marusk...........Npc..............Guide.....Human...........
Male...Juno.Solace......Ford.............Tracker...Human...........

	Game Web Site ­ http:/nrgcomputers.com/RQ/rq.htm (case matters)
	Public posts/actions to pnpgm at list.powersandperils.org (mailing list)
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	Game Update #39 sequence (file #237)
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	Admin Note: None
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	[Recap]

	   From Bess: [Re: Holidays]
		lol - a bad spell!

		I've been dealing with a series of storms here 
- power out last night all night (winds above 
60mph & trees going down everywhere here in 
Sacramento County). It was another dark & stormy 
night... Another storm with 50-60mph winds is due 
tonight & into Monday morning (about the 4th in 
series of atmospheric-river storms since the New 
Year) - might lose power again. [we had over 
325,000 homes without power this morning - that's 
half the County's SMUD customers; they put out 
double the # of crews today & did awesome work - 
down to only 29,000 still out.]

		I also have 2 MD appts this week - one Tuesday 
(should be between storms so just hope no roads 
blocked to get there since creeks around there) & 
one on Friday (eye appt - having trouble again). 
At least there's usually a 12-hour break between 
storms, so can get the trash out (when vertigo 
from storm fronts & my vision problem let me take it out)

		So I'm in no rush to even respond to last 
posting; been kinda distracted here.

		Sorry, Scott. I sincerely hope your eye(s) 
getting better - vision troubles are no fun!
	   GM: Ack.  Thanks.  I'll post more on it 
below.  I hope the storms treat you well.  No 
flooding or such.  I hope you are safe.

	----------------------------------------------------------------
	[New Stuff]

	[Freezeday, Movement week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]

	   The party heads out to the north and 
NW.  Close to the shore only a few miles west of 
the ocean at most times.  Those who went to the 
volcanic island speak of the men in robes.  They 
show off their scars in exchange for a full 
healing they can live with a small scar.  The 
fishing village feed and water the horses, what 
horses are left.  The humble fishermen give 
plenty of fish and water plants for the party to 
munch on for the next couple days.  Only a few 
females are seen but they explain many of the 
families actually live about 2 miles inland, not 
on the water.  Too many storms and hostile sea 
creatures snake onto land.  It is a very 
dangerous job with most sailors not living past their 3rd decade of life.

	   Many cults figure the gods just left the 
oceans a hotbed of chaos.  While the land was 
somewhat tamed and made orderly the oceans were 
not.  Some people believe no man will ever sail 
further than a dozen miles from any shore.  So 
this starts legends and myths of far off places and forces of nature.

	   The path is not much more than a gravel road 
or a well worn grass path through the 40 miles of 
forest. At times it is slightly flooded but 
passable.  At this point Marusk is unfamiliar 
territory.  He explains he has been in this part 
of the region only once but he was to guide the 
party to a village he knew existed or at least existed then.

			-------------------

	[Waterday, Movement week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]

	   Indeed the day is for the water runes and 
gods.  The forest is almost humid enough to be a 
light jungle but it retains its forest nature 
with some hills and cliffs every so often.

	[Time: 12:%5 pm]

	   The party has stopped for lunch eating the 
last of the fresh bread and fish.  But they have 
1 more possible fishing village a couple hours 
out where they might stock up on 
supplies.  Little trade or barter is done here 
and they do not take coins.  It is a true use 
what you capture society so not to profit.  A 
generous group of fishermen who is willing to share.

	   As the horses eat their grass the party 
gather up their items for the horses and 
wagon.  Suddenly Varo gasps and points just above 
the tree line on a cliff of a medium sized hill 
is a creature.  To the west it sits on the side 
of a cliff ledge with some of its body on a tree 
that is probably 80 feet high.  The creature is a 
Cliff Toad.  But this is no small toad, its the 
size of a small pony. As the party watch it a 
small seagull flies by about 10 feet or so maybe 
7-8 feet its hard to tell.  The toad opens its 
mouth and a long red tongue flicks out and grabs 
the seagull. The bird struggles but is drawn 
closer to the toad maw like a fish on a fishing 
pole.  The toad then swallows it whole.


	   Marusk shivers a bit, “a cliff toad I've 
never seen but have heard of. They are mostly 
harmless unless a large group of them then it might be a sticky situation.”

	   The party moves out and eventually ends up at 
the next and last fishing village.  The elder 
fishermen give the party a large marlin like fish 
that will feed the party for a couple days.  They 
give some herbs and vegetables but the bread is a bit stale but welcome.

	   Marusk asks about the terrain ahead.  A elder 
fisherman maybe in his late 30s (a rare old age 
here) says, “Some 15-18 miles north is a marsh 
that is passable this time of year.  It is about 
18 or so square miles but goes further north 
another 20 or 30 miles. To west of marsh are 
hills and mountains.  Not very tall mountains.”

	   Marusk asks about the village Veren speaks of 
and if knew of the estate Veren speaks of.

	   Elder speaks, “The village I know of can give 
you general landmarks but this estate don't know 
of.  I could show you a sketch of where to move 
in the marsh.  Granted as water rise from the 
ocean those paths can be destroyed.  But mostly they remain intact.”

	   Since its only mid afternoon the party moves 
north.  Marusk talks to Veren about the 
path.  “Marsh may be best route as mountains 
would increase our travel time.  Though marsh will be boggy and buggy.”

	   Veren does a quick mental calculation of the 
current day and how long it might take the 
party.  He nods, “still rather be sooner than 
later.  So we'll go the marsh route.”

	   That night nothing happens and the marsh is 
only a couple miles north of the party at the campsite.

				------------------

	[Clayday, Movement week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]

	   The party enters the humid and sticky 
marsh.  The swamp is indeed vast with few areas 
of dense trees.  As warned the bugs of all types 
from ants to flying hand sized wasps are seen 
buzzing around party.  Some grumble about the 
wasteland conditions but many in their militia 
duties have been in worse spots.  The party makes 
12 or so miles moving toward the mountains in the 
north west.  But the party camps that night with 
no encounters just snakes and bugs.

			---------------


	[Windsday, Movement week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]

	   Another day in the swamp brings a slew of 
bugs that seem to crawl down pants leg and up to 
the most sensitive parts.  The party moves as 
quickly as a walking ground with some horses can 
do.  Unlike rivers where camps are generally made 
the marsh is one giant squishy boggy mess.  So it 
is difficult to make a camp within at most 50 
feet.  Sentries have to be wary of gators who can get on shore fast.

	[Time: 7:11 pm[

	   That night camp is made with a couple trees 
used to tire the horses up onto.  Firewood is 
collected ­ though there in swamp most are damp 
materials ­ is collected and a fire rages as 
night falls.  Dinner has been cooked with a small 
rabbit captured a few hours earlier.  Everyone is 
still up, alert and geared up.

	   Klorgar, Juno and Mournath have sentry 
duty.  A 3rd one to be safe from swamp 
beasts.  As tents are made ­ a luxury to avoid 
the bugs ­ are just being setup up as dinner is finished.

	   Noises of water hitting the land is very 
common here so listening for an animal to come 
ashore is harder than it seems.  The noise is too 
common to be more annoying than giving 
warning.  But when the noise is a bit longer and 
louder is when the alert level rises.  The first 
to see them is Klorgar then Juno.  From the west 
noises are  heard.  A few seconds later large 
forms in the darkness is seen.  As the forms 
enter the dim light of the campfire revulsion 
crosses the faces of those who see them.

	   The creatures have the body of a human fully 
naked but no hair.  But the head is that of a 
slimy slithering sea creature.  Some have seen 
these creature wash up on the beach after a 
storm.  They look like a squid of some kind.  The 
head has two eyes a beak like snout and 8 
writhing tentacles.  They lumber toward the arty 
from the darkness all four of them at this point 
are seen.  They should be in melee range any 
second and weapons can be grabbed quickly.  The 
creature human arms do not carry weapons.  A 
cropped map is in links at bottom of game site of 
area.  Red line (hope it shows) is path going NW.

	GM: Actions? Comments?

		Next update ­ Next Week? Maybe Monday?

	GM: A new year already off to a feisty 
speed.  Always so busy this time of year with 
docs and taxes and such.  Got like 4-5 doc visits 
in next 2 months alone. But it seems to happen 
every year.  So we are very close to ending 
adventure. Hopefully this will be last encounter 
for those who not been reading like Tobie or 
such.  Hopefully they'll have time to read the 
final part. So for this encounter assuming anyone 
fights or talks peace all are awake, armed and 
armorered.  Due to time of event.  Those not on 
sentry are sitting around campfire relaxing before night sleep time.

	GM: Map -

  	    /I\ = North   1 Hex = 10 feet, 1 column/row = 5 feet


          1         2         3
12345678901234567890123456789012345
/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \_ A
\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  B ** = Campfire= L23/L24
/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \_ C
\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  D  K = Klorgar  [H14]
/1 \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \_ E  V = Varo     [N29]
\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  F  R = Razgar   [I23]
/2 \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \_ G  D = Rocky    [K28]
\__/  \__/  \K_/  \__/  \__/  \__/  H  M = Mournath [O15]
/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \R_/  \__/  \_ I  E = Veren    [M23]
\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  J  N = Jaren    [M24]
/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  D__/  \_ K  U = Marusk   [L21]
\__/  \__/  \__/  \_U/**\__/  \__/  L  J = Juno     [S29
/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \EN/  \__/  \_ M
\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/V \__/  N  H = Horses tied to tree
/3 \__/  \__/ M\__/  \__/HH\__/  \_ O      O/P 26/27
\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \HH/  \__/  P
/4 \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \_ Q  1 = Creature #1 [E2]
\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  R  2 = Creature #2 [G2]
/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \J_/  \_ S  3 = Creature #3 [O2]
\__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  T  4 = Creature #4 [Q2]
/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \_ U


Campfire ­ 100% 1-3 hexes 75% 4  50$ -5 25%-6 10%-7+ hexes

90% of map 8s flat dry
Only a couple trees a few chest high bushes
Water ­ brook/stream level column -5+ so 5 columns west of map
Stream/brook winds south to north then winds to North East
Stream/Brook more a open glade in large spots.









[Cut/paste from openoffice did not go thorugh so 
this is a notepad cut/paste it may remove 
formatting/tabs so view on site if needed ike map]