Starday, Coldeven 8, 575 cy (cont'd)

The Lancers continued their conversation with Cirili, who was able to recount many helpful details of her journey to the Rushmoors and back, and presented the idea of using the boots off of Abramo’s feet as a means for Kana to track her way to the lair of the serpent the girl described. According to her story, she and her family, including her husband the village storkeep, were brought to the Rushmoors and imprisoned in a lair beneath the marsh, before being presented before a large snake-like creature. She learned from other captives there that those who did not submit to the will of the serpent or who were judged unworthy would be slain and fed to the reptiles of the place. So, she did her best to show piety for the beast, but was singled out by its unholy priest, Abramo, to become his personal slave, back in Orlane.

As the group was discussing whether or not to investigate the village further and searching the rest of the temple of Merikka for clues, they heard someone calling out from the central chamber. They soon discovered that it was the elves Dorian and Llywillan, who had come to warn the Geoffians that a company of Grand Marchers had arrived and were on the hunt for witches. Forgoing further investigation of the village, the Lancers decided it best to leave the village and investigate the serpent of the Rushmoors.By Dorian’s direction, the group slipped out of the village while the Marchers still occupied the attention of the Lord Mayor and militia.

Using their elven friend’s two horses and two more procured from the Marchers, Frate, Meti, Mehmet and an unconscious Jacobiz rode several miles east of Orlane, until they found a low-lying field, where they hid behind a copse of trees. There they remained for the rest of the day and, under Frate’s care, Jacobiz regained consciousness. Later, the Lancers heard the sounds of an approaching group, which was soon revealed to be a contingent of armed and armored cavalry, bearing local banners of the March. The Lancers laid low while the warriors passed, continuing to rest in the field, and Frate healed Kana of her wounds that evening, before his night’s sleep.

Sunday, Coldeven 9, 575 cy

Following the directions procured from Cirili, the group continued east the following day, passing through Stonebridge and then veering south a few miles west of Guilder’s Folly, before making camp on the plains bordering the marshlands. Insects buzzed about their evening fire in the relatively warm evening.

Moonday, Coldeven 10, 575 cy

The following morning the Lancers continued south through grassy fields that sloped their way down towards misty swamplands that could be seen in the distance. Before midday, the group reached the lowlands where they had to navigate the fetid waters that pooled in every crevice. While Meti and Kana led the group on a southwesterly path, the warming rays of the sun shone through the gray clouds for the first time in many days.

A few hours after midday, the Lancers found that the path forked, with one way leading to the southeast and the other, to the southwest. After some investigation of the area, the ranger found that the east track seemed to be used by creatures in a hurry, while the west track had been used by a number of handcarts, which seemed more promising. And so, Lancers followed the path until dusk. Insects swarmed the group’s campfire that evening, closely followed by hungry, but harmless reptiles.

Godsday, Coldeven 11, 575 cy

The Lancers broke camp early and continued following the path south and west. The Rushmoors teemed with life and further into the swamp that group ventured, the warmer it became. Then, just after midday, a cave was spotted on the other side of a bog, set into a low, grassy hill. On approach, several short, lanky humanoids could be seen scampering over the hill, but by the time the Lancers found a bridge over the swamp waters to the area of the cave, they were nowhere to be found. The entryway into the cave was only about four feet in height, but deeper in it rose to five and six feet in some places. Inside could be found signs of occupancy: beds that were little more than nests, a shoddy kettle in a fire pit, a knife handle, bits of pottery, and discarded bones throughout; but nothing of value. In addition to the small footprints of the occupants, however, Meti also found human-sized tracks. Outside the cave, cart tracks continued southward and so the Lancers followed.

The pooling waters of the Rushmoors made the path difficult to follow at points and Meti, likely mistaking a hunting trail for the main path, found that the way abruptly ended at the edge of a large pond. After backtracking their way an hour or so, however, they were able to pick up the main track again where it turned east. The Lancers pressed onward for several more hours until, as the sun started to get low in the sky, they happened upon a pair of bridges, connected by a small island of land in the middle of the bayou waters. The bridges proved to be in disrepair, but passable enough. As they reached the island and began to cross the second bridge, however, a swarm of leaping fish began jumping from both sides of the bridges, biting people and horses alike. Once latched on, the fish held tight as they flapped about and it finally took a solid blow to each to finally dislodge them, once they’d reached the opposite side of the bayou waters.