AD&D Session 41 - Emerging from the Mire

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Freeing someone trapped in a swampy hole

4th - 10th Fessuran 835 PD

The group’s journey through the treacherous swamps of Xhorhas continued. After an uneventful night, the adventurers discovered a donkey tied to a waymarker post the next morning. Investigating further, they found its owner trapped in a muddy pit. Whisper, being the lightest, scouted ahead and helped assess the situation, leading to a successful rescue. The owner, cleaned up by Bibi’s magic, revealed themselves to be associated with the Iron Shepherds. This revelation made Reeves uneasy, given his history with the infamous group. The rescued individual offered a magical item as a reward, which the party deliberated over before parting ways.

Later, the group encountered a flock of harpies whose enchanting songs briefly entranced Whisper. The party successfully dispatched the creatures with minimal injury, save for some “friendly fire” in the chaos. After several more days of travel, the oppressive swamp gave way to solid ground, and the adventurers reached the banks of a broad river. Across it, the city of Asarius—their first civilization in weeks—came into view.

11th Fessuran 835 PD

The group entered Asarius, the City of Beasts, a sprawling urban landscape brimming with activity. Warmachines stationed around the city spoke to its strategic significance and readiness for war. Reeves reflected on the hypocrisy of both factions in the conflict, noting that war created opportunities for mercenaries like himself. Inside the city, Reeves headed straight to a tavern for a hearty meal and ale. Asarius struck him as chaotic and ramshackle yet functional, where scuffles among its diverse inhabitants were commonplace but didn’t hinder its operations.