With a combination of Frey's literally lightning quick initial attack, Arden and Corven's usual role as the physical workload the giant mosquito swarm was soon thinned enough where their self preservation kicked in driving them to fly up into the air, or at least the few that remained, and go back into the depths of the swamp. Twig's head lunged forward revealing an astonishingly long neck to snap another mosquito that was too late to join its swarm. He licked his beak and burped a loud one before laughing heartily. Seigfried meanwhile threw his zweihander at another late escape and impaled it on a sign post near the port. With the danger to the town over with it soon flourished back to life as people came out all at once from their houses and random buildings. A cow being lead by a teenage boy out of a weaver's shop signaled that livestock also having been apparently hid inside some huts and other buildings. A crowd of them gathered near the docks to look at the newly arrived caravan.
"By George this place already smells like rotten eggs and swamp gas. I don't think we needed some overgrown critters," muttered Seigfried pulling his zweinhader out of the sign post. The large gouged out section had the main stalk comically wilt at a sharp angle which made Seigfried look from side to side before hustling back to the caravan, "Astounding work chaps! If this town has a tavern I'll buy you all a round!"
A little while later an official from the town's government, presumably elders or some lowly noble his thick accent made it hard on the ears, had arrived to direct the caravan to a large grassy spot they could make camp for the day. The caravan formed a circle around the large field and the guards had pitched in together to make a bonfire for the group. Siegfried had gone to the leadership's tent where Captain Wallace's constant yelling was a sign Siegfried was having a bit too much fun poking at the people inside. By nightfall, Seigfried when back to his Legionnaires to give them the news.
"Alright mateys, here's what''s what. Good news is the guide said it should be safe sailing on pontoons down an inland delta. Bad news is we're being sent off as the vanguard to secure the church before the rest of the caravan arrives. Greatest news is we're riding on hippopotamuses on the way there! Rented but its on the University's coin. Now let me tell you all about those hippos...."
Seigfried would go on a several minute long tangent describing hippos and their biology such as having tusks as large as a man arm and their sweat looking like blood but the call of the night would soon bring sleep upon the camp. By morning the Legionnaires and the guide would arrive to another port on the far side of the town where the enormous beasts were waiting for them. Large boat themed saddled to keep their riders aloft even when they submerged completely straddled their fat backs.
"I get the really fat one with a overgrown tooth," shouted Seigfried as has he hopped onto his own hippo taking the reigns from a handler.
There were enough hippos for everyone else but Twig had chosen to just swim alongside their hippos clearly feeling at home. Their ride there would be mostly interrupted bar a close call with what appeared to be a felled tree a half submerged giant crocodile was just blinked at sunk beneath the swamp water. Finally the supposed location of the church was upon them as a large grey statue of a veiled woman was jutting out at the tip of one island on the delta. It was almost covered entirely in moss and algae but the general shape as unmistakable.
"Now this is a wonderful find!," said Seigfried pumping his armored fist into the air.
Just then however a mighty wind came from further inland at seemingly no warning violently churning the land and water. Clumps of mud and grass were flung at the group while the swamp water sloshed behind them. The hippos began to startle but what would catch everyone's attention was Seigfried falling over into the water only to be caught by Twig. To anyone not paying attention to that the moss and plants covering the statue would slink off and fall to the ground before coalescing into a giant vague shape of a headless hunched over man. It raised its arm and flung forward a vine to whip whoever happened to be closest.
Zarkenis Ultima wrote:Syl
Roxana Ma'gonid
"General store it is then," said Roxana not bothering to hear what Dido chose.
The trio, or quartet counting Methusula, would head on over to the General Store where Roxana would tie her donkey to a post in front next to some horses. Roxana would grab a cloth bag from a satchel on her donkey and then hop up the small set of stairs to skip them. For such a distant location from civilization it was surprisingly well stocked with the wooden shelves holding a great bounty upon them. The sides of the store had several rock and stone displays which were apparently for sale.
"Hey, Syl why don't you handle questioning the shopkeeper. Me and Dido can go collect stuff to purchase," suggested Roxana before turning to Dido, "Now you don't touch anything you're not supposed to and don't break or drop anything. Got it? Good."
The tense duo would go over to collect their food mostly consisting of dried fruits, salted meats, and pots of water. Roxana however did keep an eye out for a certain delicacy she heard could be found in the area. It was something consisting of several dried nuts rolled together into clumps and slathered with honey to make it stick. She was sure it would be just what Syl would need to get her energy back up.