Blackburn's Crossing Chapter 4: Snake Eater

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Arissa jolted awake at a familiar voice whispering to her and she looked up, her eyes red from crying the night before. She blinked as she looked up at Bernard before finally seeing the recognition in his eyes, and immediately felt a flurry of emotions, chief amongst them anger at Bernard for leaving the safety of the spell, putting his life at risk and for daring to forget her. However, eventually amongst all the others, she was filled with a sense of relief. She sat up and embraced Bernard tightly, tears welling up again. “I... I thought you had forgotten me... forgotten us... I was so scared, Bernard.” She held him tighter, unwilling to let go.
 
Locked in her embrace, he twisted his head to kiss her on the cheek before whispering, "I had forgotten you, but even without the memory of us... I knew that I cared for you. You are part of my Light, Arissa, and that is something I cannot forget." He pulled her in close and tight, wishing his armor were not on to give her a better hug. Finally he let her go as Violette started a fire and commented on his traps. "I need to go find out if there's any breakfast, care to join me?" It was easy to hear the smile in his voice, he remembered and he never wanted to forget again.
 
Arissa held on for a few moments longer before letting Bernard go. She was still angry at him, but finally decided to put the anger aside and smiled to Bernard slightly. “Yes... I do recall saying that I wished to help with breakfast, ja?” She looked around the camp and blushed as she recalled her emotional reaction the night before but then took Bernard’s hand and beamed to him. “Whenever you are ready... but do you not think you should tell Perian of your recovery first? “
 
"The only safe way to wake Peri is with the smell of food." Bernard chuckled and stood, helping Arissa up. Checking the traps only took a few minutes and they returned with two rabbits which Bernard set to work cleaning them by the fire so they could be cooked.

"So, obviously things got confused this morning. Thank you for defending me Violette, I appreciate it." He smiled, "You seemed to hold your own against the others as well, I'm glad I could stop the fighting." He left the comments at that, not wanting to ruin a budding friendship as he turned back to Arissa, "I'm sorry about this morning. I should not have left the safety of your magic, but the man seemed normal and I thought I could help him. He knew my father." He stopped working for a moment to take Arissa's hand and squeeze it. "I wanted you to have a ring. I seems appropriate that it is a ring that stands for family." He turned back to the rabbits continuing his work and starting to cook them.
 
Swamplands:

Violette seems to smirk from a distance watching Bernard and Arissa. When he eventually thanks her, she shrugs. "Just doing what's expected. You'd do the same for me," said Violette with a hint of amusement. The light of dawn continues to get brighter this morning shining through the trees with small bits of cloud coming through. Violette after the brief exchange takes a look around the area while waiting for the food to cook. She seems to disappear for a brief while before coming back with her sword out and dripping of some sort of fluid. "I mean I know it's a swamp and weird things are around but can anyone figure out what this stuff is?"
 
Arissa waved off Bernard’s explanation of what had happened earlier and looked at him intently. “I do not care what it was, or why you chose to do what you did. Just promise me this. Promise that you will never forget me again, and that is enough for me to hear.”

Arissa then looked down at her hand, seeing that she had still been clutching the ring tightly in it. She smiled to Bernard. “It means the world to me... although I believe it may be in need of resizing.” Arissa removes the simple metal chain from around her neck and put the ring on it along with Kallisto’s pendant and the symbol of Ezra. She then turned to Violette as she approached with her dripping sword and raised an eyebrow. “You have only just recovered from memory loss... are you certain that you should be sticking your blade in strange puddles? What did you find?”
 
For the most part while conversation happened, Kallisto sat with her legs crossed, watching the fire as breakfast starting being made. She was glad it seemed things had calmed down and fixed themselves ... though she was slightly annoyed Bernard and Violette had left the safety of the dome, she wasn't surprised Bernard had left to help someone.

She started looking over the map, trying to figure out where the group was roughly and the rest of the distance ahead of them when Violette returned with a strange goop on her blade. The hairs on her arms raised slightly as she spoke, "Didn't you say that man was hunting something tied to people and puddles...? That looks like something animals have told me about before, and I've heard them mention it tied to a creature ... but never anything too specific. Their way of describing things makes it difficult... Where did you find that?"
 
Bernard responded to Arissa, "I promise I will do everything in my power not to forget you again." As Violette approached, Bernard glanced at the goo, but continued to cook. Then Kallisto spoke and he was reminded of old tales Ferrin had told him. Bernard always assumed his father's tales were meant to scare Bernard and Peri away from the swamp, though he was becoming increasingly aware of the truths that lie behind the stories. He turned to Arissa taking her hand and putting it on the stick which he had run through the rabbits. "Turn this at a slow, steady speed." With her hand in his own he moved the spit so she could get an idea what he meant, then he took a better look at Violette's gooey sword. "Father used to tell me of a living goo. Some sort of creature which could impersonate people. It can either rob you of your memories, or feed on your memories ultimately killing you. I had always thought it was just a tale to meant to scare children off from the swamp, but that is clearly not the case. That's likely what Jared was hunting." Bernard gave a frown and a shrug before he took a seat again next to Arissa, placing one hand around her, he pulled out a small pouch of spices and added some to the rabbit. The aroma filled the immediate area. "Food should just about be ready, a moment or two more." He leaned in to Arissa laying his head on her shoulder, "I could get used to cooking with you."
 
Arissa frowns, not fully satisfied by Bernard's response, but unwilling to further push him after the events of the early morning. She could still recall the primal look of fear in Bernard's eyes as he rushed into the boundaries of the spell, and the horror she felt upon realizing what had happened. She felt a hand take hers pulling her away from her thoughts, and turned and smiled to Bernard as he explained to her how to cook. "Very well, you are the professioneel, after all. I am just relieved that you have found more than frogs this time." She then listens to Bernard talk about the creature and shudders, resolving herself to confirm that Bernard's memory was fully intact later today. She then smiled to him as he returned and leaned into his embrace. "Someday soon, after we are done with all of this madness, you are to teach me how it is done properly, but for now I suppose I will settle for a campfire in the swamps. Would you mind taking the vleespen for a moment?"

Arissa placed the skewer back in his hand and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before pausing for a moment and then kissing him again on the lips. She then stands and looks around the camp, seeing most of her friends awake other than Peri. Arissa walked over to where Peri had curled up and magically cleaned a spot before kneeling down next to her and lightly shaking her with a beaming smile. "Goedenmorgen, Perian. Bernard's memories have returned to him this morning... Gods, I was so worried. Breakfast will be ready soon, and we will likely head out soon after, so there is little time to rest... as much as we deserve it after earlier events. Geen rust voor de goddelozen , ja?"
 
Peri groaned and rubbed her eyes as at home on her bedroll as she was in her bed at home. Coming to consciousness after a bit of shaking she looked up at Arissa and sat herself up and hugged her knees. “You said Bear is back? And Violette?” Glancing towards her seeing she was visibly calmed and interacting normally.

Wrapping her arms about Arissa she gave her a strong hug, “Will you be alright now?” She asked Arissa feeling terrible about not running to comfort her. So many confusing and heart wrenching things even in a much shorter time it felt in comparison to the other events Peri was still very tired, but it was more emotional than physical.
 
Arissa’s expression slips at Peri’s question for a moment as she recalls the pain as she realized that Bernard no longer knew her, but she forced a weak smile. “I... he is better now, ja? That is all that matters. I will be fine, Perian.” She laughed a bit and smiled. “Unlike you if you do not have some of Bernard’s delicious rabbit. I should know, I helped him cook it. Eat up, we have a long day ahead of us.”
 
Swampland:

After the events of the morning have passed, and rabbits have been cooked and eaten the party sets out once more. It’s about four hours into your travel when you come across a large scar cut into the ground. A single rope bridge seems to stretch across the expanse of about a hundred feet. It swings gently from what seems to be an updraft from the crevasse. Approaching the place it seems that there is also a rope ladder on both sides of the crevasse. A broken sign lies toppled over at the edge of the rope bridge, and it reads.

Only the fearless may cross.
All others must pass below.

At the cliff edge, it sounds almost as if something large is breathing from down below…. Or is it simply the wind? The rope ladder leading below seems to disappear into the dark below.
 
Yelcan was startled when Bernard had appeared between him and Violette, and he had immediately stepped away from the two of them. As Kallisto talked the two of them down, trying to spark their memories, Yelcan saw them calm down a tad. When Violette asked for her sword back, Yelcan reluctantly handed it over.

Once they had all returned back to camp, Yelcan silently set up his pack and bedroll away from Leone and the other two who were awake. Yelcan stared off into the night, trying his best to keep watch while he wordlessly berated himself for his earlier actions. He knew it was his fault for scaring Violette into attacking Kallisto, if only he had taken a moment to read their demeanor, he probably would have been able to tell that they were calming down, while still confused. Instead, Yelcan went for the quick fix, just knock them out and deal with it later, and Kallisto paid the price for his mistake.

His thoughts went around like that for the remainder of the night, and then in the morning he just quietly joined the others in preparing breakfast and cleaning up camp. As they set out for the day, Yelcan had finally decided to stop brooding over his mistake and he chatted with the others while they walked. Once they came to this crevasse, noting its apparent depth and the rickety bridge that spanned it, Yelcan again checked his impatience and sent Hyde down to make sure there wasn’t anything in the crevasse waiting for travelers to cross.

Once Hyde crested over the edge, Yelcan concentrated on his connection with Hyde to see through his eyes, and he watched as Hyde ventured deeper and deeper into the darkness until...nothing. Yelcan opened his eyes, confused for a moment. He walked closer to the edge and looked over, but didn’t see the familiar purple dragon that was his best friend. Yelcan closed his eyes and concentrated as hard as he could and...again nothing. It wasn’t like Hyde was out of communication range, it was like Hyde just fell out of existence. Yelcan began to call down to Hyde, questioning first, then yelling in a panic. Yelcan turned and told the others that he was just...gone, and Yelcan closed his eyes, whispering “I’m coming for you buddy,” And he felt his feet lift off the ground. He wasn’t in the air for more than a couple moments when he felt strong arms pull him back down, preventing him from going to find Hyde. As much as he fought, the owner of these strong arms, Kallisto, would not release him and let him fly.

Eventually Yelcan stopped fighting back and started to sob, convinced that something at the bottom of this crevasse must have eaten his friend. Suddenly, a corner of his mind lit up once again, and he stood with disbelief as Hyde slowly flew out of the crevasse, carrying something he could barely manage to fly with. Yelcan immediately called out with his mind, and happily found out Hyde was alright, albeit slightly scared. Hyde relayed as best he could what he saw and heard while in the crevasse, and Yelcan passed this information to the others.

With this new information in mind, Yelcan watched as a couple of them made it to the other side with no issue, while a majority of the group fell into the crevasse, only to reappear carrying something with them as they climbed out. Yelcan was afraid that by flying over, whatever that voice in the depths was would cause him to fall in from a great height, so he instead attempted the bridge. He did not get more than a few feet across when one of the planks gave out from under him, and he wobbled and fell over the edge. Hitting the ground really hard, Yelcan heard the same creepy voice and saw a wineskin that lay there on the ground, and without a word he just picked it up and climbed out of the crevasse.
 
Bernard continued to lead after breakfast until they arrived at the crevasse, he moved to walk across the bridge but the hesitation of some of the others reminded him that the party was not without fear. Bernard thought to himself quietly as the others deliberated. I am not afraid of this bridge or the fall, not the monster it seems may be at the bottom. Ezra will guide me and guard me against all things. But that does not make me truly fearless... I am afraid of losing Arissa again. Even losing my memories of her caused such great pain and Kallisto was not far from wrong, I would move mountains to save her life. He looked to Arissa who seemed to be concerned about the crossing. "I can always give us a little divine inspiration, ease our fears to allow us to cross..." The group considered and discussed his proposal but many other things were also being proposed and Bernard did not want to push it.

When Hyde disappeared and several panicked, Bernard reached into his pack to collect his rope. He planned to tie it to himself, head down into the pit, and retrieve the small pseudodragon. As he began to uncoil the rope however, Arissa began to play a song and Leone used her spellbook to cast a ritual. Enthralled by her performance and uninterested in leaving her side, Bernard waited as the small dome of force appeared around them. Shortly after Hyde appeared on the other side of the ravine. Yelcan's explanation did little to simplify the decision, but as Peri spoke up about crossing, and Kallisto agreed, Arissa mentioned her fear of heights. Kallisto volunteered to cross the bridge, declining any sort of magical heroism, relying only on her own power of will. Unfortunately, her feet failed her and the party watched her plummet into the abyss.

Tired of the stalling and the worry, and not interested in losing a party member, Bernard stood and walked to the ladder. He turned back to Arissa, "If you're not going to cross the bridge, you might as well join me. We'll climb down together." He smiled and waited as she joined him at the ladder. Arissa went first with Bernard just behind her. Reaching the bottom, Bernard turned to find there was no Arissa in his sight though he'd seen her get off the ladder moments before. He heard a voice, deep and raspy, "Take it..." Looking around he found a small key lay on the ground, an old, but recognizable key: the key to the Hathoway Family Crypt. "I've already got one of these, no clue why I'd need a second." Bernard collected it, waiting a moment in silence for the ladder to appear on the other side. Nothing. He placed the key back on the ground, the voice protested, "Take it..." Bernard turned back to take the ladder up to his friends and tell them what he'd found. He climbed and climbed, but looked down to see he'd made no progress. Climbing back to the ground, he heard the voice wheeze, "Take it..." He picked up the key and again tried to climb the ladder. He found that he made progress this time and eventually appeared on the other side of the crevasse.

Looking around, he did not see Arissa, but he saw Kallisto. "Where is she? Where's Arissa? She was just in front of me." There was a panic to his voice as he heard something from the ladder, peering over the side to find Arissa. After helping her up, he held her close, refusing to leave her side as the others tried to cross the bridge. All fell but one, Peri. Bernard smiled, he was pleased, he knew it to be true - Peri full of grace and fearless. You were right father, she's the guardian that we all need.
 
In the morning while others discussed things and ate breakfast, Kallisto instead busied herself with the map, trying to get a better idea of where the group was and how long it'd take them to get to the witch in the Lake of Lakes. In the corner she noted a map legend, yet not all of the symbols listed were actually on the map ... specifically The Barrows, The Bone Graveyard, and The Crevasse. Focusing herself while she scanned the map, she called Aluc from a nearby tree, attempting to see if she had found some any of the areas mentioned.

It was somewhat difficult to try and get Aluc to understand what the map represented, but when Kallisto shifted her way of asking, she started to understand Aluc's responses. Using the Lake of Lakes as reference, she asked how Aluc would get to some of the other places -- intending to get a rough idea of direction, only to be told it varied each time. Slowly Kallisto recalled stories she'd heard from traveling hunters through town or at the docks -- sometimes landmarks in the swamps didn't seem to stay where others had last seen them. She sighed a little as she placed the map away -- Kallisto had hoped to get an idea of what was ahead of the group for the day, but if the land shifted, that didn't mean anything. Perhaps that was why areas were blank ... it wasn't for lack of effort, but merely because the swamps didn't seem keen to be truly mapped.

Eventually the group set out with Bernard leading the way as usual, until they came across the Crevasse. Kallisto smirked slightly considering the conversation she'd had with Aluc earlier in the day. Peering over the edge, with Arissa dropping a lit stone, she tried to get an idea of the depth of the crevasse, yet the stone eventually fell out of view, with no noises suggesting it had landed. Looking along the sides of the Crevasse, she couldn't see an edge to it either, even with her enhanced sight. Reading the sign again, in her mind, it was a test of courage -- it was scary, but not really -- however she was hesitant to just go across without input from the party. So much lately had been tied to magic, or things she was unaware of, and hasty actions could lead to death. Her hand scratched at the scar over her heart as she listened to the party, watching as Hyde went down to investigate and Yelcan's panic once his 'connection' had been lost.

As she watched him start to float away she pulled him back down, "Don't be reckless -- we don't need to lose you as well." His expression was pained, Kallisto frowned, worried they'd lost a member of the group, only for Yelcan's expression to change as he glanced over to see Hyde on the otherside, a noose in his tiny mouth. After Yelcan explained what Hyde managed to tell him, Kallisto and Peri seemed willing to cross. Her main concern had been there was a beast below with its maw open and waiting ... but out of all the things that could be in the swamp, this sounded the least deadly. Noting some hesistation in the rest of the group still, Kallisto offered to go first, figuring if the bridge could hold her weight, the rest would likely be fine.

She began to cross, the bridge creaking and groaning slightly, until it suddenly shuddered and Kallisto lost her footing, falling off the side and into the abyss below. The wind whistled past her ears as she fell, panic starting to build until she landed with a hard thud, the wind knocked out of her chest. Slowly she pushed herself up with a wheeze, unsure if anything had been broken, glancing around to a strange expanse of ... nothing. Nothing except a small black book and a rope ladder against a wall, a voice in the air saying, "take it..."

Forcing herself to stand, she took the chance to try and find the voice -- with her improved eyesight the area was still dim, but she could find no source. Kallisto moved to the book on the ground, crouching near it to get a better view of what it was ... only to find it was empty and blank, both inside and out. The voice repeated itself, Kallisto responding, "And do what with it...?" There was a few moments of silence before the words merely repeated.

Standing she moved to the rope ladder, half afraid it would pass through her hands, and instead found it solid. Grabbing the bottom rung she moved backwards, attempting to see if it was free or tied to the wall, surprised when it was easily movable. Feeling slightly silly, she began to try and make waves with the ladder with as much strength as she could, see if anything might show for the other party members -- let them know she was alive. She continued for a minute or so, the voice ocassionally repeating until her arms grew tired. Letting them rest, she then tried to climb the ladder, only to find even after what felt like an hour of climbing, she'd barely made any distance. Sliding back down with a growl she moved to the book and picked it up, noticing the voice grew silent. Curious, she placed it down only for the voice to begin again.

Picking up the book she muttered, "It must be really boring down here ..." before placing it in her mouth as she began to climb the ladder, this time finding herself making progress and arriving on the other side of the crevasse. Placing the book to the side, she noticed Bernard and Arissa were missing ... sitting, she rubbed her sore muscles from the climb and the fall, shouting towards the others, "Seriously, just attempt to cross."

In her mind she heard the voice of Leon, making Kallisto jump slightly in response as she heard, "You alright over there?"

Kallisto shrugged, scratching at her ear, unsure what to make of the sensation, replying, "Weird voice, told me to bring this book back otherwise I couldn't leave." Though she spoke, she didn't feel the words actually leave her throat.

Another question from Leon, "What's the book?"

Adjusting her seat she held the book and flipped through it, "Dunno, small, black, blank." Speaking again, this time finding her voice leaving her throat, she called out again, "Just try to cross the bridge..."

Eventually she saw Bernard and Arissa climb up as well, she was curious what items they'd be given as well -- Arisas held up a small book of Mordentish nursery rhymes, while Bernard answered with a shrug, "My item was mine to begin with."

Kallisto tilted her head slightly, "Interesting. The item I had to bring back was a blank book." She looked into the pit again, then across to those who still had yet to make their attempt, before turning to Arissa and Bernard, asking if either had some sort of pen or pencil.

Arissa dug into her pack, pulling out a fine ink pen and jar. "Would this do?"

Kallisto nodded, "Sure, but you'll probably have to be the one who writes ... I don't want to break your pen. Do you have spare pages? Not sure we want to write directly onto the map either." She tapped the map case, "James loaned us this map, might as well return the favor by making some notes if anyone else uses it in the future ... namely what's down in the pit and what's asked."

Arissa digs around into her pack again, pulling out five pristine pieces of paper, as well as a case for a map. "Hmm. I really should have checked what I had in this bag before we left." Arissa began to write down her findings, speaking aloud as well. "It seemed to be some sort of pocket dimension... Not only did it split up Bernard and I, but it also removed the spirit from my blade for the duration of my stay. Unfortunately, it appears that that blissful effect did not last... although oddly enough I still felt the power in my blade despite his absence. The voice repeated the words 'Take it...' repeatedly, and did not respond to any hailings. Upon taking the book, it simply allowed me to leave with no signs of ill effects." Arissa stopped writing and turned back to her companions. "We should have Léone check these objects for signs of magic. I would hate to bring further evil into the world."

Kallisto nods, "I didn't ... even consider if my axe still growled in my mind while I was down there. I took the bottom of the ladder and tried to make it show movement, but ... I guess it didn't show up here. I tried to climb the ladder without the item, but found myself climbing for awhile, only to find out I'd maybe gone thirty feet off the ground. I agree these items should be checked ... not sure what their significance even is, or if they're merely random objects."

Arissa writes down a couple more facts that Kallisto described and then looked her over worriedly. ”You look hurt. Allow me to help.” Her words, laced with fey magic, ease Kallisto’s pain to a degree.

Feeling the words wash over herself, Kallisto's aches lessened slightly, though she still felt the dull pain from her fall. Finally the rest of the group crossed in their own way -- Perian being the only one to manage the bridge. Deciding to rest while Leon identified the items, Kallisto's ending up being a journal that recorded her dreams, she looked over Arissa's shoulder as she flipped through the nursery rhymes. "I remember hearing a few of these when I was younger ... you'd be surprised the effort Marcus puts into singing rhymes. Maybe from when he instead sang sea shanties."

Slowly the group gathered themselves again and headed out, finding no other trials, camping again within Arissa's spelled dome. Kallisto found herself alone on watch, but kept herself awake by reading through Arissa's book ... in her mind she heard Marcus' attempts at singing some of them, his rough voice trying to sing softly used to make her laugh ... Reminded of her nightmare of a few days ago -- seeing Marcus dead on the ground ... it made her more determined to keep that from happening.
 
Swamplands:

The rest of the day past the crevasse passes without incident. The party beds down for the night and enjoys a fairly peaceful night with the watches going off without a hitch. In the morning after another breakfast and preparing for the next trek of the adventure everyone gets ready to head out. A few hours into the trek they run across a group of... people? They move across the swamp in barely any hindrance. Their their flesh from this distance is an off green, and most of them carry spears. As most of you hunker down to decide what to do one of them stops a bit away from the group and peers into the distance as if looking for something.
 
The group stopped as they caught glimpses of another traveling group, though they didn't look like normal people. Moving to keep out of easy sight, Kallisto focused her eyes in on the group ... feeling like the wind was knocked out of her chest yet again as she realized this group of people looked just like the ones she'd seen in her dreams. Her heart sunk even more when she realized the one peering into the distance looked very much like Ialay.

Her hand went to her beaded bracer as she picked nervously, whispering to the group, "I've ... I saw these before. I think these are the 'Children of Snakes' ... there's seven of them, but the one on their own looks like Ialay..." Kallisto glanced back towards the group in the distance, "They weren't devoured ... they were claimed -- transformed. I do not know how they will react to us..."
 
Bernard stops and squints, trying to make out their spears and their number, but can only vaguely tell that there are a few and they've an odd green hue to their skin. "Ialay's... alive?" Bernard whispered in question to Kallisto's comments. Bernard looked to Arissa then back to the group, there was a bit of a struggle on his face as he commented, "Should we try speaking with them? That didn't work so well for us last time. If we do end up facing the snake, dealing with the children as well could spell our undoing, but if we attack them now we anger the beast. I'm sure I can track them if we know where their trail starts, maybe we should go see the witch and then assess our other options?" Bernard shrugged, usually he'd be the first to offer to wander off and speak with the potentially dangerous humanoids, but he seemed to be much more reserved as he thought through the options rather than acting rashly.
 
Kallisto watched the group of serpent-like people as Bernard spoke, "Before Aluc told me there were at least more than ten ... so this isn't even all of them, and that was a few days ago. Who knows how many more there are by now ... I worry if we've crossed paths on the way to the witch, they're helping to ... patrol for the witch. We could try to wait for them to pass since it looks like they're taking a break, and make sure we're more on guard going forward."

Arissa spoke up, asking if the snake-people could smell the group. Kallisto focused her gaze on the resting members of the other group, "Snakes usually 'taste' the air to smell, but ... I don't see these others doing that. Maybe they don't have to?"
 
Arissa thought to herself for a moment, and considered concealing herself and another magically to find out more about these snake people, but ultimately decided against it. I have only just cautioned Bernard against such reckless behavior... it would not do for me to show a lack of restraint now. Arissa sighed and looked to the rest of the group. “We should allow these things to pass... as much as I wish to find out why one of them appears like Ialay, I believe that safety is a greater concern. We should retrace our steps so that I can put up our zone of protection, and wait until they have moved out of our path, ja?” Arissa looked around to the rest of the group, her eyes lingering on Bernard for only a moment longer than the rest.
 
Swampland:

Soon the creatures continue to move along their way after their short fifteen minute break and continue on to the east. Pressing on forward south the group begins to run into decent sides lakes that seem to drain into small creaks as the land seems to bowl downwards gently until at last two hours before sunset you come across a large placid lake seemingly as flat as a mirrors surface. Trees become scarce around the edge of the water forming a sort of muddy beach. In the center is a small island with a house build into a few trees. Smoke pours out of the chimney and a small boat able to hold about four people comfortably rests on the bank. Another boat rests on the other far off bank on the island.
____________________________________________________________________________

After some discussion, a fox transformation, and two people mounting up on a broom the party makes their way over the lake. Flying from up above the lake seems to have almost a mirror reflection only broken up by the strokes of the rower. Eventually after a few minutes you come to land on the island of the lake, the house on closer inspection seems to be built two stories high. The people in the air see an odd tree in the background of the house as they fly in. There is no outward movement save for the chimney smoke.
 
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Bernard looked around when they landed on the island. "Well, I guess we should just knock. We're here for answers, this isn't some kind of reckoning." He put on his best smile, checked that all of his weapons and shields were strapped in the appropriate places, and stepped toward the door.

After a moment of hesitation, Bernard knocked three times. "Hello. I'm Father Bernard from the town of Blackburn's Crossing. My friends and I have travelled several days through the perilous swamp to speak with you."
 
The Moundshroud Residence:

After knocking a few times upon the door, foot steps can be heard coming from far away, and eventually a woman answers the door, at first looking shocked at how many of you there are. She looks to be a young woman dressed in mostly black, with open sleeves that hand down the length of her harms. The edge of her shoulders has golden embroidery sewn into the black, and the dress held a white almost grayish blouse. A small green pendant fastened around her neck matched her green eyes that slowly turned to amusement at looking between the group. As she waves the group in, you notice she has golden claw tips worn on her fingers.

"Please come in, come in. I do not get many visitors this far out, you are surely famished after your travels," she says opening the door and ushering you in. After the party shuffles in, you can see there is a large fireplace off to the left, with a stone carving of a bear as if lunging out from the wall down towards anyone at the bottom of the fire. The floor made of wood is covered with fine carpets, and fine furniture that could sit many people in this main room. It suddenly seems much bigger here on the inside than it had on the outside as two staircases in the back lead spiraling upwards to the far ends of the room which appears to be about fourty feet by sixty. A double door straight between the two staircases, and two hallways leading left and right flank the room right next to the stair cases as well. Decorating the walls are paintings of battles, one with a castle upon a high cliff with what looks like a black figure reaching out towards a white figure falling towards mist below, another more disturbing one in the back corner shows a young man seemingly flayed artistically to show his innards, another shows a burning house in the middle of snow a woman with the faint outlines of wings fighting with a greatsword and a young elven boy with a curved sword against a man in a gentleman's clothing holding forth a rapier and clutching his bloody side.

The woman walks over to a glass seemingly finishing it off before turning back to you. "Is there anything I could get any of you before we get to business and proper introductions?"
 
Arissa smiled warmly at the woman as she opened the door and followed the party into the house. She looked around the house, noting the strange yet fine decorations and nodding to herself approvingly as she passed through the entry hall into the main room, and then taking a moment to appreciate the fine art pieces. Her eyes are immediately drawn to the winged woman and her companion fighting against a well-dressed man with glowing red eyes. She searched her memory for what she knew of the religions of this land, but was fairly certain that she had not come across any tales of such a fight. Noting the similarities between the piece and many religious artworks from Carmanth, she mused to herself. "The fight between good and evil... I suppose that is something that pertains to both of our worlds, ja?"

Arissa then turns and smiles again to the woman as she offered refreshments and curtsied to her. "Pardon me, I must have forgotten my manners on the doorstep of your beautiful home. I am Arissa, and it is a pleasure to meet someone with such grote smaak all the way out here in the swamps. The journey has been long and difficult if I must admit. A glass of something strong would do wonders for my moreel."
 
Bernard entered the home, holding his hands behind his back as he'd seen Jeremiah do. As Arissa introduced herself, Bernard took a look at the paintings, walking around and taking in the extravagance. When she had finished Bernard smiled and spoke up himself, "Thanks for the offer, but I'm fine." He pauses, looking at the others to see if they had requests, once they had responded he continued, "You have a beautiful home, thank you for inviting us in. I'm curious what business we have with each other." Bernard smiles again, "Would you like to start the introductions or shall I?"
 
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