Within the Wicked Billabong

"Within the Wicked Billabong" (C1.S05.1) is a one-shot in the first campaign of The Vanguard.

## Synopsis

It had come to the attention of the Vanguard that an ancient relic, which acted as a magic key, was possibly
in the possession of a warlock named Baramba, who had disappeared after causing himself to go mad (or so rumor claims).  Following a trail of reports and documents, it is believed Baramba may have wandered into a swamp, living as a hermit.  Four members of the Vanguard: Bullen, Nero, Valas, and Grak were assigned to find the hermit (if he actually is in the swamp) and get his key (if he actually does have a key).

At a nearby town, the adventurers heard tales of the swamp: it's cursed, people go in and not come out, there is a tower of evil, a whirlpool of good prevents the evil from spreading, people who return behave as idiots & buffoons.  Anyone acting as a guide will have to be paid handsomely just to take them to the edge.  But, no one will go in.  With little money on them, they find a desperate young girl who guides them for what gold they have on them.

Once in the foul swamp, they trudge through muck, overgrowth, and deep water.  Quickly, they are attacked by a swarm of Sturges.  It takes some time before they see some lizard-men cross their path, and try to follow them.  But, they are outpaced and lose sight of the creatures.  Soon after, they find the ramparts of a tower barely sticking out of the mud.  It is deduced that someone had tried to build a castle here, but it sank into the swamp (ha-ha).

Changing direction, it is a long and arduous trek before they spot a thin whisp of smoke rising into the sky (something to explore and break the monotony).  As directly as possible, they find some raised ground to make travel easier, and also a small mud-hut with a ring of rocks.  As they approach, signing can be heard…

>
> Drinking from a bottle filled with bees
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> Pity to the girl who lost her keys
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> Tastes good on my tongue, yummy, yum-yum
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> You should go and buy yourself some
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>
>
> Stars falling to the ground
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> Stars falling all around
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> Hit the wizard on the head
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> Very soon they'll all be dead
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>
>
> Whispering breath are like flies on a pie
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> They see all with a dragon's eye
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> A haunted house will be my new home
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> Jokes are told by the king of the Gnomes
>
>
>
>
> Stars falling to the ground…
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>

Confronting this stranger, he is fearful, but yells at them to go away, and spouts other gibberish and nonsense.  Eventually, feeling threatened, the small man throws a fireball and then runs away, faster than the group can follow.  As they inspect the camp, they find a box containing a thin clay square with strange marks scribed into it, and that it has a thin leather strap attached.  Unsure of what is in their possession, they decide to track the hermit… easier said than done.

Sloshing through what feels like an endless quagmire, they encounter Bullywugs who turn them back.  They avoid potential attack from what might have been giant spiders, circumvent a Shambling Mound, yet Grak becomes bitten and constricted by a python before saved by the others.  A massive swarm of mosquitoes fills Nero with temporary insanity, causing him to run in an unknown direction.  Going in circles, they encounter two young girls and their "mother" who try to steal from them, yet also offer hospitality; this is refused.

Not wanting to die in this retched bog, it is decided to find their way out.

Back at the town, they receive accolades for returning and are bombarded with questions.  But, there is no time for that and they return to the Vanguard; where they present Izzarina with the box and clay tablet.  She is not sure what to make of it as she questions, "Is this they key you were sent to acquire?".  Being unable to answer directly, the only reply is, "This is what we found with the hermit we encountered".  She keeps the box and they are dismissed from her office.

## Guild Dispatches

The following are messages from the guild members who participated in the mission. They contain valuable information the guild can use to piece together clues.

> *We were dispatched to a nearby town to try and find a hermit in a swamp that had some sort of relic that acted as a magic key. The details were spotty at best as to where to find him and what this key looked like. The company set forth with Bullin, Nero, myself and Graek.*
>
>
> *Upon reaching the town, I gently tried to convince a young girl to escort us to the swamps. When pressed for money I pressed back with my blade. It would seem children don't understand the concept of intimidation well. Nonetheless, when caught after running she obliged with a bit of persuasion from coin. She told us people went in but came out babbling and stunted - if at all. There were rumors of a castle sunk into the mire. A corruption that was held at bay by a magic whirlpool that acted as vortex to another world pulling the corruption into the center of this mire.*
>
>
> *After entering this swamp, we trudged through endless miles of muck, beasts, lizardmen and high water. The tedium and drudgery were enough to make the strongest exhausted. In coming to a hut, we encountered a hermit singing a song of some kind. Bullin somehow got the tune stuck in his head. Below is his recount:*
>
>
> *Drinking from a bottle filled with bees*
>
> *Pity to the girl who lost her keys*
>
> *Tastes good on my tongue, yummy, yum-yum*
>
> *You should go and buy yourself some*
>
>
>
> *Stars falling to the ground*
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> *Stars falling all around*
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> *Hit the wizard on the head*
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> *Very soon they'll all be dead*
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>
>
> *Whispering breath are like flies on a pie*
>
> *They see all with a dragon's eye*
>
> *A haunted house will be my new home*
>
> *Jokes are told by the king of the Gnomes*
>
> *Stars falling to the ground...*
>
>
> *After kindly inquiring what the old man had in his hut he saw fit to throw a fireball at my face. His hospitality won't be forgotten. We found a box with a thin clay square on a leather strap. The clay had marking we couldn't understand. After searching for the treacherous geezer for a while we decided to exit the swamp in favor of the tavern.*
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>
> *P.S. We were propositioned by a hag. She had 2 daughters and the little one favors the art of thievery. She may make a valuable addition to the ShadowHand one day.*
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>
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> *- Valas Dyrr*
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>

1. ↑ Be aware that this is told from the player’s perspective of the adventure. Details and happenings may have been presented with some liberties taken to fill in the blanks from poor memory and scribbled notes. Other players should be asked about their views of what happened, and are also welcome to type their stories to share.