It's Toad-ally Fine!

Guild members venture into the Black Swamp to retrieve some elusive flowers.

11 December 2023

## Adventurers Attending

* Juniper
* Arr'dain
* Kargath
* Kyle Dustbone
* Apothis Bloodmane (temp)

## Mission Notes

A young half-elf from Maplebreach, North Ridings went to the guildhouse looking for some help to retrieve an elusive medicinal herb called the Putrid Blossom. He has heard from his village herbalist that it was a key ingredient in curing his father’s disease, Devil’s Bronchitis. He was unable to provide much information about the Blossom other than it was rumored to be located in the heart of the swamp and it emits a faint glow. Juniper, Arr’dain, Kargath, Kyle and Apothis answered the call and headed out to find this herb in the Black Swamp.

Hamer dropped the party off at the outer edge of the Swamp and the party continued on foot. In the swamps they first encountered Barnabus and Gossamer, two trolls who insisted the group answer their riddles six (three each). Juniper was quick to solve the riddles and the trolls promised to come up with harder riddles. They then directed the group to pass through Camp Bullywug for the quickest route to the heart. The group followed giant frog-like tracks and found the camp.

At the camp, dreadful music can be heard. The bullywugs were playing music badly with makeshift instruments made with sticks, branches, hollow logs and scrap metal. Sat on an elevated seat with a foul expression, the High Chief was clearly not impressed. The party approached the High Chief and told them their predicament. The High Chief was well aware of the Blossom and told them more about it, including their only route from here was to pass through Camp Bullywug and cross a vast bog. In exchange for his help and passage through camp, the High Chief asked the group to entertain him.

Juniper juggled blobs of water, Arr’dain demonstrated his dance skills, Kyle played a classic dad rock song on the log drums, Kargath did amazing swordplay and Apothis performed his warhorn. The end result might’ve been better if they hadn’t performed all at once. Unimpressed, the High Chief then tasked the party to clear out some stirges (15!) nesting nearby. The group made quick work of it and returned with some of the stirge bodies for proof (and food). The High Chief kept his promise and let them pass.

After a short walk from the Camp, the party reached the bank and saw a lone gondola. Arr’dain called out for a ferryman and a spectral, skeletal entity materialised. The entity called themselves the Shepherd and demanded a toll - a kiss on their frontal bone. Tolls were paid and they set off into the bog. After a while, enduring small talks with the Shepherd all the way while Arr’dain merrily made the Shepherd a straw hat, they reached their destination, a moderately sized island. The party saw a dense thicket of trees and through it saw faint glows, they have found what they were looking for. The party tried moving stealthily up to the flowers but Kyle hit his head on a tree with a loud bang. This evidently alerted something as an arrow shot through the air.

The party found themselves quickly outnumbered by grungs. After some flaming spheres summoned, arrows shot and tridents thrown, the group decided it best to grab and go. The party managed to grab an arm full and legged it out of there. Another grueling gondola ride of small talk later, the party returned back to land. They bid everyone they met there goodbye, promised to visit and began their long trek back to Otha’s Rest. They returned to the guildhouse and gave the young half elf the Putrid Blossoms. Another fetch quest complete.