Expedition 64: The Southern Swamp

### Detailed Writeup

After entering into the Undercliff Bog from the Badlands two things became immediately clear. Firstly, the temporal stuttering that we’ve seen from those within the time-weft is prominent here, especially the further southeast traveled into the swamp. Secondly there’s a thick layer of mud and decay covering the entire region, making travel difficult and exhausting (DC 13 Traversal checks, with exponential vigor damage).

While we are prepared to gather trolls for Lin’dsey should the opportunity arise, our main focus is exploring the new territory. We decided to follow the border between the bog and the Felwood to the east. Along the journey Uzmir spots a giant deer on the edge of the wood, but it’s almost immediately spooked by something and bounds off. Emerging from the ground are these large creatures, tangles or roots, fungus, and moss, and they begin lumbering towards us.

Uzmir lets loose a few blasts at one of them before they can close the distance, and Gonerton impedes the other with Hideous Laughter. The others focus fire on the Bloom Hulk approaching us, but as soon as it gets near enough it strikes out at Uzmir and swallows him whole. The party redoubles their efforts to free the dwarf, while Uzmir does the same from within. Eventually the creature is felled by Gonerton, and Yugmela pulls the warlock from the debris left behind. Our enemies numbers halved, we begin to coordinate against the other hulk, still suffering from the effects of Hideous Laughter. The spell proves so effective that even when attacked it remains incapacitated for a time, before eventually coming to its senses. Just as it attempts to engulf Calliope, she manages to push it off and Uzmir finishes it off with a Mind Sliver.

Going through the remains Nexrin is able to recover a few Bombell fungi, which we later find out from Lin’dsey are extremely poisonous, and useful in a variety of applications, from weapon oils to Poison powders.

As we near the end of the Felwood/Undercliff border we turn south east and follow the bog’s edge abutting a new region. The area appears odd, colors seem off, not what they should be. We deduce that the effect is likely caused by planar influence from the Astral Sea, making it the Astral Plains. We decide it best to continue exploring the bog rather than the new region and continue southeast.

While traveling Uzmir spots a small pool ahead, with figures in the water. After a moment of study it becomes apparent that they’re trolls. Uzmir points them out to the rest of the group, but the submerge into the water soon after. As the party discusses the merits of following them into the water the ground beneath us begins to undulate, and the decision is made for us when Calliope is pulled down into the muck. Nexrin quickly tries to dig her out, but is merely able to reveal the expanse of dark water just a foot or so below us and Calliope staring up at him. The trolls soon do the same to Gonerton, dragging him down waist deep. Calliope escapes the water with her Manta cowl and Levitate. Uzmir Runs to Gonerton and casts Fly hoping it will be enough to free the wizard and takes to the air himself. Nexrin thinking quickly shores up the ground with Plant Growth preventing anymore ambushes from below. Unfortunately the trolls then climb to the surface and target him. Gonerton sustains another mauling from the troll beneath him and falls unconscious. Nexrin rushes to save him with a Cure Wounds. The rest of the group tries to whittle down the trolls, Yugmela’s Flaming Sphere and Acid Splash halting their regeneration. Uzmir’s Mind Thrust catches a single troll and it runs off never returning to the fight. The group continues to fight on. After Lightning Bolt, Slow, some crossbow bolts, and an acid breath one of the trolls falls to Yugmela’s Magic Missile. The other noticing the Slow effect cast by Uzmir kneels down. It’s motives unclear, the group continues fighting and Yugmela once again fells the creature.

After patching up our wounds, Calliope investigates the pond. Finding what looked to be a small metal flower, later identified as a Sigil of the Roil, as well as a few unicorn bones long since cleaned of their flesh. With those spoils and two troll corpses in tow the party makes its way back to Vrall. Along the way Calliope spots what appears as a metallic figure in the distance. As we approach we realize it’s actually a gruesome warning sign, a flayed spark-souled propped upon three stakes. There’s little left that’s not rusted, but Calliope does find a hidden compartment filled with small diamonds. She posits it may have been a mechanism for an emergency Revivify, it seems to have unfortunately failed. Continuing west, Gonerton comes across a pond, small and secluded, filled with three remarkable rainbow koi. While not materially useful they are incredibly striking, and would make a fine symbol of status back in Vrall. Yugmela is able to summon a washing tub, and we recover the koi. With that we make it back to Vrall without incident.