The cleric had been walking beside Tara, simply enjoying her presence and helping her in the more difficult passages when she saw her sister take her sword out. Putting her hand on the wizard shoulder, she whispered.

Stay safe, I am used to fight with Tempest.

Moving forward as her watery claws came out, she adjusted her shield and touched Tempest's shoulder in their prearranged way, silently signaling to the warrior she was close by and ready. Looking at the abandoned house, she looked for dangers, one of her role in the duo, not seeing anything.

Today: Sprinkle rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Sun 10 Apr 2022.

Grog glanced in the direction of the hag's tree home, "Hag tree may needs cut or burn, soon. Is not good memorial."

Jennet nodded his agreement. "Better to burn it. Burn it clean, let the evil out."

"I'll be careful," Tara promised.

"...burning that tree might be hard.  I'd cut it down first, if we can.  Cleaner.  And it would dry out more, too."

If any part of that tree was still alive, burning it could get very smoky, and she had no trust for the smoke it would produce.

Sskith raised his head, curious.

"I did not have time to loot it before... too bussssy saving the wounded Scalesssss."

Didn't hurt to remind them of what he had done.

Simon surveyed the remains of the coven's house as they approached, watching for any movement in the water.

"The tunnel should be in the cellar, Jennet and I have some wonderful memories of being caged up in there...I look forward to visiting it once again."

---

I believe the tree house has already been torched!

Blackthorn:

“My fellow Druids will destroy this tree. Now that we know the source of this land’s problems, we can fortify ourselves against it. The most powerful among us can dispel any magicks of the tree itself.” Blackthorn looked the dead tree over with disgust. “Better that we burn this tree and leave no corruption to spread through the swamp.”

Jennet stops walking and looks at Simon for a moment. "Awwww... my friend. I'm glad you feel the same way." He slaps the pocket warlock affectionately on the shoulder, and then resumes marching in the rearguard position, peery for any other surprises the swamp has to offer.

Telric travelled along with the others, using his staff as an actual walking stick for a change. He volunteers to aide with the burning if need be, but it sounded like druids had taken care of the thing. Not that Telric had been there, but just hearing about the events second hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

"Blackthorn offered to destroy it."  Cela says.  "The Druids will know the best way.  I was planning to visit Marigold before the Dragon arrived.  I can ask her if it's done."

"Well, it's done," said Tara.  "Let's not waste time on the stump.  We've a dragon to deal with."

Sprinkle looked at the little wizard, so decisive when she wanted to. Flashing a quick smile to her, she looked at Simon and Jennet.

The tunnel entrance is probably in that cellar you were in, how do we reach it is the real question. The stump seems to have collapsed.

Blackthorn & Marigold had performed their grim task thoroughly. The Druids burnt the accursed old oak and all the land immediately surrounding it. The  bridge that once led to the islet that harbored the tree no longer remained. They’d even burnt a strip of grass near where the bridge once began. It seemed clear that Blackthorn wanted nothing left of the Hags that could further taint the swamplands.

Sskith and his Echo seemed highly interested in the burned oak and surrounding area, creeping about through the underbrush in an ever widening circle. He practically blended into the underbrush as he moved, his comfort and familiarity with the swamp clear to all.

"Who issss Blackthorn?"

He hissed as his orbit took him by Cela, is curiosity with the Tabaxi evidently still unsated.

Accidentally rolled twice.

First roll was much better.

20:42, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Nature. – [roll=1649821345.3005.364206]

20:42, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 15 using 1d20+4

Grog approved of the hags' abode being no more, "Mmm, is job done well. Onward, then." But still, there was a dragon in need of slaying.

"Nimbus, fly around and tell me is you see anything moving in the water around the tree.

It looks like the druids went above and beyond in removing the taint of the coven from the swamp!

With no bridge, I guess we swim."

The warlock moved to edge of the water and looked around for anything that might want to snack on the group.

---

Simon rolled 7 using 1d20+3 for WIS (Perception).
If Nimbus, or any of the other PCs don't spot anything in the water, Simon will swim to the island/tree stump/whatever remains.

Sprinkle moved to the edge of the water and got her everburning lantern out of her bag, strapping it to her shield with a prearranged system of shark leather straps. This task done, she put her free hand on Simon's arm and smiled.

This is why Nahlazan sent us here to help you, Simon. Let us do the honors.

Opening the flaps of the lantern, she started to walk in the water.

Are you coming sis? Or will I have to face this swamp water by myself?

---

Today: Sprinkle rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  perception
This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Wed 13 Apr 2022.

Tempest sighed, knowing her sister was right. "Yeah, i'm coming, but if it turbs out like last time and that shark...or in this case, dragon, will you damn listen to me."

Sword and shield in hand, she stepped up to her side. "...and try stay behind me this time - it's not a race." She looked into the water. "...unless somethings chasing us." she muttered.

---

<OOC: Tempest rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  perception check.>

"He's the leader of the nearby Druid grove.  Has your tribe not crossed their path?"

Cela takes a few steps into the swampy water, unhappy with either the sensation of being wet or the smell of it.

Nimbus obeyed her master and soared overhead, but couldn’t discern anything beneath the surface of the river waters. She didn’t spot anything above water, except for a pair of ravens that looked suspiciously familiar to Simon’s eye. Simon swam to the scorched islet without incident, other than an uncomfortably large fish or two brushing against his legs. He surfaced near the  charred husk of the gargantuan tree.

Tempest followed her impetuous twin into the river. Sprinkle fearlessly submerged herself in the river. They wouldn’t fight sharks…at least in the part of the river that was still freshwater. Earlier, Grog told them about Azatch’s brave showing against the giant crocodile. Maybe the Twins would get an opportunity to fight one?

Although Sprinkle or didn’t see anything except enormous Bass fish, the Cleric noticed something more interesting…


Nearby, Cela bristled with the wetting of her fur, but remained ready to help. Gwyl perched on Tara’s left shoulder. He persistently pecked at her every time the ravens flew nearby. Something about one ravens caught Cela’s eye, too.

"...what's going on with those ravens?" Tara asked.  She didn't know, herself, but perhaps one of the others would.  And it was clearly something...

Simon had a small smile on his face as he pulled himself out of the water and onto the charred tree stump. "Breathing underwater is fascinating!"

As he wiped the water from his face and hair, he looked up at the ravens again, they were definitely no behaving as would normal birds.

"Blackthorn! Is that you?" he called.

The raven descended near Simon. The bird shook its feathers furiously, as if it would shake off every last black feather. Instead, the bird shook off avian form, spasming, growing larger before Simon’s eyes. With a pained groan, the raven transformed into Blackthorn!

The Druid’s legs trembled, then he flopped belly first into the grass. For several seconds, his breath came in ragged gasps. Leaning on his elbows, he pushed his dark hair out of his face. When he could speak, the Druid nodded slowly. “Aye, Simon. It is I.”

Swimming in the gloomy water was not as fun as in the clearer ocean and the water tasted earthy through her gills. But she was swimming and that certainly beat walking in the Genasi's mind. Free of the pressure of standing up on her feet, she allowed herself a few seconds of simply luxuriantly floating, letting Tempest take the lead. A surprisingly powerful kick of her legs got her moving, the shield positioned so she could see around her from her everburning flame in the lantern and not hinder her movements.

For a few minutes the sibling swam in concert, like a two fish school, before something grabbed Sprinkle's attention.

<In Aquan> Wait up sis, I see something down there.

Pointing at the base of the tree, she started swimming that way, until she saw what had ticked her curiosity.

The entrance of a tunnel half hidden in the tree roots, big enough for a dragon to pass through.

<In Aquan> I think we found what we were looking for. I'll go warn the others, I know you won't let me stand guard here. Be careful and don't act like a berserk shark!

Quickly swimming up, decompression having no effect on her aquatic physiognomy, her head and shoulders breached the surface in a splash, her hairs briefly  forming a white halo before falling back down.

We found it! The tunnel is down there!

Before Sprinkle heads down below the waves, Telric assits her at assuring the lantern will be solidly attached to the shield. Using his various tools and some water proof plant based glue. "Don't worry, I have a solvent to separate them when you don't need it anymore." He nods to her.

"Are you coming down too, Marigold?"  Cela calls out to the other Raven.  "Or are you going to tease us as a Raven?"