[HQ Ignorance] Scene Three: Dilis Swamp

[Lev Lafayette]

Scene Three: Dilis Swamp
------------------------

When the famed Gates of the University shut at
twilight, the fellowship congregated the Red Garter
Chapel for the oecumenical ceremony; some prayed
fervently to the Invisible God, others out of respect
and consideration of their atheist hosts. Ureban
Anostos was in sorrow over the fate of Moelene and his
brother Istevan and was joined by Donalari. All were
deep in thought of the dangers that lay ahead, not
only of the chaotic beasts that they would have to
face but the troubling issue of how to capture a
powerful spirit like The Nameless Man.

The following morning a entourage escorted the party
to the outskirts of Dilis Swamp. It was clearly a
place of disgust and wrong. The miasma felt
unnaturally warm, and the brakish waters bubbled as if
some fell creatures lurked beneath the opaque waters.
Strange mists danced and swayes in the distance. The
thick plantlife was clearly abnormal in all regards,
and on occassion grasped at the limbs of the group.
Occassionally birds and small animals could be seen,
each deeply mutated examples of their True forms.

Kalen Ironhand exclaimed that the swamp was a
definitive example of the grave dangers of an
oversupply of life, that the swamp was obviously an
example of what goes wrong when there is too much
vegetation, too much water and not enough earth and
rock. "What I would be able to do to this place with
with some gravel, paving stones and - dare I dream -
*concrete*", he remarked.

The fellowship continued deeper into the swamplands
using the map provided by the sages of the University.
But in the shifting mists and dancing lights, and
overhanging foilage, it was clear that the map was of
little use. More reliable was Jareena, the healer from
Jonating, who had travelled these lands before, and
Karala The Spirit Guide, who could detect direction
and strength of sources of Power. Indeed, it was only
due to this ability that the the party was forewarned
by the sudden and rapid appearance of a score of the
Vroluti.

Prior descriptions could not save one from the
overwhelming disgust that non-chaotics experience when
encountering these beasts. Some were like warty frogs
with unnatural colours and the horns of goats, others
like fish with vestigal hooved legs and poison
dripping from their dorsal spines, others carried
primitive spears of stone, sinew and wood. Their
appearance and smell and most of all the sound -
"V-r-r-r-o-LUT! V-r-r-r-oLUT! V-r-r-r-o-LUT!" -
revolted all those of True Power. 

But the clearly murderous intent of these creatures of
Chaos steeled the nerves of those present. The fight
was on. 



 
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