Damn, how had it come to this? He thought he was done dealing with that monster researcher and would never see him again, but now here he was looking for some new horrible creature in the swamp to gather information on. How had Lloyd even found him!? He was a criminal on the run! How had that nerd pinpointed his location so easily!? Maybe he needed to do a better job hiding. Or maybe the Marsh Flats just wasn't a good location for him to hide, being so close to the scene of his crime. In any case, he wanted to get this over with without being traumatized again. At least he wasn't asked to witness a bogaboo give birth.

Xalmann walked on some rocks that stuck up out of the fetid water of the bog. He'd been able to follow a trail that kept his feet out of the muck so far, walking across fallen logs and other raised areas, but who knew how long that would keep up.

He looked back at the partner he'd been given for this mission, a pale woman in armor. The red-scaled Lizardman didn't like armor. He felt it slowed him down and made him heavier, more prone to sinking deep into the mud. Hardly anyone who lived in the Marsh Flats would wear heavy metal armor, if any armor at all. He just hoped this partner wouldn't cause him trouble.

They just needed to find a dry enough area that was large enough to set up a camp. Finding a bogaboo wasn't easy enough to accomplish in one night, so spending a few nights here was the only choice. Lloyd had been kind enough to provide them both a borrowed tent, at least.

SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Into the Marsh
Participants: Two or more
Location: Marsh Flats
Post Requirements: 4 post per person, 200 words per post
Description: You have been asked by Lloyd to venture into the swamp and study a Bogaboo, however the trip has already started off rough. A thick mist has settled across the region making your trip into the swamp even more difficult than normal. The first part of your task is to simply find your way. After getting lost in the dangerous bog, you need to find an area that resembles some sort of safety, and set up camp. This venture may take you a few days, or even weeks, so you need somewhere safe to set up and stay at for a little while.

Sylvari huffed in frustration as another rotten branch she had intended as a stepping stone broke apart and dropped her calf-deep in the fetid mud. Despite blessedly being free of the need to sweat, the warm humid air still pressed upon her uncomfortably and compounded the misery she felt at the situation. I know I said whatever it took to get stronger, to be recognized, but I hate swamps. How am I supposed to maintain an air of grace and mystique when the land is intent on soiling my clothes? Sylvari poised her lips in a pronounced pout as she stared at her Lizardfolk lead, deftly navigating the terrain in front of her.

She had tried, and failed, over the past several hours to initiate conversation with her companion to alleviate the boredom and soul-crushing frustration of dealing with the swamp. She went through all of Romarii's techniques: flirtation, bonding over shared interests, environmental observations, but her crimson companion remained stubbornly stoic, giving her, at most, a grunt in response to her invitations to conversation. So, Sylvari resolved herself to following his lead, and failing frequently. Where he expertly navigated atop fallen logs and raised stones, she would fall through rotten sections and slide off mossy surfaces. So much for good first impressions...

As the day dragged on, she carefully studied her companion's face for signs he wished to stop, refusing to be the one to bring up the topic first, miserable as she was. At least I had the good sense to feed before I came out here. THAT would have been a terrible situation. Still, given the pair's progress so far, Sylvari had a lingering doubt that she would escape her dark thirst's prodding entirely on this journey.

After slipping again into the mud for the third time this hour, Sylvari groaned in irritation and steeled her resolve to try and speak with the Lizardman again. "So, darling... You seem especially adroit in navigating these swamps. May I presume you're a local?"

Xalmann watched Sylvari step on the branch he knew wouldn't be able to support the weight of a grown person. He might have been able to warn her of the branch, but talking to people just wasn't the Lizardman's strong suit and navigating the Marshes definitely clearly wasn't the mud-covered knight's. He'd thought she might just follow in his footsteps, using the same stepping stones that he used. Well, a little mud wouldn't kill her, and her armor should be good enough protection from the leeches.

He glanced over his shoulder again as Sylvari spoke. Xalmann wasn't the best choice for a conversation partner. Not a good choice for one in the slightest, really. Growing up in a tribe of Lizardfolk, his ability to speak the common language was subpar at best and he hardly ever showed any discernable emotions on his face. What's worse, Sylvari spoke using a lot of fancy sounding words he didn't know the meanings of. What did "adroit" mean? Was that good? It sounded like she was trying to compliment him.

Unknown to both Xalmann and Sylvari, the Lizardman wouldn't know flirting if it smacked him in the head.

"Yes." Xalmann answered simply and continued moving.

Up ahead, through the trees, Xalmann finally saw a spot that looked promising. A large, mostly flat topped boulder that should serve as a fine place to set up camp. If they hurried, they should be able to finish pitching their tents before it became dark. The sun was already starting to set and the swamp was dim even in the day.

"Oh, indeed? That's marvelous! How did you survive out here? Did you have a village or were you just living off the land yourself? Not that there looks to be much land to live off... just muck and grime. But I'm sure a native denizen would surely know of several methods of sustaining themselves, even out here!" Sylvari clamped her mouth shut, lightly biting her tongue and drawing blood to keep more words from spilling out. Ok you're definitely going to put him off. What are you thinking, Syvli?! Am I really this starved for conversation?

In truth, other than Romarii, Sylvari had not had a proper conversation or relationship since her banishment months ago. Still, she clicked her tongue in irritation at her eagerness. No one likes a blabbermouth, and Xalmann especially seems to appreciate silence. More than that, I need to make myself appear confident. Hesitation on either his or my part will definitely get us killed in battle, if it comes to that.

Shaking her head in disappointment at her outburst, Sylvari sneaked a glance up at Xalmann, whose eyes were scanning a point in the distant horizon. She followed where his eyes rested and squinted to peer through the afternoon mist that was beginning to swell about the land. Sylvari liked to think her nighttime activities of quenching her thirst had given her plenty of practice at seeing through gloom, but in truth, between the seeming eternal twilight of the swamp and the adverse weather, she was relying more on the Lizardman than she would like to admit.

Even so, after peering in the designated direction for a few seconds, her face brightened into a smile. Dry land! Or at least... dry rock? Ah well, anything to get out of this godsforsaken mud. "What a fantastic find, my dear! Truly you do not cease to impress. Thank the gods you are my partner. Solaria himself must have blessed me to be paired with you." Sylvari plastered on a fake, toothless smile for her companion, hiding the inner turmoil she felt. Solaria had turned his back on her the day she was changed, and nothing since had indicated an alteration in the status quo.

How he and his village had survived until his village's demise wasn't something Xalmann thought he should share. A small amount of hunting and foraging, yes, but they mostly thrived off of bloodshed. Pillaging other small villages, raiding caravans, capturing travelers and sacrificing them to the god they worshipped that had ended up betraying them in the end. Xalmann himself had barely survived the night his village had been burned to the ground and their god encouraged them to run into the flames, promising to protect them and reward them for their faith in him. The supposed trial turned into the end for his village and almost him.

"Village." Xalmann answered, not even looking back at Sylvari. He didn't want her to see the pained grimace on his face, though with his reptilian face, it would have been hard to notice for anyone other than a fellow Lizardfolk. How his village had functioned out here in such a place, he didn't elaborate.

Xalmann narrowed his eyes as Sylvari mentioned being blessed by Solaria. He didn't trust any gods after what he'd been through. He also had heard the gods were supposed to be dead from Scern. He didn't know if that was actually true, but he thought it might even be nice if it was. He didn't comment on it.

He trekked on, finding dry spots to walk until he couldn't. Unfortunately, the rock that would make a good camping spot was completely surrounded by water. He grabbed a branch from the nearest tree and dipped it into the water until he felt it hit the muddy ground beneath and lifted it back out, gauging the water's depth. It wasn't too deep. It was about knee height for him, though he was fairly tall.

He resigned himself and stepped into the water, his tail raised behind him to keep it dry.

Sylvari grimaced and hung her head in shame. It wasn't as if she could detect sadness from his words, for they were few, nor from his face, for he turned away and was difficult to read emotions off, even when one was able to look him straight on. No, it was the curtness of his tone, born not of irritation, as was presumably the case before, but of memories dredged up that Sylvari's stoic companion would rather leave buried. It was born of the same place of pain that Sylvari experienced when her home and way of life were ripped away from her.

"I'm sorry, darling, that was crass of me. I..." Sylvari trailed off, unable to think of excuse or comfort to offer. I wouldn't care to have some pain of a partner I just met prodding my pain... Sylvari's frown deepened as she was drawn unbidden into her own memories: the look of disgust on her father's face, the feeling of being covered in viscera, the horrible, awful, DELECTABLE taste of Banbraith's essence gliding down her throat...

Sylvari physically shook her head furiously, as a futile hope that the motion would ward off the bad memories. Absentmindedly, she noted Xalmann willingly stepped into the water. If he is going in, there must really be no other way. Sigh. Into the drink, then. Being a good head shorter than her partner, the water cascaded around her midsection as she stepped into the water. Sylvari noted in grim amusement that she would likely be freezing if she was alive.

And she sunk a lot deeper than him, just as he'd thought. It was probably the armor. That stuff had to be heavy. Xalmann was once again thankful he didn't wear any. Actually, he barely wore anything. He didn't even have a shirt on and his feet were always bare. They just didn't make shoes to fit his clawed, lizard-like feet.

As he waded through the swamp, the water barely reached the bottom of his pants on occasion, but the baggy leather shorts didn't absorb it. The only clothing he might worry about getting soaked was his cloak, but he could wring that out and let it dry once they reached their destination. Living in the swamp most of his life, he was no stranger to being muddy or wet. It was often unavoidable, just as it was now.

Behind Xalmann, the water was noticeably warmer than the surrounding bog. He and Sylvari could relate in that both could no longer feel the cold. Full of fire magic, Xalmann was always warm to the point that just putting a hand on his scales for too long would start to feel uncomfortably hot to most people.

When he climbed out of the water, onto the rock, steam began to rise from his legs as the water quickly evaporated from the heat coming off of the fiery Lizardman. In the most friendly gesture since the two had begun travelling together, he turned and offered Sylvari a hand getting up onto the rock. A hand made from blackened roots and vines.

For the briefest of moments, Sylvari marveled at the hand offered to her. It was clearly a wonder of living architecture, and beneath the gnarled roots that made the exterior of the four-fingered limb, a warm glow ever so slightly pulsed. Sylvari quickly pushed such frivolous thoughts away and gratefully accepted the offer of help out of the mire. Far from her unfounded worry that the limb was fragile, in its twisted beauty, Sylvari found her companion's appendage had a strength that surpassed her own. How humbling to know the difference in strength. But how wonderful to know the heights of what is possible!

Sylvari was inexplicably struck by this small kindness. Perhaps she knew that small gestures like these were as the greatest proclamations of companionship for one as quiet as Xalmann. Perhaps the exertion of the day, and the accumulated weariness of her spirit over these past few months, had left her in such a fragile emotional state that any kindness would evoke such a response. Or perhaps, simply, she really, REALLY needed a friend, even a nearly mute lizardman, here, in the armpit of the world. Whatever the reason, a single tear rolled, unbidden, from her left eye. Luckily, due to her veil, she was able to conceal the indiscretion by making a motion of scratching her cheek, but scarlet graced her face all the same.

I know he's hurting, maybe not exactly in the way I am, but close enough, all the same. I know I'm no one special. It would be the height of hubris to think I could do anything to ease his sorrow, but maybe, just maybe... I can let him know he's not alone.

Sylvari, almost instinctually, made a Motion of her people, ancient gestures passed down through generations when words alone could not suffice to evoke the proper feeling. Drawing a hand down over her face and resting it on her chest, she made purposeful eye contact with Xalmann, through her veil, before extending her hand to lightly press his chest.

Even if I can't do anything for you, partner, I SEE you, beyond what eyes can capture. A sad smile graced Sylvari's face as she walked up past her companion, taking the lead for the first time today as she set about clearing a space for their camp, humming absentmindedly as she thought to herself. Maybe it was enough for people to know they weren't alone.

Why did this weirdo just touch my chest? Xalmann thought to himself as he looked down at the spot where Sylvari had placed her hand on one of his pectorals. That was unexpected, but it looked like Sylvari wasn't making a big deal of it. She went straight to clearing space for their camp. Whatever.

Xalmann didn't think in any way that his helping her up was a gesture of kindness or friendship. He'd just thought she might have trouble climbing up onto the rock with her armor and the water weighing her down and he didn't want to have to wait for her to struggle onto the rock while he set up camp alone. It'd been purely out of efficiency, but Sylvari didn't need to know that and Xalmann didn't know of the seed of friendship he'd accidentally planted.

He set about helping with the campsite, kicking some of the larger pieces of debris off the top of the rock and into the water below and sweeping smaller pieces away with his tail. Just as the rock was clean enough, the last bits of sunlight started to dip below the horizon, hidden behind trees and rocks. It was too dark to see as night set in over the Marsh Flats.

Xalmann whispered something in a hiss-like voice, speaking the Lizardfolk language, and there was suddenly a light as the wooden roots and branches making up his shoulder parted to reveal what appeared to be a hole full entirely of orange flames. From inside, a ball of fire with a little smiling face and tiny nubs for arms came out and floated to the center of the rock, giving off a glow that lit up their camp area like a little lantern.

Xalmann just went to setting up his tent as the smiling fireball floated around cheerfully, looking around. When its eyes landed on Sylvari, it let out a noise like a combination of a sigh and a high pitched whine that sounded like it was curious about something. Xalmann said something in the Lizardfolk language again without turning around, apparently answering the fireball's question. Among the hisses and grunts, the only word that she would understand Xalmann saying was her own name.

"Sylvari."

---

Ghastly Lantern
Pet Pocket

After the pair had cleared adequate space and set up the tents for the evening, Sylvari finally peeled off her soaked armor, stripping down to only the wrappings she wore over her chest and hips. She methodically brushed off the grime, plant matter, and more than a few leeches from her padding, sighing as she set the armor aside on a rock to dry. Hopefully, it wouldn't still be sopping in the morning. Sylvari then set about stretching and checking her body for injuries, a nighttime habit that had become all but pointless since her change, but one she insisted on keeping, for her own sanity, if nothing else.

Sylvari grimaced as the sun set completely, plunging the world into darkness and provoking the restless hunger of the night. No matter how frequently she sated her thirst, each night brought with it cravings for more. Now was neither the time nor the place, so Sylvari forced herself to concentrate on her stretching routine. 

As a warm orange light erupted behind her, Sylvari sensed the magic coming from her companion. It was enough to send a pang of hunger like a shock through her whole body. She promptly clamped down on such thoughts like an iron vise, her hand already at her mouth to ward off any drool that would emerge. In rigid fashion, she completed her exercises and retrieved the robe that Romarii had given her, black and silver to match her veil. A small smile leapt to Sylvari's lips as she found the fabric mostly dry and largely untouched by the mire of the landscape, bundled into her pack as she had stored it.

Sylvari turned around to look at her companion after securing her robe. He was speaking, at least she thought he was speaking, through hisses, clicks, and grunts, to a small, anthropomorphized ball of fire. Well, it's unconventional, but at least he has someone to talk to.

Sylvari watched Xalmann and the fireling move about for a while, a small smile on her lips, until the little fire being gazed at her. She gave a tiny wave as the pair conversed again. Hearing her name in the conversation, she perked up her ears to catch anything else, but "Sylvari" was the only thing she could identify.

"You can just call me Sylvi," Sylvari smiled placatingly as she spoke. "Sylvari is a bit of a mouthful. Besides my... [other]... friends did so. Less you have to say, at the very least." The words were out of her mouth before Sylvari could stop them, so she merely dropped to a whisper when she presumptuously included the Lizardman amongst her friends. So not cool...

"Hm." Xalmann just grunted in acknowledgement. If he caught or had any feelings about Sylvari indirectly calling him her friend, he didn't give any indication of it. He noticed more the last bit of her sentence than anything. Seemed she had taken note of his lack of speaking this whole trip. Was she trying to be accommodating, or was it a veiled insult? Well, he didn't really care either way. He never really cared how others judged him. Except, of course, when their judgement was that they needed to arrest him if they saw him. That, he cared about.

He hadn't even wrung it out since he'd gotten straight to work on setting up the camp, but Xalmann's cloak was already nearly dry much faster than it should have been in the cool night air. Steam wafted from the bottom of his cloak where it had dipped into the bog, the water evaporating quickly in the heat given off by the Lizardman. His legs and leather pants were already fully dry.

He noticed the soaking wet armor and padding that Sylvari had taken off to let dry. That wouldn't do. The Marshes were humid, and it was cool at night. There was no way they'd be fully dry in the morning at this rate. He didn't care for his partner's personal comfort, but he did worry that might slow them down in their hunt tomorrow. The armor might rust and the padding could start to grow mildew. This place really wasn't suited to armor, but it was better for her to have it if she was used to using it than to make her go without it. He wanted his partner here to be at least somewhat reliable in a fight. Letting the armor be ruined would just hurt both of them.

Xalmann removed his cloak and laid it on the ground near his tent. He didn't want to just go and get it wet again.

"Stay here." He told both Sylvari and the fire spirit before climbing down the side of the rock, back into the water below, and heading toward the trees.

Sylvari stared into the gloom after her companion, pushing down a wave of worry. I would just get lost if I trekked after him in this place. He is a local, and stronger than me besides. Surely, he will be fine. Likelier safer out there than risking a chomp from me here.

Sylvari swiveled her head to look more closely at the little fireling that had been left with her in the camp. SO CUTE. It was a patronizing thought, as Sylvari could feel the pulse of arcane energy the little being gave off, but she couldn't help herself. She wasn't sure if the creature could speak, or even understand anyone other than its master, but that wasn't going to stop her from trying. "Hey there, little one! I'm sure your friend told you my name, but that doesn't mean we can't have a proper introduction." Sylvari smiled and held out her hands in a cupping motion, palms upward, as a perch for the fireling should it wish. "My name is Sylvari, but like I told our stoic friend, just call me Sylvi! You're a magnificent little creature!"

Sylvari continued to gush over the little friend, and, for the first time in a long time, thoughts of shame, fear, and worry were the farthest ones from her mind.

The fire spirit smiled wide, its toothless mouth open to show just more fire within. Its dot-like eyes focused on the outstretched hand and it placed a little nub on her fingertip as if it was giving her hand a shake, but didn't land in her palm as she silently offered. The fire it was made of didn't burn at all, the fingertip the little nub touched just feeling slightly warmer. There was no physical sensation of touch, like the nub wasn't solid either. It was like it was purely light with almost no heat, just a little ghost giving off a warm glow.

"WooOOooh." It seemingly spoke, though it was hard to actually tell. Its voice was like the breath of a baby that hadn't figured out how to form coherent thoughts yet on the wind. Sylvari couldn't make any words out, it it had even been saying any in the first place.

It was also hard to tell if it even understood what Sylvari said to it. It didn't seem to have any strong reactions to any of her words, including her compliments. It looked like it enjoyed talking to her though, bobbing happily in the air and making more sounds.

After a while, splashing sounds came from the water. A bundle of branches was shoved up onto the rock followed by Xalmann climbing back up onto the rock. He went to the center of the rock and pulled some dry moss from his bag and piled up the wooden branches, beginning to set up a campfire like a practices expert. When it was all done being set up, he held up a hand and a ball of flames appeared floating above it which he unceremoniously dropped right onto the kindling in the center which lit up instantly.

The fire slowly spread onto the wood around it until they had a proper, crackling campfire lighting up and warming the area. Without asking for permission, he started picking up Sylvari's soaking armor and moving it closer to the fire, just close enough to be warmed and allow it to dry without bringing it close enough to risk it catching fire.

"Thank you." Sylvari wanted to say more: to express her embarrassment at not considering the humidity of the swamp, to properly repay her companion for braving the muck again solely for her sake, but words failed her. I'm sure he knows, or maybe doesn't care... 

A sudden gust of wind rolled over the flat wetlands, blowing Sylvari's veil up, exposing her glowing crimson eyes, as it whipped in the breeze alongside her platinum hair. Under normal circumstances, Sylvari would have been ready on a hair-trigger to prevent such exposure, but the wind carried tidings of abnormal times. She focused her hearing in the direction of the breeze, not realizing the indiscretion. Was that... Did someone call my name?

Again, the wind gusted, carrying the faintest "Sylvari..." on it. She stared in the direction of the calling dumbstruck by the situation, her mouth agape, causing ivory fangs to glint in the light of the dancing flames. This... Lloyd said this would happen when we got close. This is the work of a Bogaboo. We might catch sight of it and finally be free of this wretched bog!

Sylvari turned to look at her companion as he tended the flame. "Did you hear that? Something is calling my name in the swamp."

At Sylvari's words, Xalmann looked more serious, if that was possible. He stood up and looked around with his axe in his hand. Lloyd had warned them something like this would happen when they were close to a Bogaboo at night, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon. They'd hardly set up camp and hadn't gotten any rest or eaten a meal yet. Now wasn't a good time. Being too hasty would just get them killed. Sylvari still didn't even have her armor on.

Of course, he wanted to get this hunt over with just as much as his companion, but fighting now when they were both tired and hungry after travelling all day would be a bad idea. It would be better if they kept watch for the night just in case and spent the day resting. Tomorrow, hopefully, the creature would still be around and trying to lure them away. They'd be much better prepared then.

Xalmann didn't hear anything call his own name as he looked around. Maybe the bogaboo had singled out Sylvari as the easier prey and focused its whispers on her. This thing wasn't an easy foe. It had some intelligence to it.

He focused his attention into the earth magic within him, trying to use it to sense the creature's location. If he knew where it was, he could react more easily if it tried anything. However, he couldn't sense it touching the ground. Wherever it was hiding, it was probably in the trees where his magic couldn't detect it. He wondered how long the creature had been here. Had it been here while he was gathering firewood, leaving Sylvari alone? He wouldn't be able to do that anymore. He'd need to stay with her now or it might attack.

Xalmann walked closer to Sylvari and spoke in a quiet, hiss-like whisper. "Sleep now. Fight tomorrow."

With that, he passed her a bit of hard bread and some dried meat. Travel rations he'd brought on the journey with him. It would have been nice to be able to hunt something and cook it, but that wasn't a possibility anymore with the bogaboo already stalking them.

He sat down by the fire. He didn't need the warmth of it, but fire tended to help keep enemies at bay. The light may have even been the only reason the bogaboo wasn't already attacking.