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After trekking through the swamp for most of the day and night, sweat dripping off your face and down your neck. You start to wonder where all the trolls have disappeared off to? The blighted creatures would never pass up an opportunity at a free meal, especially ones that have wandered so deep into their territory. Yet you haven't come across a single troll. Not that you mind, but you do wonder where all the creatures have gone.

Trolls by nature were unscrupulous beasts that live for the sheer pleasure of killing other creatures, they were notorious throughout the Dwarven and the Minotaur lands for raiding and pillaging villages of all their livestock. You'd also heard stories of a time long ago, when the trolls had followed Kings to war against the Minotaurs for seventeen long grueling centuries. Which only ended, when the werewolves from the Isle of Neeven had come to the Minotaur's aid, halting their march inland and forcing them back into their filthy swamps.

But all of that had happened years ago, back during your father's time. The odd thing was, in the stories you'd heard tell by dwarven scholars was that before trolls had gone to war there had been a great stillness within the swamps. Now you don't necessarily believe for a second that a troll army was gathering within the swamps, but the swamp was never this quiet...

Gorrack his ever watchful gaze shifting back and forth uneasily, had his battleaxe out and was looking worried, maybe he too was starting to realise the danger they had gotten themselves into.

While Lorna on the other hand was more interested in the insects and creatures that inhabited the swamp, pausing every now and again to study them. Even going so far as to try and catch one of cliks in her fist, but judging by look of disappointment on her face, she still hadn't succeeded in catching one yet.

You however, never liked insects, cliks, mugz, grubers or blooters they were all the same to you. Although blooters to your mind were the worst with their green pustulent bodies that were able float in the breeze. Allowing them to stalk their prey silently, before gently landing on their backs to latch onto their flesh and never let go, their tube like claws sliding into your skin like needles.

You've lived through that experience once in your life, while out scouting the forest for a company of adventurers looking for troll loot, but never again. Which was probably the main reason, you really didn't want to come back out here into the marshy swamp.

Keeping your head on a swivel, your eyes darting left and right, watching for any signs of the god awful insects, when Gorrack holds up a fist and points to a large patch of ground that looks a bit like an island in the middle of the swamp.

Glad to be heading towards dry land even if's its only for a short break, you hurry a little careful to not slip on the slippery surface of the stones beneath your feet and release a huge sigh of relief upon reaching firm soil beneath your feet.

Wading out from the mucky green water that has utterly drenched your clothing and left you smelling like rotten eggs. You walk over towards a distracted Lorna, who is sitting cross legged beside a large upturned stone, staring at something in her her hand and take a seat not far from her.

You then tug off the small sack you've been carrying around on your shoulder and pull out some dried hob meat to suck on, until it's soft enough to start chewing. The cold breeze chilling your bones.

Gorrack deciding to keep watch, leans up against a massive tree trunk, his battelaxe back in it's sling, but never far from his hand.

After awhile of staring out into the darkening marshland, you begin to wonder what Lorna's looking at? So you lean over to see what's in her hand and flare your nostrils in disgust, upon seeing a dead clik in her palm and blurt out, "Seriously, why?"

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Lorna without looking up at you, continues to study the tiny insect. "Why?... well why not? Cliks only exist in the swamplands and yet they produce an inky substance that is pretty much used in every single potion that's ever been made on our world. Haven't you ever wondered how the potions you use to heal your wounds works? Well, it's because of these marvelous insects."

Losing your appetite from seeing her play around with the dead insect, you toss aside the meat you were chewing on and stand back up to walk over to Gorrack. "You see anything."

Gorrack nods his head and points towards an overgrown tree several miles away from where you are that must be at least fifty feet tall and ten feet wide with long sweeping branches that stretch out for miles overhead. Having never seen the legendary Hearth Tree before, you cannot help but feel awe at it's great size and strangely unnatural beauty that entrances you.

But what has you licking your lips hungrily is the treasure chest that is nestled inside the hollowed out part of its tree trunk, which glints invitingly in the starlight, urging you to walk towards it.

Wishing with all your heart to be away from you here, you clear your throat. "Hrrmmm, well I think it's just about time we get going again." Gorrack nods his head an agreement and gestures a hand towards Lorna, who reluctantly gets back up, pocketing her insect.

Moving together as a group, you walk back into the smelly swamp. However this time you decide to take the lead pushing off ahead of Gorrack, who snorts his nostrils amusement and shakes his head at your eagerness.

Choosing to ignore him, you wade out deeper into the green frothing water that now reaches your arms and struggle your way forward. Insects buzzing all about, causing your arms to flail every now and then to get rid of them. The stillness of the swampland somehow closing in around you to make your mind wander. Your thoughts returning to the demoness and her plans to use you against her brother. Which to your mind still sounded absolutely ridiculously, after all why would a demoness need you to do something she should be able to do herself?Or why not send one of her minions? It just didn't make any sense.

Wiping the sweat from your forehead, you briefly look up to make sure your still moving in right direction and curse underneath your breath.

Thousands of glowing lights shine in the distance, stretching for many miles in both directions, blocking their path forward. You think briefly of going around, but that could take a lot more time. Turning you hold up a finger to your lips to make sure your companions stay quiet, and cautiously walk towards the light.

Much closer now to the lights, you can make out hundreds upon thousands of campfires on islands like the one you were on before but much larger with thousands of trolls moving about the camp site. Sharpening weapons on grindstones and equipping themselves in armor made from the bark of the swamp trees, clearly preparing for war.

Stung by the revelation that you had been right all along, you try to come up with a plan of action to get past the creatures.

2. Wait for the trolls to go to sleep, assuming they have to sleep?

Preferring to err on the side of caution rather than facing an entire army of trolls with only your companions to back you up. You wait for Lorna and Gorrack to catch up to you, before whispering, "Looks like there's a troll camp ahead of us. I say we hole up nearby for awhile and wait for them to go to sleep, then slip through their camp."

Gorrack fingers his battle axe and grunts in reply, while Lorna gives you a look of consternation. "Are you even sure Trolls even go to sleep? That could be hours away from now. We need move now, before they see us!"

(If you would like to continue simply read on, however if your worried this plan may not work. You now have the option of turning back and selecting another choice.)    

You reply firmly, "No, it's too much of a risk, we'll wait for the trolls to go to sleep, then we'll try to slip through."

Lorna glares angrily at you, clearly wishing to argue with you further, but for some reason decides against it and nods her head. "Fine."

Half surprised at how easily she caved-in, you head back a ways through the swamp to a decent spot with clear lines of sight on the troll camp and wait.

Minutes pass by, then hours and still there was no signs that the trolls were going to sleep. Worried you may have made a mistake, you turn to look at Lorna, who has a self satisfied smirk on her lips. "Come on then, we've wasted enough time here." 

(Read the results below and return to the scenario to select another option.)

Battle Results

None

Companion Reputation, (-1 Lorna and -1 Gorrack are not pleased with your actions.)

Loot

None