Chapter 07 - Rainy Departure

Edna pulled her leather cloak tight against the rain as she and her newfound companions, Hildebrin and Makaik, set out from Danvers.

The storm only intensified after their meeting in the church, and the wind howled a a relentless downpour. Little goblins might not even care about the rain, but for her, it was annoying to be drenched at the start of an adventure.

Edna glanced at Hildebrin, the half-Dwarf woman clanking along in her heavy armor.

She said loudly, having to raise her voice just to be heard, "doesn’t this weather just put a damper on everything?"

Hildebrin grunted in response, her grip tightening on the handle of her massive hammer. "Aye, it's a right nuisance. Wish I could just bash the clouds apart with this thing, but unfortunately I am not a goddess."

The monk boy laughed at that.

Between them, Makaik moved with a grace that belied his heavy load. He carried Hildebrin's giant sack stuffed to the brim with provisions for their journey. The young monk's robes flapped in the wet wind, but he seemed unfazed by the downpour, eyes scanning the road ahead with a determined focus.

"At least we'll have plenty of food to sustain us," Edna said, eyeing the bulging sack. Her own pack felt light in comparison, filled only with the essentials for their expedition.

"Aye, I always have plenty to eat," Hildebrin said, casting an approving glance in Makaik's direction. "Can't very well go goblin hunting on an empty stomach, now can we?"

Edna chuckled, the sound lost to the howling wind. "I suppose not. Though I must admit, I'm not as young as I used to be. I can already feel that this old body of mine doesn't take to adventuring so easily."

Hildebrin nodded, her expression softening for a moment. "Aye, I know the feeling. It's been decades since I've put this armor on. It sure doesn't feel as comfortable as it used to. Maybe it's the rain, or maybe it's the weight I've gained. Who knows!"

Edna smiled, a glimmer of understanding passing between the two women.

The trio pressed on, making footsteps in the mud as they made their way towards the swamplands. Aches and pains of adventuring began to set in. It had been so long since she'd felt this way.

As they walked, Edna couldn't help but steal glances at her companions. Makaik, with his youthful energy and unwavering determination, was a stark contrast to the weathered warriors flanking him. And Hildebrin, with her gruff demeanor and impressive armor, was a force to be reckoned with.

Edna found herself wondering what had brought these two disparate individuals to Danvers, and what had drawn them to this particular quest. She knew that her own motivations were deeply personal. The theft of her beloved cat, Warfrost, had ignited a fire within her that she hadn't felt in years. But what of the others?

She knew Hildebrin's sister had died, or at least that Hildebrin had said so. Makaik she knew even less about. She'd been foolish not to realize he was a monk child, but she didn't have very much experience with monks anyway.

Edna trudged along the winding path, the damp air clinging to her skin as they delved deeper into the swamplands. The road twisted and turned, a meandering route that felt inefficient, but she had no desire to risk the alligator-infested waters like the goblins did.

"I hate swamps." Hildebrin grumbled, her heavy boots sinking into the soft earth. "Why couldn't the blasted goblins have set up their grotto somewhere more accessible?"

Edna couldn't help but chuckle at the half-Dwarf's frustration. "Ah, but where's the challenge in that? Besides, I've always found the swamps to have a certain charm about them. Keggma's Grotto used to be a great dungeon that explorers loved to visit, you know."

Hildebrin shot her a skeptical glance. "Charm? I'd sooner find charm in a troll's armpit, and there's got to be a reason why they quit coming here! Because it's a swamp! That's why!"

She laughed again.

Makaik, who had been silent for much of the journey, spoke up. "The swamps do hold a certain tranquility, if one knows how to appreciate it. The ebb and flow of the waters, the calls of the creatures. That can all be quite soothing, once you attune your senses."

Edna nodded, impressed by the young monk's insight. "Exactly so. There's a balance to these wetlands, a delicate dance between life and death. You have to respect it, lest you find yourself on the wrong side of the equation."

Hildebrin snorted. "Aye, well. It doesn't matter much I guess. Not much an alligator or a goblin can do against my hammer. It's just annoying is all."

As if on cue, a large reptilian head emerged from the murky waters, its jaws snapping just a few feet from the path. Edna instinctively reached for the shuriken hidden in her sleeve, but Makaik raised a hand, his expression calm.

"Peace, my friends," he said, his voice soft but firm. "The alligator is merely curious, not seeking to attack us. they are full of goblin."

Hildebrin laughed. "Hah! Good."

Edna watched in fascination as the young monk stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate. He crouched at the water's edge, meeting the alligator's gaze, and to her surprise, the creature seemed to relax, its eyes half-closing in a display of tranquility.

"How did you do that?" Hildebrin asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of awe and disbelief.

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Makaik glanced back at them, a faint smile playing on his lips. "The Fifty Golden Gods of Gaia have blessed me with the ability to commune with the creatures of the natural world. I have learned to respect their place in the delicate balance of these wetlands."

Edna felt a surge of admiration for the young monk. His connection to the land and its inhabitants was a far cry from her own pragmatic approach to adventuring. She had seen the swamps as a means to an end, a necessary obstacle to overcome on her way to her goal. But now, she found herself seeing them in a new light, as a living, breathing entity that demanded respect and understanding.

As they continued their trek, Edna found herself drawn into Makaik's stories. He told tales of the Fifty Golden Gods of Gaia and their intricate web of relationships and domains. She listened, enthralled, as he described the power and wisdom of these deities, and how they had shaped the world around them.

"And what of your own gods, Edna?" Makaik asked, his eyes alight with curiosity. "Do you not follow a similar path of reverence and devotion?"

She hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Her own relationship with the divine had always been a complex one, a delicate balance of pragmatism and belief. "I suppose you could say I've always been more of a pragmatist than a devotee," she admitted. "The gods have their place, to be sure, but I've found that oftentimes, it's our own actions that determine the course of our lives."

Hildebrin grunted in agreement. "Aye, that's a sentiment I can get behind. The gods may have their grand designs, but it's up to us mortals to forge our own paths."

Makaik nodded thoughtfully, his gaze drifting to the swirling waters around them where alligators swam. "There is wisdom in your words, my friends. But perhaps there is also value in finding a balance between the divine and the mortal, in understanding our place within the greater tapestry of the world."

Edna considered his words, feeling a sense of kinship with the young monk. Despite their differences, there was a shared understanding that transcended the boundaries of faith and belief. They were all seeking to find their way in a world that was often unpredictable and unforgiving, and in that, they were kindred spirits.

As they walked, Edna couldn't help but steal glances at her companions, marveling at the unlikely trio they had become. Hildebrin, the gruff and battle-hardened half-Dwarf; Makaik, the young and spiritually-attuned monk; and herself, the retired mercenary seeking to correct the mistake of letting Warfrost get catnapped.

They walked for many hours all through a muggy, drizzly day. The swamp was overcast by dark clouds, revealing what felt like an endless marsh of alligators, snakes, and other creatures. A sun had risen somewhere, but it was hard to spot through such thick clouds.

Edna looked to her companions, all of them drenched in sweat. The path they'd chosen avoided having to trudge through knee deep waters, but it meandered all over the land. This was why the rainy trip was taking so long.

As the sun was finally falling on that day, they came at last to the large pit in the center of the swamplands. A massive, gaping hole in the earth yawned open, surrounded by a series of cascading waterfalls that plummeted into the depths below.

"By the gods," she breathed, her voice barely audible over the roar of the water. "So this is Keggma's Grotto."

Beside her, Hildebrin let out a low whistle, her grip tightening on the handle of her hammer. "Aye, that it is. Quite the impressive setup the goblins have here."

Makaik moved to the edge of the pit, his gaze sweeping across the scene with a mixture of awe and trepidation. "The power and majesty of these falls is humbling," he murmured, his fingers tracing the intricate carvings on the stone steps that wound their way down into the grotto.

Edna felt a twinge of unease as she surveyed the treacherous path. The steps were slick with moss and water, and the sheer drop on either side was enough to make her stomach churn.

"Well, I suppose we'd best get started," she said, her voice laced with a hint of reluctance. "The sooner we get down there, the sooner we can find Warfrost and put an end to this goblin infestation."

Hildebrin grunted in agreement, her eyes narrowing as she eyed the steps with a critical gaze. "Aye, but I'll be damned if I'm going to go careening down those blasted stairs. Looks like a good way to break my neck."

Edna couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Indeed. And I'll wager the goblins have a few unpleasant surprises waiting for us at the bottom, as well."

Makaik, ever the voice of reason, stepped forward, his expression thoughtful. "Perhaps we could find a safer way to descend. Surely there must be another entrance, one that does not require us to risk life and limb on these treacherous steps."

Edna considered his words, her mind racing as she tried to envision an alternative approach. "Well, we could try scouting the perimeter, see if there's another way in. But that would mean wasting valuable time, and who knows what the goblins might be doing to Warfrost in the meantime. Another option is to make camp and see if the steps are still slick and slipper tomorrow."

Hildebrin let out a frustrated growl, her armor clanking as she shifted her weight. "Curse these goblins! Can't they make anything easy for us?"

Edna couldn't help but chuckle, despite the gravity of their situation. "Ah, but where's the fun in that, Hildebrin? Besides, a little adversity only makes the victory that much sweeter."

The half-Dwarf woman shot her a skeptical look, her lips curling into a sardonic smile. "Aye, well, I'd rather have my victories come without the risk of a broken neck, if it's all the same to you."

Edna sighed, running a hand through her short, white hair as she surveyed the daunting steps once more. "I suppose you have a point. As much as I hate to admit it, we may need to find a more cautious approach, or one that…"

She trailed off, looking into one of her pockets. The orange glow of a soul stone shined out from within. She continued, "well, the stone still glows, so I'm pretty sure Warfrost still lives for now."

Makaik nodded, his gaze fixed on the swirling waters below. "The gods will guide us, if we but listen to their wisdom. I can feel an energy coming from that stone, and I agree that this soul still lives. Perhaps there is a path that we have yet to see. Perhaps there is one that will lead us safely to our destination."

Edna felt admiration for the young monk's faith, even as her own doubts began to creep in. "I hope you're right, Makaik. For all our sakes."

The trio stood in silence for a moment, the roar of the waterfalls filling the air as they contemplated their next move. Edna's muscles ached from the long journey, and she could feel the weariness seeping into her bones.

"Well, I don't know about the two of you, but I could use a bit of a rest before we tackle those blasted stairs," she said, nodding towards a small outcrop of rock that offered a modicum of shelter from the relentless spray of the waterfalls.

Hildebrin let out a grunt of agreement, already making her way towards a resting spot. "Aye, a bit of a breather sounds like just the thing. These old bones of mine could use a moment to recover."

Makaik followed behind them, his steps sure and steady despite the treacherous terrain. "A wise decision, my friends. We will need to be at our best if we are to face the challenges that lie ahead."

As they settled in, Edna couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease. The grandeur of Keggma's Grotto was undeniable, but the thought of navigating those slippery steps filled her with a sense of dread. She knew that their quest to rescue Warfrost was far from over, and the dangers that awaited them in the depths of the goblin stronghold were sure to be formidable.

Even as the weight of their task bore down on her, Edna couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. The thrill of the unknown and the adrenaline of facing a worthy adversary. This was a feeling she had missed. It was a part of herself that she had buried for far too long.

As she sat, listening to the steady rhythm of the waterfalls, Edna knew that this was just the beginning. The road ahead would be treacherous, but with Hildebrin and Makaik by her side, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. They would find a way to conquer the challenges that lay before them, and she would be damned if she let a few slippery stairs stand in her way.