Swamp Things Part 1 - RPLOG
Participants
Date
20/10/477
Log
Tobin stands waiting on the boardwalk of the swamp, tossing little pebbles out across the brackish water among the mangrove trees. The oversize corgi is just sitting there, bopping his head to a little tune that apparently only he can hear. "Be here soon, be here soon," he sings tunelessly to himself as he watches his pebbles plop into the swamp.
Given that he was heading to the swamp, Thelergramor is in his basilisk form. All scaled and such. Wearing his usual plague mask and pants, while also shirtless, the wolfilisk walks on up to the boardwalk, lugging his heavy cannon and flamberge with him. Speaks: "You the guy looking for help out here? Not more cannibals, I hope." Smirks behind his mask, looks back and up for anyone approaching.
Natska arrives shortly after, in her full kit as well. The jaguar tilts her head to the side as she eyes the basilisk for a moment, then raises her eyebrows. "Thel?" she asks. "And you must be our client," she says to Tobin, giving him a bow of her head.
Cassidy trailing along the boardwalk shortly behind Natska, the dapper dressed fennec arrives on the scene. Gloved hands folded behind her back, she leans forward and peers at Tobin from behind her mask. "My, my. I did not expect to see you out here."
Tobin looks up from his impromptu entertainment with a big doggy smile. "Hey! Y'all came! Great! Hello Miss Cassidy!" he calls, tossing the rest of his pebbles out into the water, "Name's Tobin! Tobin Hardbottle." The canine holds out a big, dirty mitt to shake. "Glad y'all could come!" he says, "See, I was s'posed to come out here and get some stuff fer my big brother, and I did!" The corgi puffs out his chest proudly, then deflates a bit. "'Cept I gone an' dropped it," he says, pointing out over the water. Over among the mangrove trees, the water seems to fall into a bit of a stream or a trail, tumbling away into the dark swamp.
"I woulda jus' chased after it myself," Tobin says, "But I heard there could be some nasty things down there in the bog." He looks hopefully at the three Freeswords. "So," he asks, "Can you help a fella out? I can pay you."
Thelergramor shifts his cannon under his arm, holding it lovingly... Adjusts his mask as he turns to CnN. "Ah, there're two of my three favorite ladies. Yes, it's me, Natska. Mask give it away? Or the scars?" Chuckles and looks back to Tobin. "So, swim around in the swamp water, picking up... stuff. Pfft, I've done worse for money."
Natska's notched ear flicks, but she nods. "Yea. I think we can handle it with this team. What are we looking for, exactly?" she asks. "And the mask did, Thel, as well as not having a shirt. That is certainly very much your personal style."
Cassidy looks down at herself and hums. "Well. I am not properly dressed for digging in the mire, but... I will certainly go along to help keep an eye out and fend off any nasties that we may happen upon! Count me in, yes. I've been out of the adventure game for too long."
Tobin grins at Thelergramor. "Yup!" he says, "Easy money, right? And we get to jump around in the swamp!" The big corgi looks around at the others. "It's a big old crate," he says, miming a box big enough to stuff Thelergramor into comfortably. The canine scratches at his thick sideburns. "It should be alright," he says, "I packed it all in real good and it's all sealed up so nothin' gets wet!" The big guy hops down from the boardwalk, splashing up to his knees in the muck. "Jus' watch out fer them mudscuttle thingies," he says, "Steppin' on one is what made me drop the box in the first place!" With that, he starts slogging toward the muddy trail between the mangroves.
Thelergramor nods at Natska, grins behind his mask. "Shirt would just weigh me down. And hide my most attractive assets." Traces one of his scars and then speaks to Cassidy. "Hey, no reason to get your clothes muddy. Noone but us here if you want to take 'em off." Shrugs, squints at the swamp. Bad place for a cannon. All wet and shit. Brings it with him anyway, dropping into the muck behind Tobin. "So, a bigass crate. Probably didn't wash downstream then."
Natska settles a stern look on Thel from behind, then shakes her head. She eyes the path ahead, then makes an air-assisted leap, lightly bouncing over the worst of the mire and getting a short ways ahead of the group to have a look. "You are quite shameless, aren't you, Thel?"
"As much as I'm sure you'd love to see me mud wrestling with Natska, I'm going to have to decline," Cassidy says with a snort as she kicks up a bit of air magic to hover over the muck, cape fluttered behind her in the artificial breeze.
"Naw," Tobin says, "Didn't wash nowhere." The sizable corgi heaves his bulk over a little barrier of mangrove roots and on to the quick stream bubbling away. "Couple of funny lookin' critters jumped up outta the swamp and snagged it!" he says before quickly sliding down the fast moving, muddy incline, leaving the others behind.
Thelergramor is now wet. Water much higher on him than Tobin. Holds his cannon at chest height with some slight exertion. "Well, now I've got one good cannon shot left... So, they picked up the box and left? Fun." Snorts and wades through the swamp; glances back at Natska and Cassidy. "Shameless? Nah, I'm ashamed of alot of the shit I've done recently. Won't lie, I do like the thought of you two wrestling, though. Better if I were involved somehow. But we can talk about my undying love for the two of you later." Turns back to follow Tobin.
"Wait. You dropped it, and then it was carried off by... things?" Natska asks, pausing in her hop from tree to tree and rock to rock to look at Tobin. "That could be crucial information," she adds, although her tone is neutral. Her tail lashes back and forth once, and then she moves again, keeping pace with Tobin now. "How many are a couple? Funny in what way?" she asks.
Cassidy floats along at Natska's side, nodding slowly. "Yes, important information indeed! I don't suppose you know which way they went?" She asks, giving her fingers a few experimental snaps as she runs over math in her head in preparation.
Tobin is splashing unconcerned through the muck at the bottom of the slide. "What?" he calls loudly to Natska, "Couldn't hear you over that awesome mud slide!" The canine is filthy. And apparently pretty happy about it. "I think they went that way!" he says, pointing at a huge mass of mangrove trees all growing together. "I think that might be a door or somethin!"
Sure enough, at the base of the mangroves is some sort of grate, woven out of swamp vines and fallen mangrove branches. It looks natural enough to avoid casual glances, but is fairly obvious from this close.
Thelergramor slid gracefully, despite the heavy equipment, down the incline. Unamused by this. Glances towards the door, trying to figure out what kind of swamp creature steals crates and makes a door. "So, anyone have any idea what could've made that?" Simple question, to whoever can answer it. "Because I've no idea." Hefts his cannon, looks over the area; paranoid.
Natska perches for a moment and peers at the gate, then looks over at Cassidy. "Think we should go up and over? Or would you like me to go through the door?" She flexes one of her gauntleted hands, then grins. "Either way, I think I am ready to go."
Cassidy settles her hand at her side, drawing her rapier as she lets herself drift slightly to the side, casting her eyes around the area, and then over the door. "I am ready, as well. I don't know if your crate will be back there, but I am certainly curious. Why would something like this be out here?"
Tobin slogs over, apparently unbothered by the remarkable swamp smell that he has acquired to go with his already pungent doggy smell. "I could probably pull that down if you like," he offers, "But it'll make a hell of a lot of noise I bet." He stands there, waiting for instructions.
Thelergramor scratches his head, still able to hold the cannon up with one arm. Sniffs. "...Need a bath later. The only shot I've got loaded is explosive; could easily just blow through it. Maybe. And make more noise, probably. But, subtlety is overrated. Sometimes." Glances back at Cassidy and Natska. "I'll defer to your judgement on this one." Shrugs, again looking over the area expecting an ambush.
If anyone was going to make a lot of noise and be the first person through a door, it wasn't the client; as much as Natska would prefer to go up the tree, too, Thel couldn't follow. So, the jaguar moves up to the door, braces a moment, and then throws her best punch at the gate in an attempt to knock it open.
Cassidy narrows her eyes towards the gate as Natska goes to try to punch it open, grip tightening around the hilt of her sword as she prepares to face anything that may be waiting for them on the other side.
Natska's well placed punch cracks a dried vine holding the grate shut. It was not much louder than a falling branch out in the swamps, and may have gone unnoticed. "You think we could just slide it open?" Tobin asks, giving the loosened grate an experimental shove. The loosened bundle of weeds and branches rolls aside with a gentle rustling and slurping as it slips into the swampy muck.
Behind the now open grate is a short tunnel apparently made from the living roots of the mangroves. Whatever this place is, it has been here for quite some time. Light filters down every few feet between the tangled roots overhead. The tunnel looks high enough for an average sized being to traverse comfortably. Someone of Tobin's size will have to stoop. The tunnel does not go too far before twisting off to the side and out of sight.
Thelergramor lifts up his mask, sneezes, and drops it back down. "Huh. That works. So... Who first? I could go, if you want." The basilisk shrugs. "Less chance of one of you three getting hurt that way." Looks between the three; doesn't sound concerned at all about a tunnel in a swamp. Starts towards it, and stops at the entrance before being given the go-ahead. If he's given it, anyway.
Natska gives her head a shake, and takes the lead down the tunnel. "No. Explosive rounds in such tight quarters?" She draws her longsword, then motions for everyone to keep the noise down as they proceed.
Cassidy drifts after Natska, remaining quiet and ready for the moment, keeping the tip of her sword pointed down toward the ground below her. "Just remain careful," she warns. Once in the tunnel proper, she touches down at last, taking advantage of the fact that she won't be standing in muck to use her focus elsewhere.
Tobin follows after the others, stooping a bit to fit in the narrow confines of the tunnel. "This is pretty neat, huh?" the oversized corgi asks, "I didn't know there was anythin' like this so close to the boardwalks!" The bulky canine's head starts to bop around again to his unheard music. He seems to be enjoying himself immensely.
From up ahead, the sound of voices can be heard. Though they are still too distant to make out what they are saying.
Thelergramor tries to avoid coughing and speaking too loud: "Of course, Natska. Nothing in front of me would be able to get away." Shrugs, tries to move quietly. Probably not a good place to have a flamberge and cannon, really. "Everyone hears that, right?" Referencing the voices, of course.
Natska's ears perk, and she nods her head; she quietly snorts as people keep chatting, but remains otherwise silent - or as silent as an armored jaguar could be - as she stalks her way down the tunnel.
Cassidy starts to reach for the dagger at her side, but decides against it in favour of keeping her left hand free for the time being. She doesn't respond to the question upon hearing the voices, and instead rolls her shoulder so that her sword-toting arm is partially concealed by the long lack cape.
"I'm telling you, Marty," comes a nervous sounding voice, "I think the big lug will follow us down here!"
Another voice answers, a little deeper and bigger. "Relax Scrubbs!" it says, "We can handle him, even if he DOES find this place. We just gotta wait a little longer and Domo will be here with our pay." There is a sound like someone thumping a fist against something hard. "An' there's gotta be something in here that Domo will like!" comes the second voice again. They must be just ahead!
Thelergramor stops at the speach, whispers to his group. "Kill now, or talk first?" Really wishes he knew if they knew sign language... Checks his cannon; bad idea. Lets it hang from the sling; which isn't good for his balance, and puts a hand on his flamberge. Also a bad weapon for a cave. Just shakes his head and cracks his knuckles with a grin.
Natska grins and picks up the pace just a little, sword up and ready. She doesn't call out or make any other noises, since she wants to give the theifs a nice surprise when she finds them.
Cassidy adjusts her hat as they wander closer towards the voices. Ducking down to reduce her profile even more, the black clad fennec slips ahead on agile paws, hoping to sneak ahead and get a good scope of the situation. And possibly set up for an ambush, as well!
The squabbling voices ahead reveal themselves to be two rat beings, one a bit bigger than the other. They both seem to be wearing strange suits made out of swamp weeds and plants. "I'm tellin' you Marty," the smaller one says, "He wasn't scared by the suits! What if he gets here before Domo does?"
The other rat, bigger and burlier than his compatriot waves around some kind of weedy hood. "Course he was scared of us Scrubbs!" he blusters, "Everybody is scared of swamp monsters out here! They're all a bunch of hicks!" He turns away and picks up a heavy looking blunderbuss. "Sides, if he shows up, I'll just blast his goofy lookin' mug!"
Thelergramor sees the other two setting up for an ambush, which means 'kill these fools' in bandit speech. Shrugs, and... Shit. Blunderbuss. The basilisk sighs, then focuses his gaze on them after removing his mask; proceeds to spew a toxic cloud towards them. Which, he is of course immune to... The others probably aren't, but... No words from the reptile.
Natska sees the bigger rat turn away and her ears perk; the jaguar tenses for a moment, then quickly rushes forward, the already fast cat propelled in her pounce with a little wind, aiming to land up close next to the rat with the blunderbuss. "Or he'd hire monster slayers. Drop it or eat steel."
Cassidy leaps into action as soon as Natska does, using a similar bit of air magic to pounce up behind the second rat to tap him over the shoulder with her rapier. "Yes. Do not react harshly. That would be most... Dangerous!" She scowls at the noxious cloud coming from Thel, and uses a bit more air magic to try to keep it at bay and away from her and the others.
The cloud of foul fumes billows out from Thelergramor, effectively sealing the exit and trapping the bulk of Tobin behind the Wolfalisk. The smaller rat, surprised, throws his hands in the air. "I surrender! I surrender!" he cries, shaking. His bigger compatriot, however does not react so well, spinning around and firing his loaded blunderbuss at Natska!
Thelergramor notices that the others seemed to have not liked his tactic of 'poison them and leave'... Rushes the blunderbuss rat with a snarl, aiming to strike him in the throat with his metal-backed glove. "See? This is why you should answer me! So I don't almost poison you two!" He is otherwise unconcerned by this turn of events.
Natska grunts as her armor takes the brunt of the close range shot, having been banking on being able to get inside of the rat's firing arc. Answer provided, she lays into the rat with her longsword.
Cassidy starts to lift her sword when the rat fires at her love, but seeing her largely okay and starting to attack back against the rat, herself, she opts to stay with the one that had surrendered. She pats him on the shoulder and gently strokes at his cheek with her blade. "You're the smart one, I can tell. You'll see why your friend should have taken your lead."
The larger rat falls to the ground, scrabbling at his crushed windpipe and the deep slash through his weed encrusted suit. Seems like it wasn't especially protective. The rodent falls to the ground, choking and gurgling horribly.
"Just don't hurt me!" the smaller rat sobs, watching the Freeswords dispatch his partner. "Look! We didn't hurt nobody!" he says, "Please don't hurt me!"
Meanwhile, a cry comes from out in the tunnel. Whatever is going on out there is obscured by Thelergramor's noxious cloud.
Thelergramor kicks the downed rat, hard, with his prosthetic leg before turning towards the fumes. "Can't promise I won't." Having delivered his threat to the rat, returns to his cloud. Assumes something bad is happening on the other side. Walks on through it; knowing Cass and Nats can handle a surrendered rat. And that he's immune to his own toxins.
Natska points her bloodied sword at the second rat, but withholds her attack. Her ears flick at the cry, and she glances to Cass, then Thel. "Where's Tobin? Don't let anything happen to him!"
Cassidy gestures towards the toxin cloud. "Behind that. Go get him, Thel," she says sternly as she cuts her eyes as the basilisk. As he moves off shepeers at the captured rat and steps back. "Who're you working for, and why are you out here of all places? The swamps are not the best place for banditry."
Tobin is slumped across the passageway, a little blood trickling from what must have been a blow to the head. There is a sound of distant running feet. Whoever it was is long gone, they must have caught the corgi by surprise.
"Not bandits!" squeaks the rodent, "No one ever misses stuff dropped in the swamp! We just scare people off!" The fellow falls to his knees with his hands in the air, his nervous gaze turning to the commotion outside. "That's all I can tell you," he stammers, "That's all I know! Domo just comes with his goons and takes the stuff away."
Thelergramor responds to Cassidy as he goes. "I'll get him, yeah." Is unsurprised by the unconscious Tobin; though he considers giving chase to whomever struck Tobin. Would of course, want that person dead for attacking his employer; assumes his allies would rather have Tobin conscious. Kneels near the injured corgi. "Hey, Tobin, you alright?" Pokes him a few times. Grins. "...Time to be a doctor again..." Takes his scarf; which is already red, and starts dabbing at the bleeding region on his head. "Still alive, right?" Prods at him again.
"Is he alright, Thel?" Natska calls out, not relaxing her threatening stance; her eyes narrow at the rat, and she waits to hear back about Tobin's condition.
Cassidy tilts her head to the side, rolling her wrist for a moment. "Not bandits? Sure sounds like banditry. Scare people away and make them drop things, then you take it. Still theft. Still crime. Do you know what Domo looks like? Perhaps where he goes?"
Tobin suddenly flails! "Wasn't sleeping!" he cries out, then looks around, bewildered. "What happened?" he asks.
"Big gator!" the rat cries, "Wears a hat with a veil, I don't know his face!" The rodent just sits there shaking after that as his compatriot's gurgles die away.
Thelergramor smirks and takes his scarf back. "Oh, you got drunk and passed out in a tunnel." Clear humor in his tone. "He's fine Natska!" Turns back to Tobin. "Nah, looks like you were whacked in the head. Should be fine. Want me to wait with you until the cloud clears?"
Natska grunts at the clear from Thel, then wipes her sword on a small cloth hanging next to its sheath before she slides the blade away. "Alright. We have his box, and he didn't specifically say he needed them dead. Up to you, Cass." She moves over to the crate and checks it over, then gives it an experimental tip to try and estimate the weight.
Cassidy nods at Natska and turns her eyes to the rat. "Well. Good news is, I'm not going to kill you. You've been very cooperative, and I see no reason to kill you. So I'm going to ask you one question. How you answer it decides what'll happen next. If we happened to let you go... What're you going to do? Where are you going to go?" She slides her sword back into its scabbard and folds her hands under her cloak.
Tobin looks panicked for a moment when Thelergramor tells him he passed out drunk, then relaxes. "Oh good," he drawls, "Big Brother got real mad last time I got drunk onna job!"
The big corgi drags himself to his feet and touches a thick finger to the little cut on his forehead. "Owowowowow!" he hisses, then turns to Thel. "I'm alright," he says, "You go help Miss Cassidy and her friend."
The smaller rat struggles to his feet at the promise of release. "If it's all the same to you lady," he stammers, still terrified, "I'm gonna run." He looks at his dead friend. "Domo'll make what you did to Monty look like charity if he catches me," he says, "I'll run as far as I can get and never look back."
Natska finds that the box is pretty hefty. Two beings could probably carry it without too much trouble, but it was quite a load. The box seems to still be sealed.
Thelergramor nods at Tobin, then heads back to the others. "Alright, so what're we doing with this fool? He wants to run, probably right back to this Domo person." Gestures to the surrendered rat. Walks over to the dead one. "Uh... Anyone mind if I check this one for anything useful?" Would search the body with permission...
Natska makes a small noise, and shakes her head. "I don't care. Help me with this though?" she asks, as she starts moving the box closer to the mouth of the tunnel. "We can spare Tobin the scene."
Cassidy starts to turn and shrugs. "Well. Okay then! Your life is in your hands, now. Wait for us to leave, and after a few minutes... Run and don't look back, as you say. I don't want to find out you've gotten back into crime, hm? Next time, I'm not letting you go." And with that, she moves to start helping Natska with the box so Thel can be free to mess with the body.
The rat nods, fearfully looking around at the three Freeswords as they drag away the big crate. He does not bother to say anything, he only huddles out of the way. Thelergramor finds nothing of interest on the dead rodent, except maybe his swamp monster hood. The thing really is quite clever, with a long breathing straw attached to it so that the being inside can breathe while traveling under the surface of the swamp. The toxic cloud seems to have finally dissapated.
Thelergramor chuckles to himself at the ingenuity of the hood. "Alright, I'm good to go. Let me help with that crate." Takes the hood; pulls it on while his plague mask hangs from his neck. "And, you, what they said. Get lost and all that. If you'd rather have a real job instead of this... banditry stuff, and maybe protection from this 'Domo' guy, go to the academy in three days. Just wait there, I'll come for you eventually." Looks back to Cass and Natska with a shrug, helps with the crate.
Natska eyes Thel for a moment as they finally reach Tobin. "How many hats do you have in your collection now?" she asks. "And here is your box, Tobin. I imagine you'll want us to see you back to the boardwalk as well?"
Cassidy smiles at the corgi as they hand the box over, folding her hands behind her back. "Are you alright there, Natska? That looked like a nasty shot back there, but you seemed okay!"
Tobin claps his hands happily as his box is returned to him. The big canine hefts the thing up onto his shoulder with a smile. "Thank you thank you thank you!" he cheers, fishing around with his free hand before tossing a bag of tokens toward Cassidy, "These are for you guys! What about the swamp monsters?"
Thelergramor messes with the hood; approves of it. "You're welcome, yeah." Decides to let one of the others answer about the monsters. "How's your head? Also, Natska? That's some serious friggin' armor you're wearing. Stopping a blunderbuss up close... Insane." The basilisk sniffs, glances about. "I need a bath."
Natska rolls her shoulders in a small shrug. "They won't be bothering anyone else, Tobin," she replies, then gives Cass a small smile. "No permanent injury," the jaguar reports. "I'm a tough cat, Thel."
Cassidy nods slowly, turning a soft smile to Natska. "If you say so! I'll take a look at it when we get home, hmm?" She accepts the token bag from Tobin and bows her head. "Why thank you! And the swamp monsters were just bandits. No need to worry about it. What's in the box, anyway?"
Tobin shrugs. "Dyes an' stuff for Big Brother Asher," he says, "Dunno why the swamp monsters would want em." The big dog gives Thel a thumbs up and a smile. "I'm good," he says, "I got a hard head." The corgi leads the way out of the tunnel, his signature doggy musk and swampy addition noticeable here in the confined tunnel. "Thanks for the help!" he says.
Thelergramor nods at Tobin. "Anytime, yeah." Rubs his neck and turns to Natska. "Yep. Pretty and tough. Good combination. Oh, and I have 3 hats now, Natska." Starts off on the way home. "If anyone needs me, I'll be, uh, somewhere... Probably at the inn soon. Or home."
"Feel free to post work any time," Natska replies to Tobin, giving him a slight bow. Then she smiles at Cass and offers her arm. "Mmhm. I'll need a little help getting out of the plate, and then a nice soak. And you are certainly welcome to look me over, dear."
Cassidy raises her brow and peers at the crate. "Really, now. That must be quite a lot of dye! But then, I suppose a tailor goes through a fair bit." She flashes a smile to Natska and grins. "What kind of soak? In the pool, or something warmer?" She asks as she takes the arm to start the way home.
