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The party leave at dawn in the cold, grey drizzle – Karnak is apparently in Pen Duras guarding Rhadogan Fleur and neither beryn nor Hogun will accompany the party as they have other tasks, so it is only the core party that set off for the rescue and recovery-cum-theft.

North over the hilly landscape, a tributary of the main river is met, flowing from the west. This is the line to follow, the ground becoming gradually muddier. Hills are neared as darkness falls; through the low mist, a bridge can just be seen that leads over the water to the ogre stronghold. Off to the party’s right is a sodden, marshy route that leads to a promised second and safer route in.

The journey has been safe this far but now, coming down from the hills, carrying what might be a very large pig on a pole, are a small band of orcs and possibly an ogre. They're about a mile ahead of the party and are heading towards the bridge: the party elect for the stealthy options, as it does not look as though they’ve been seen yet, and take cover rather than attack. This is a good time ot rest so they move a little away from the overly damp borders of the tributary and ake watches.

During the night, Jiriki has to battle with his desires to avoid attacking a party of five orcs carrying fishing rods but morning comes without incident and the party quickly head off to find the entrance they require and get out of plain view of the stronghold before it gets to light.

17th Kanos

The going is difficult as it gets quite swampy but with Morin and Jarek moving ahead as scouts, the party move on until the two indicate that soemthing has been spotted. As the majority of the party approach and are informed of a smoke trail, events suddenly move more quickly than decisions over approach: Morin's legs bend and his arms spread for balance as he takes up a hyper-alert balanced posture. Without glancing to anybody but keeping his eyes on the ground, he snaps, "Watch out!"

Jarek responds immediately as Morin tumbles to one side: the damp, fecund earth has more than vegetation dwelling amongst and beneath its watery channels. The soil swirls as if alive and then erupts in a shower of fetid, dank mud. As the remainder of the party begins to react, a long serpent's body rears up from the churned-up ground, it's body mottled like aged fruit. Three necks twist away from the long body and each ends in a slavering snake-like, but jagged-toothed, head, the eyes - green as death in spring - glowering and full of malice. Forked tongues lick at the air as this new prey is assessed and then the heads dart for attack as the worryingly swift creature comes forward, it's matted 40ft body zipping across the ruptured bogland.

The party scrambles for position, Balin advancing as quickly as Suva steps back, so that the three warriors can face the serpent as it careens towards them. It is quick and has attacked before Jiriki, rage in his eyes, Balin or Darius can steady their feet but the heads are distracted momentarily by a magical flare created by Kin and all miss the mark.

Dalrylshana slips forwards and enchants Darius; with Cat's Grace bestowed on him, he gains his balance more easily and hacks valliantly at the swamp beast even as two arrows slam into its side, courtesy of Jarek. Jiriki and Balin follow suit: slipping in the terrible conditions, their blows nevertheless are true.

Suva stays back, carefully watching battle unfold, ready to lend a mace to the fray if needed but cautious of using magic that might draw attention, as Morin has noted in some earlier shouted tactics. Even if Kin has not.

The size of the serpent and treacherous underfoot conditions make it difficult to follow any barked plan; just keeping attacking seems the best ploy - particularly as it seems to be working: large fangs tear at Balin but miss the wild Jiriki, who flails at one of the heads and loses his balance in the mud, toppling awkwardly as his greatsword's momentum drags him over.

Darius and his dwarven companion drive steel home again and further arrows strike from fleet-footed Jarek, dancing at the periphary and staying in good range. The heads writhe madly as something like terror fills the green eyes and Morin adds to its predicament with a well-placed strike to its back, deftly avoiding the flailing tail. The mages and Suva cearly spot that they may as well save their magicks!

For all its ferocity, this beast would seem to better suited to more animal prey rather than skilled warriors. More blows land and the heads suddenly rise upwards and then with a hiss and a low, guttural cry like flesh ripping, the three heads plunge downwards and outwards to produce three smaller beast where seconds ago there was one. Two dive into the mud and away, one taking just a further nick from Balin. The other is too close to Jiriki: maddened and muddy, he dives for the beast, halting its escape long enough for Darius to fling his shield to one side and plunge his longsword, two-handed, through its brain and out the lower jaw.

Only minutes have passed. The bog settles and there is no further movement or sign of the smaller serpents; they would seem to have wisely taken flight.

The party regroup and notice that the smoke in the distance seems to have gone - but there is a figure at the point where the two hills join, under a mile away, clearly waving the party towards him.