Arrival at Nurok

Having completed his short conversation with the rabbit, Hraefn found himself a bit behind the rest, and moved a little faster just to catch up. "A little bunny tells me this creature eats alligators. And we can see what else ser Merriweather can uncover." Hraefn kept his voice low, even though they were still a distance away. "If need be, I can aid in first lighting up the beast more clearly when we are nearer, after which I will adopt a form more suited to engaging the beast."

Etna
Pausing a moment to get your bearings, your senses reach out. You absorb the sights, sounds and smells of the surrounding land, which is heavy with the pungent smell of stagnant water and mud. Insects buzz around you, swooping low to your ear before darting away at the brush of your hand. Flocks of birds nest in the surrounding trees, their calls barking out and rolling over and through you as you seek to find what might lie in the area.

When you finally relax, you are confident that no dragons or monstrosities lie within the nearest 5 miles or so.

Etna
Looking carefully as you move slowly forward, at first you don't see much more than normal animal traffic. However, soon you begin to spy small signs of something different. Bits of animal here, breaks of reeds and bushes there. Soon they become more noticeable, leading you on a slowly winding route toward the large bend in the river.

At one point you find a full impression of a foot. From the look of it, the beast must be enormous, in-line with an adult dragon, but much different in its shape. It is humanoid, with four huge appendages that end in what are certainly massive claws. Based on your experience, this creature must surely top 10 feet tall, perhaps reaching closer to 20 feet; additionally its weight must be incredible if the depth of the impression is any guide.

The trail you are following leads into the swampy trees and thick reeds along the river approximately 50 yards ahead.

Moving slowly forward, Etna in front with Merriweather right behind her, you all make your way closer to the river. While the ground is mostly firm, there are occasional areas where you sink almost to your shin before you manage to struggle your way out of the gripping mud.

As you move through the trees and tall, thick reeds, you finally come to the banks of the river.

I move just south of Etna and look at the mushrooms.

Merriweather
You move through the low shrubs and stoop to examine the growth of mushrooms next to Etna. They are the typical species as might be found growing in this environment, with a dark brown color and a smooth cap. Your experience tells you that they are edible, though they look a bit early to be harvested.

Ilwyn
The swamp makes you uneasy, the stillness of it a bit unnerving as you look around. Your eyes play tricks as you look back and forth from tree to water, to tree to brush, but you see nothing out of the ordinary.

Hraefn
While you are well versed in woodland lore, swamp lore is a bit more problematic to your eye. The ground looks sturdy enough, until you step on a patch and the reeds below give way to softer earth. You do note that the stream running through this area is not fully the river (which is just off of the map) and looks a bit shallow. Though murky, you can see the bottom is perhaps 3-4 feet down and is a solid sheet of muddy silt. Of note, however, is the lack of water creatures, other than some insects that skirt along its surface. You see no fish, etc.

Etna
Similar to your previous attempt, you determine that there are no dragons or monstrosities within range of your senses. However, you manage to discern that the tracks you are following head straight ahead toward the water. It looks almost as if the thing steps right over small trees and large bushes, reaffirming your notion that this thing is tall.