Episode 2 Scene 1 The Journey North

Seeing Shump getting out his lute and starting a melody, its notes flowing pleasantly in the stale swamp air, Egret gives in into his desire and unpacks his guitar. He sends a questioning look at their guide, silently asking permission, and after receiving a nod of affirmation joins in. The druid mostly mimics the beat, the song being unfamiliar to him but simple enough to pick up, and soon loses himself in the music, quietly humming to himself.

"That was beautiful," Brindel says to the musicians.

Just a day of rest, but its seem more pleasant at least for a while. But soon enough we will have to travel again. He enjoys his rest and a long time since he played. He feels more comfortable with this group. Been a good group to guide threw the swamp.

His lute looks like a child's toy because of his size. It is surprising that he can even play with his huge hands, but appears he has surprising sensitivity with them despite his huge brute size. By the looks of his lute he must have played extra coins for it. It isn't a cheap copy commonly sold.

Haelga stretches her arms and back, cracks her vertebrae a bit, and then she dons her armor. She feels very rested and invigorated, despite the gloominess of her surroundings. She loads up her pack and her weaponry, and she looks around to see if she can find some decent food and/or potable water.

During the night Shump took off his offensive breastplate to sleep. He explains to the party how to treat him if he gets any worse.

He adds on, I not feel good. Perhaps Swamp Fever. He decides to take off his 'Furious looking bone Breastplate'. If he is bad it will make handling him easier. He has no armor on.

Today, Egret is much less talkative and cheerful than he was during the first few days of travel. He stops straying away from the group to look at the flowers and trees, claiming to be too tired and wary of the undead, but his silence after drips with discomfort. By the time the afternoon rolls around, the druid is clearly lagging behind, stumbling as they traverse the marsh and almost tripping on more than one occassion. He waves off the concern, beaming at whoever expressess it and making an effort to walk straighter and faster for the next ten minutes, before falling back to a slower pace.

When they stop for a brief rest, Egret sits down on a fallen log, pulling at his coat to wrap it tighter around himself, trying to look less miserable as he catches his breath, wiping sweat off his brow. He makes an effort to scout around for food when Haelga does the same, but he doesn't seem very enthusiastic about it - though he still breaks into a short monologue praising the beauty of nature to no one in particular. Some things never change.

Brindel wipes the dew off his armor before donning it in the morning. He repeats to himself a mantra he learned early: rusted gear is busted gear. While transversing the swamp, he stays vigilant for both enemies to fight and supplies to forage.

By mid-afternoon, he is adjusting his backpack often enough to be noticeable. "Say, Shump, what happens if you, or I, or anyone gets Swamp Fever? What can we do to help them?"

Shump tells Brindel, Just do what told you.