Chapter 1: Camp Galfer

With the help of the frog people Annika, Melianne, Shedinn, Korrin and the rest of the group can traverse the swampy area with relative ease. While the frog people that accompany you only speak rudimentary common it is enough to warn you of any dangers along the way.
The food that the frog emporer provided is... well food at least. Most people in your group don't look forward to their daily rations of worms and green gooey cubes but at least they provide enough energy to keep you going. After two days of travel the swamp ends. Your froggy companions gesture towards the upwards sloping terrain in front of you, wish you farewell and return to the swamp. You ascend the slope in front of you and as you reach the top you can see the camp in front of you. After about another hour of travel you should finally reach your initial destination.
But halfway to the camp you are stopped by a small group of armed men. Two men step forward from the group.
One of them looks like a seasoned adventurer with a weathered face, bright blue eyes and a crooked nose.
The other one looks younger, with a slender but muscular build. He's wielding a warhammer

---

Scags and Krenmuth sit in the shade of a canopy. Even though the summer is slowly coming to an end the day started sunny and hot.
In your first days at the camp you had to fight off a lot of beasts and some members of a tribe nearby but the last two weeks were pretty uneventful.
The only noticable thing is that a ship that's supposed to bring supplies is running late but currently you have enough supplies to keep you going. Well except for the ale...

Korsak, the leader of the expedition approaches you. He's dressed in his usual linen robes with the emblem of Bridgeton on the chest. His trusty quarterstaff is strapped to his back. He harrumphs and begins to speak.
Scouts have reported to me that a group of humans or humanoids is approaching the camp from the north. I want you to gather a group of soldiers and meet them before they reach this camp.
He produces a small horn with a silver rim and mouthepiece from his pocket.
If they prove to be peaceful you can invite a representative of them to the camp. If they are hostile, you can call help with this horn. I suggest you hurry up, they should be here within an hour.
Korsak gives the horn to Scags and leaves again.
Scags and Krenmuth waste no time and rouse a group of soldiers that are currently playing cards.
With those seven women and men in tow they go off to approach the mysterious group...

As the soldiers march in coordinated formation, Krenmuth turns to Scags, "I hope this isn't another group of lost treasure hunters. I almost punched that guide last week when he started arguing with us about where the river was located. I wouldn't be surprised if they walked right into a roper's maw. If you don't mind, you can take the lead with this group."

''And if you aren't ready in the next minute, I'll shove those cards up your arses!''

Sardonius let the spit dry off his mouth before moving again towards the north. The incompetent gits have the gall to play cards while a security breach in the camp was imminent. He never expected to take command of a group of people again so soon after his retirement from the Society of Swords. I was here to adventure and to do 'adventuring things'. it's like I never left the company. He let himself a semi-smile remembering the events that happened before today.

He arrived in ''Camp Galfer'' three weeks ago after his boat arrived from Chessentia. Making the one day journey alone with directions he acquired from his old contacts in the Society, he arrived in the camp to the sound of battle. Orcs with some beasts were currently rushing towards a fortified camp surrounding the entrance to some ancient ruin. He saw the defenders of the camp handle themselves well but there was no cohesion. He saw a group of men fighting pell-mell in one part. He saw a knight by himself issuing challenges to the enemy for a duel. It was a mess. there was no shieldwall. no cohesion. not even a ditch dug around the camp. He was jolted into action, when a line of men in the right side of the camp was overwhelmed by the enemy rabble. He decapitated an orc with his halberd when it was about to skewer a young soldier frightened out of his wits.

''Stand up and fight, boy! who's in command of this unit?!''

''w-what. w-who?''

''I said who's in command here?!''

''S-sir Korsak ssir! he-hes in the f-frontline in the north c-corner of the camp!''

Sartorius ordered the scared lad to go back from the fighting line and fought his way to join the leader of the camp. After a few minutes of fighting, the defenders managed to beat back the invading force due in part to Sartorius' restoring a semblance of command and augmented by his fighting skill tempered through years of experience. The leader of the expedition thanked him for helping them survive the assault and had let him help the men to be squared up. A few more attacks have been repelled consecutively and more effectively with Scags commanding them.

By the Red Lady they don't even know how to form a proper shield wall He thought to himself. At least now they know how to dig ditches. The only person who could pull his weight competitively in this outfit is the person who kept up pace with him: A man named Krenmuth who is a fellow mercenary, a marine from the Silver Falchions. He knew little of the company other than they are a professional group specializing on ship operations. He is also a cleric of the god Valruth who Scags read about as another exarch or aspect of Tempus. A combat capable healer is very welcome in any fighting group. Sartorius turned to respond to his fellow soldier-of-fortune: ''Yes I do mind Krenmuth...I'm impartial to leading a bunch of undisciplined, unprofessional, wet-behind-the ears rabble. I'm too old for this, but Korsak seems to think otherwise...''

Finally as he and his men crested the top of raise he had a good look at the oncoming group: They were four in number comprising of a couple of human women, a halfling, and another person. If not for their weaponry and equipment, he would have thought them to be a travelling circus. Well at least one of them is with her dancer's outfit. Fingering the horn given to him with his left hand he raised his other hand and hailed the approaching strangers. ''Halt! Who are you and what is your business here in Camp Galfer?''

Korrin sees the group of men up ahead he points them out to his friends.

"Heh, I was just going to ask you the same thing but since you seem to be so curious... We are from the boat that never made it to wherever we were heading. You from there? A Camp Galfer I think it is called?"

Annika's fine silks have undergone some impromptu modifications along the journey, not being particularly suited to slogging through marshes or beating a path through the undergrowth. Her hair is a mess, she's tired and filthy, and she's very much reached the limits of her patience. Nevertheless, she manages to regain some semblance of poise, and summon a gracious smile.

"Well met. As Korrin says, we were travelling to Galfer when our boat was sunk and we were waylaid by swamp-dwellers. We've had a long journey - please, lead on to the camp."

Sardonius looked at the tall woman who addressed him. Her regal bearing and poise suggested that she was noble-born. He has known the type from his childhood and from his long experience as a mercenary. High and mighty types. Likes commanding. piss-poor at leading. Her pretty visage was only marred with her wet clothes; evidence of traveling through the swamp.

He then observed the halfling that spoke beforehand. Scout. quick-witted. might buckle against authority. Before he can respond to the woman he noticed a movement in the corner of his eye. behind the halfling, he saw another person. and then another. he stopped counting when he reached thirty. most of them are humans looking wet and bedraggled. but some of them were holding crude spears and other weapons. Armed. potentially dangerous. more mouths to feed.

As much as I would love to usher you in with your entourage m'lady (exaggerating on the last word) I will have to hold your group here. We can admit only one person that will represent your group to talk with the commander of this camp. we have been attacked just a few days ago by hostile humanoids so we have to implement more stringent procedures in allowing whoever comes inside this camp. So if you would be so kind to elect a representative to come with me so I can lead you to our commander Sir Korsak and clear you all to enter. Unless of course, I am already talking to that representative?

He gave a slight bow toward the woman as he said this. He tightened his grip on the horn and readied his hand on the shaft of his halberd just in case.

Krenmuth holds his arm out to the rest of the patrol squad so they know to hold their positions. Then starts to slowly circle the crowd of visitors, looking for obvious signs of of either trouble or religious leanings. I thought we had it rough. Were they on the supply ship?, he thinks, his face showing obvious signs of sympathy.

Krenmuth scans the visitors. None of them seem to be especially religious or violent. If anything they look tired and dirty. They all seem to have been through a rough few days or even weeks.

The people at the front seem to be the only ones who are well armed. Other than that he can't make out anything remarkable.

"Annika would you be so kind and see if you can hurry this along in any way possible? Some of these people are just barely able to continue on. These people are not adventurers, they are sailors and artisans that have survived the sinking of the ship we were on, so hurry up and make up your mind already. These people need food and shelter and rest. They have lost everything."

"It might as well be me, I suppose. Fine - let's make haste so we can sort this out and get these people to safety."

Almost immediately after they came across the armed group, Melianne attempts to scuttle back into the crowd, trying to avoid the hawk-eyed glare of the soldier with blue eyes, unsettled by its intensity. She is not a stranger to stares, not even a stranger to rowdy soldiers looking at her with disregard - but right now, she is tired. She isn't built for travelling long distances without comfort of a cruise boat or at least a decent cart with cheerful people to entertain. The heavy atmosphere of tiredness and despair that settled over the shipwrecked people has been slowly getting to her on the way, and no amount of music or dancing can fight the reality of their situation... Not to mention that swamps don't have great acoustics or firm grounds to support these activities.

So Firebird is too exhausted - both physically and mentally, - to deal with the soldiers with her usual politeness. The mention of picking a representative only made her scoff, and the dancer simply retreated to conceal herself behind Shedinn... which unfortunately put her directly in view of the other soldier's investigative gaze. The dancer returned it gloomly, pouted and demonstratively flicked her hair in an act of petty defiance before turning away.

Once Korrin and Annika decide on their coutrse of action - not that Melianne minds them taking charge, she certainly doesn't have qualifications for that, - the dancer resolves herself to wait it out and scans the area for things she can sit on and rest her feet.

Much obliged my lady. Now if you will follow me-- before he could finish his sentence, Sartorius noticed the dancer in the group trying to make herself scarce among the people. Flirty. questionable role in a combat situation. So these are adventurers eh? I am not surprised. But then I want to become like them so...

He noticed most of the men and some women with him ogling at the dancer like steak in a vegetable buffet. The Red Knight's blade on my neck... STAND UP STRAIGHT SOLDIER! he shouted at the squad YOU'RE ON DUTY! After finally seeing them all squared up, the grizzled veteran shook his head and walked to Krenmuth. Watch over these people while I escort the lady here to Korsak and also, he added with a smirk, If you don't mind, you can take the lead with this group.

Now if you will follow me this way my lady so we can get this over with. My name is Sartorius Tenebra from Chessentia by the way...

Krenmuth responds to Scags, "My pleasure," and walks over to the remaining soldiers. He gathers them into a close line and says quietly, "This crowd needs our help, but we must still be on our guard. I will talk to them and see what we can do. Spread out about ten feet apart. Do not let any of them get closer to the camp."

Krenmuth watches the soldiers follow his orders, then moves closer to the crowd and addresses the halfling. "Excuse me, my name is Krenmuth. I am a priest of Valkur as well as a soldier. We didn't bring supplies with us but I can help directly. Is anyone in your group hurt or severely ill?"

"Annika, of... formerly of House Helminster. I'm sure that under better circumstances, it would be a pleasure to make your acquaintance. So the camp has been under attack? We had rather hoped that it would be a refuge from the perils of the swamp, but perhaps we have merely stumbled out of the frying pan and into the fire."

Annika follows Scags into the camp. In fact it's more of a miniature town. She can spot stalls where tools, food and other goods are offered. Most buildings are tents in various sizes but she can also spot some wagons and wooden houses.
Scags leads Annika to a two story building. They go upstairs, Scags knocks on a door and a voice tells them to come in.

Behind a desk that is full of papers and various small artifacts sits Korsak. He looks up from a letter he is writing.
Ah Mr. Scags. I presume this woman is a representative from the group that is approaching the camp.
Korsak holds his right hand to his chest and makes a small bow
My name is Korsak Sigurdsen. I'm a representative of the town of Bridgeton and the leader of this expedition. What can you tell me about your group and what do you do around here?

---

Meanwhile the rest of the group waits for Annika and Scags to return. The people are all clearly tired and hungry and are growing impatient.
After a lot of murmuring in the group a man finally steps forward and loudly proclaims
This is bullshit! We are clearly no threat to your camp and yet we are being held here as if we were brigands. I say we just march into the camp
He produces some coins from his pocket and shows them in his open hand We are not asking for handouts. We are able to pay for our food and lodging but we just can't wait here and starve to death.
He waves at the people behind him and screams Let's go!
Suddenly the whole group begins to move forward...

Korrin looks at Krenmuth and shrugs, before joining the crowd and moving towards the camp.

"I tried telling you, its been a rough week. None of us have the patience for this shit, these people came here to work and make a living and now they have nothing but the clothes on their backs. I wouldn't try and stop them if I were you good sir, they have had enough for a good while to come."

On that note Korrin falls in with the crowd and walks away.

"Annika Helminster. There's not much to tell - we were passengers on the Jolly Wanderer, bound for this very camp. Most of the group are mercenaries or labourers, a few scholars. The riverboat was sunk through some form of hostile sorcery, and many of the survivors were captured by frog-people from the swamp. We liberated them, and made the trek overland. We've faced great hardship to be here, so I had hoped for a warmer welcome."