New Paphos (The Base)

Danoll confirms the time and place for meeting up, tomorrow morning at the west gate 9am.

Etcher wanders the town. The place is bustling more than its size would normally allow for. There are groups of porters being ordered around by academics as well as groups of adventurers and other newcomers that stand out like Etcher due to looking around so much. Making your way to the west gate the guards wave you through after recording you name and description then passing you a small token to let you back in. The sounds of birds and bugs almost hides the river sounds to your north. The road west of the base has been cleared and packed making the walk easy. Tall grass surrounds the road with trees rising further west. After a couple of minutes the trees are closer and the ground around the road is spotted with muds and water puddles as the grassland turns to a marsh. Soon you are among the trees and the road dwindles to a decent wagon track raised a foot above the waters of the swamp that now surround you.

The road leads to a fork with a simple wooden guard tower and a suspension and pontoon bridge connecting it to another watch tower to the west. A smaller track heads to the south. Greeting you the two guards remind you the waters and thick vegetation hide a variety of local wildlife. These threats range from large alligators, swarms of fish that will strip you to the bones in seconds, poisonous snakes, and the ever-present flies. The guards inform you that the southern track leads to another pontoon bridge that connects to the area near the Grippli shamans mound.

Following the direction you soon reach the mound. Crossing the now repaired bridge they make it to the shamans mound. About 20 feet tall and about 60 feet wide the mound resembles a low hill save the doorway cutting into it and several small "window" holes along with a hole atop the hill out of which rises a thin wisp of smoke.



Out front is a crude sign

Friends come in
Enemies take a dive with an arrow pointing to the swamp and a simple image of a person being eaten by something in the water.

Pay attention, watch and listen. Seems like there are plenty of dangerous things out here that can kill you. "What was that?" Ealdwig jumps with a start and turns around, looking for anything and everything. It was probably nothing, calm down. And Ealdwig continues down the path towards the Shaman's abode.

Noticing the sign, Ealdwig swallows hard, screws up his courage and calls out, Hello? Gulfis? I am a friend of Danolli's and new to the area. He said you were a good person to know. So I thought I would come out and introduce myself. My name is Ealdwig. Definitely a friend.

From deep within an odd scratching voice calls out Come on in! is a welcoming and wavering tone.

"Sure, thanks." Ealdwig looks around for a door in the mound. Locating it, Ealdwig enters.

Man, I should have brought a gift of some kind, I'm an idiot. Do I have anything on me that will suffice?

A little tentatively "Gulfis, hello, I'm Ealdwig. Danolli says hi." Looking around and trying to get his bearings "Nice place."

Ealdwig, ignoring the newcomer comment, looks around fascinated by all the items covering every surface. Wow, what is all this stuff and that smell? I can't put my finger on it. Intriguing. "Oh hi, Ealdwig says as he notices Giflus working at the table. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Giflus. I've never met a Shaman before, is that what you do, Giflus, make potions and charms?" Slowly reaching out Don't touch anything! Ealdwig puts his arm back to his side.

"Wow, I appreciate the offer, but I don't know if I require anything like that, at the moment. Is this place dangerous? Do I need preventative healing or a charm? Looking down at himself, did i make a mistake coming here? How dangerous is this place if you need preventative healing and charms? Then it dawns on him, "oh yeah, sorry, my name is Ealdwig Swiftfoot."

"As you can guess, I am new around here. Just hopped off the boat today. I met Danoll in the Tavern. He said you were a good person to know so I thought I would swing by and introduce myself. Tomorrow he is letting me tag along on his patrol. I figured that would be a good way to get to know the area."

"Any insight into Danoll and / or this place? Danoll seems like a good guy but you never know."

Slapping at a bug pretty big comparatively "Who me? What am I after? Ealdwig thinks for a second. "Probably adventure first, money second. I think I am a pretty positive person. Most days I can't wait to see what the day will bring. As for money, I've never had a lot of that, but I've gotten by. It might be nice not having to worry about it constantly. And no, to answer your other question, I've never been to a swamp before. I've spent most of my time in cities. I've been a street performer. Not cause for much street performing in the swamp."

Slapping at another bug "Wow these things are big. I feel like I might be carried away. Is this whole place this bug riddled? Maybe I could use some of your bug repellent, after all. Does it work?"

With one hand Ealdwig catches the disk smoothly and takes a good look at it. Handing over the 5 silver pieces he pulls a tie off his knapsack, threads it through the holes and ties it around his neck. "Thanks I will probably come to rely on this. Not looking forward to the day it stops working."Looking inside the pouch, this burns if wet or if I touch it, wow. Um, did he say "don't eat it?" would anyone actually try to do that? Probably a good rule of thumb not to eat powder given to you by a Shaman. Unused to this kind of kindness Ealdwig says earnestly, "appreciate it Guflis. This is might nice of you to provide a gift like this to someone you just met. So I just grab a pinch and rub it on whatever I want to burn and it'll just catch fire, doesn't matter if it's raining or underwater? That's amazing. You do fantastic work. I can tell that the charm is working already."

Tucking the pouch into his knapsack, "I wish I had something to give in return. Unfortunately, I am holding light these days, unless you'd like some rations, I have a few left over from the trip here. I pull out a rations of food and offer it Gulfis, it's probably some jerky of some kind or another.

Ealdwig thanks Guflis for everything and heads out back to town and the tavern. He moves quickly wanting to get back before dusk comes.

Heading into town he heads to the tavern for another drink and food before finding his room and heading to bed for the evening. He wants to be ready to meet up Danoll in the morning.

Ealdwig, as a small person, weaves his way through the tavern to the bar. Tall folk, they are everywhere. It would be nice to find a place that is set up for people like me for a change. He hops up on the barstool next to an Avian and turns his pack around to his chest for protection. "Hi Toblen, It's Toblen right? Can I have an ale and the dinner special please. Just got back from seeing Gulfis that's a hike, I'm famished."

Ealdwig noticing the Avian, with a big smile, "Hi I'm Ealdwig. Nice pendant. I just got one today myself, from Gulfis. She was very kind to me. Have you met her yet?" Ealdwig shows the charm to his new Avian friend.

Noticing that the Avian was looking in the server's direction, Ealdwig grabs his ale, nods in the Elf's direction "She's a friend of yours? Cute, can you introduce me?"

The smiling Ealdwig, now turning to a frowning Ealdwig, is a little taken aback by his new Avian friend? Not used to being handled by anyone, Ealdwig pulls away a little. "Hey bud, what's going on? You're pretty excited. Yeah, I just got this charm from Gulfis. Do you know Gulfis? Is that where you got yours? Does it ward off bugs as well? It doesn't look the same."

"Mistress? Did you say Mistress? What Mistress? Sorry, man I don't know what you are talking about? I just got here."

While being pulled from his stool "where are you going? Slow down? I just got my food and it's been a long day. Come back, sit down and talk to me while I finish my dinner, I'm starving. You want something, I'm a little low on coin at the moment, but I'll see what I can do."

Less flustered Ealdwig straightens in his seat. "So, what are you going on about? Actually, first, let's start with your name? I've got so many questions."