The Swamp

The guards at the west gate perfunctally check your passes as you head out after a good breakfast. The sun is rising above the horizon behind you and 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, to the Grippli shamans mound. Greeting you the two guards wave you on through as you continue west and 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 road continues on the far side of the second tower, which is taller and of sturdier construction with four guards, however the road dwindles to a simple track just wide enough for a single horse cart. As you travel you see a variety of plant and animal life. Snakes, insects, frogs, lizards, water rats, squirrels, and an occasional larger beast you have learned are referred to as "Dinosaurs". These large beasts are often hunted for meat by many of the intelligent species that moved into the area causing most of them to have learned to not wander too close to the road. Turning north then west you continue on following the path till the far end of the swamp is in sight.
According to the map back at the base the golems house is to the north and off the main path. You begin looking for the correct path and start sloughing through thick mud, semi-solid ground, floating grasses, and a variety of other wonders of nature.

Baruman find the lack of slid footing a little too similar to the back streets and allies of the impoverished sections of town. And it smells about the same too. Though he strugles to keep up with the others at last he did not bump a wasp nest like Shmautz did. The catkin quickly dashed away from the nest with only a single sting for the blunder.

The rush to escape turned to be a good thing as when Shmautz paused to catch his breath and let the others catch up after swinging wide aroudn the now ajitated hive, he spots what looks like a series of steps carved into trees, like notches for a primmitive log ladder that lead out over eater away from the trail. Pointing out the discovery you quickly move to follow the notches and soon find yourself hpooing from tree to tree to stone over mud and water. The path leads to a small island and after you will be able to reach it in a minute.Ariving on the island You spot a crubling structure and a set of stairs down into a well built basement must be the entrance to Dean's home.

As you move to cross the steping ston and notched tree trail Smautz easily navigates using spots besides those obviously prepared to ease the crossing. unfortunately Baruman has a bit more trouble and mutters something about giants and inconciderate creaftsmen before he falls offf a perch he had just lept too. The splash allerts Shmautz who doubleds back and fishes the small water logged figure of Baruman out of the dirty swamp water. Elph watches teh fiasco and then focuses more on his steps as he is sure he saw a leech clinging to one of Baruman's legs.

On the far side the other two quicly help Baruman scour his body for the uninvited hitchhikers. This only takes a moment and you walk over to the stairs and Baruman calls down. Shortly therafter clicking sounds are heard aproatching. A 1 foot tall centaur looking figure made of metal appears at the base of the stairs and he calls out, in a rather loud and bass voice despite its diminuative size Enter and be at peace. Master Dean welcomes seekers of knowledge for an exchange of lore and seekers of service for an exhangee or value. The tiny centaur backs up and gestures, waiting for you to follow.