The Witches Huts

[travelagency]

Who: Various
What: Swamp Hunting
When: M11 D27 - M11 D29 (Feb 17 - Feb 25) IMPORTANT NOTE days have been changed to make the plot more accommodating.
Where: Three different swamps far from the Village
Notes & Warnings: See the plot post for further details. You are allowed to go to more than one swamp. There's plenty of time, to. Plotting Links: The Marsh of Sorrow | The Offending Swamp | The Witch's Den. Participation is encouraged so that we can make later plots around expanded world access, or so that characters can use potions or cauldrons they didn't turn in themselves. The Slip 'n' Slide log is still open for tagging.

The Marsh of Sorrow

Foggy and murkey, sparse trees jut out of the bog like gnarled fingers reaching to an unseen sky. There's a light mist in the air- raining again in some form or fashion as every explorer who has returned has reported. Not all have returned, though, and caution is very much encouraged. There are more wild hounds than one would expect for somewhere that apparently doesn't have free grazing livestock. They seem to be waiting around for something.

It becomes obvious when a sheep becomes mired in the mud near the border. Easy prey. Luckily the hounds have never shown any interest in people.

The good sign is that that there are few skeletons and creepers. While one might assume that they're hidden by the fog, they're generally extremely sparse. Off in the distant fog there are lit spots, areas where old huts are, glowing mysteriously. Those are the places that the museum wants to be investigated. It just requires wading through the muck to reach them.

What the museum doesn't know is when the marsh is active, emotions play a role in whether someone can make it across. Unfortunately it's the only time that the huts can be located through the fog. People that are entering the swamp with grim feelings in mind will find themselves sinking. Perseverence, ambition, joy, curiosity? Those will help people strive through, and hopefully pull others to the surface.

The Offending Swamp

The museum doesn't tell people why it provides them with face masks, but oh, they will know when they hit the border of the swamp. It's a terrible smell, not quite like being near a sewer but not far off. That unfortunate paper-mill smell. The mask given to them will allow people to speak freely and unmuffled, but it only blocks out about 90% of the stench. This is one of the situations where someone might hope that the rewards are worth it.

The ground is far more solid than in the Marsh of Sorrow, with plenty of firm areas to roam. It makes the stench more irritatingly mysterious. There are few animals, too. But the answer to that becomes obvious when bursts of flame pop out of small holes in the ground. Apparently getting through will require great care.

The museum did not provide fireproofed clothes. But when the hut is found, luckily alongside its cauldron will be an abundence of fireproofing potions. Their purpose isn't obvious so it would depend on the curious or the adventurous to figure it out. That will at least make getting back out easier.

The Witch's Den

When entered, this swamp seems the more relaxing one. The temperature is moderate, the air isn't deplorably foul, the boggy areas are not as difficult to navigate. Once someone is within its limits, making their way to the hut, the more unsettling aspects of the swamp make themselves known.

Voices of people lost or left behind speak to people over their shoulders, soft and sometimes pleading, or accusing. They mutter secrets, things about their past, fears that people don't say aloud. Sometimes they're just whispers, and sometimes they're loud enough for the next person over to hear. Often they will tell people to go a certain way, toward another object or in another direction.

If they follow, it will put them back at the edge of the swamp.

There is a single hut in this one, far towards the center. As with the ones in the Marsh of Sorrow, it will glow as the swamp's abilities are active. It lies past the remnants of dilapidated houses and landmarks, a village likely abandoned long before any of the other ruins were formed. It is best found as the sky grows dark. Unlike the Marsh of Sorrow, though, enemies will crawl out of the dark.

Comments

The Marsh of Sorrow

[travelagency]

[domesheriff]

[as Linda and Boone come out of the teleporter, she looks around the area curiously] Okay, if they sent us to the right place, this should be turning to swamp land just over that way. [she gestures] Not sure what the hell we're going to be able to find in an area as big as a swamp, but I guess we'll find out...

[she starts forward--though this causes her to catch sight of their camera drone flying nearby. she wrinkles her nose, not sure what she thinks about this place having camera footage of the full expedition to cut up and share as they like. she remembers what the last "interviews" they shared sounded like, after all]

[but she knows they're going to have far more things to worry about out in the wilderness, so she tries to keep her focus on that instead of their annoying companion]

[thumbsdown]

[Boone isn't particularly happy about the drone either, but he's doing his best to ignore it. He squints out into the mist, looking for creepers or skeletons, but he can't see too far ahead.]

Better be careful. Fog might make it harder for us to get spotted, but it works both ways.

[He starts off in the direction Linda pointed out, going slowly for now.]

[domesheriff]

[she nods her agreement] I'll be careful. [she has a ready hand at the gun at her waist. after all, she's not about to forget all the hostile wildlife they encountered on their last excursion together]

[they barely begin to advance before the ground under her feet starts to make a squealching sound. it seems the marsh has begun. Linda's glad she's wearing boots] Ugh... [she picks up her pace a bit, not wanting to get stuck in the murky mud] I guess if the ground is like this the whole time, at least we might hear things coming.

[thumbsdown]

[He grunts when his feet are suddenly harder to lift. He keeps on plodding ahead, though.]

Hope we don't run into skeletons.

[Creepers and spiders would need to get through the mud to reach them, but a skeleton might have an easy time firing at them if they're slowed down by the swamp.]

[domesheriff]

At least they should have a hard time seeing us from too far off. [not that she doesn't share his concerns, but she's comforting herself with the fact that their aim isn't very good even when they have a clear line of sight] But you're right, we could be out here for a while...

[thumbsdown]

That's not a problem. We've got time.

[They're in no real hurry. It's probably not a good idea to rush into the fog- not that they can move all that fast now anyway.]

[domesheriff]

[she nods] Let's just hope the rain doesn't pick up.

[that said, she continues forward in silence for a bit. but at the sound of a wolf howling somewhere out in the mist, she jumps, turning instinctively in that direction with her pistol now drawn]

[thumbsdown]

[He hopes it doesn't. The rain just leaves him wet and miserable. The ice and the freezing rain make him miss home. It could get unbearably hot some days, but he can deal with that better. He turns when the wolf howls too, already on edge, but he relaxes slightly when he can't immediately see anything dangerous. He knows better than to think that means they're safe for now, but it beats turning around and spotting a creeper.]

Let's move.

[He's not sure if hounds can become aggressive for no good reason. He's never seen it happen, but this place can be unpredictable. He takes another step, and sinks just a little more.]

[domesheriff]

[Linda nods, lowering her weapon as she realizes there's no immediate threat--but she still doesn't speak for fear of drawing something their way. instead, she just continues forward in silence. it's not easy going for her, either, but she isn't actively sinking like Boone, and so as she keeps her eyes on their surroundings instead of her companion, she starts to pull ahead of him]

[but when she notices this, she slows, keeping her voice low as she asks:] Boone? Something wrong?

[thumbsdown]

[He's noticed that Linda isn't sinking the way he is, and by now he's up to his knees in mud. He grunts as he tries to pull his foot out, but only manages to sink a few more inches.]

Can't move.

[It's worrying how he seems to be sinking faster now, but he's also confused. Why is he the only one getting pulled under?]

[domesheriff]

[she turns and sees the problem at the same time that he mentions it, and her eyes widen] Damnit! Hold on...

[she casts her eyes around desperately, spotting one of the stringy trees nearby. her determination makes it even easier for her to move now, and she splashes quickly over to it, grabbing a branch and, with an effort, snapping it off. hurrying back, she hesitates to get too close, but offers the branch to Boone from a few steps away] Grab this! I'll pull you out!

[thumbsdown]

[He grabs the branch with both hands, but he's still sinking. By the time the muck is up to his waist, he's already thinking about what a terrible way to die this would be. If he had to go, he'd rather do it fighting. He hasn't given up yet, though. And though he doesn't know it, that's probably the only reason he's not already up to his neck.]

Okay, pull.

[folkscallmewander]

It's been far too long since Wander had a good trip somewhere outside the resort. The town itself was nice and all, but there was wilderness outside! How could he pass up an opportunity to explore the planet?

He runs into the teleporter and impatiently bounces on his toes while waiting to leave, and the moment he arrives at the swamp, he eagerly jumps onto the nearest log and raises a hand to his forehead to shade his eyes as if he could actually see through the fog and dark.

"This is gonna be so fun! Where should we go first? Oh! Maybe that place over there? I heard some animals, maybe we'll get to see one of 'em! Let's go!" He hops down and heads straight towards the swamp without waiting for the others.

[athousandcurses]

[Perhaps, with a name like that and who knows what else waiting in store, Grainne probably should have taken the Witch's Den first or the other place. As it is, within the first hour of trudging into the muck, Grainne finds it incredibly difficult to go on.

Her feet first start sticking into the much, and a few steps later she's in up to her knees. Soon, her thighs...

She's sinking!]

Ah, a little help, if you would...

[She calls out to anyone else in the expedition that would hear her. The feeling of this marsh tells her going into spirit form probably wouldn't make much difference.]

[folkscallmewander]

[Wow, meeting a real-life witch would have been really fun, but then he found that a lot of people were heading to this swamp, and what was the point of exploring if you didn't share the experience with lots of friends?]

[Ever since he arrived, Wander has been running to the front of the group, only stopping when someone pulled him backed and told him to be careful, or when they called from behind and asked him to wait. His light weight made it easier to run across the muddy ground, which was probably why everyone else was taking their time. Definitely.]

[At one point, Grainne's voice breaks him out of his daydreaming. He turns to her, and his smile is replaced with slight alarm.]

Oh gosh, are you okay?! [He runs to her, jumping from foot to foot.] Hold my hand!

[athousandcurses]

I am just... [She holds out her hand for Wander, though she wasn't sure how well it would work with Wander being smaller.]

A little stuck... My feet are being sucked down.

[folkscallmewander]

[He grabs onto her wrists and tugs a few times.] I can do it! It'll jus' be a while! [He flashes her a quick smile.]

Can you kick whatever's pullin' you down? Or I think there was a trick to this. [The tugging stops while he thinks it through.] I heard that when you're sinkin' in somethin' you need to stay calm? There was more, but I forgot.

[athousandcurses]

There is?

[That may be why she's affected, if it wasn't something magical.

She tries pulling a little bit, being careful not to pull him in too.]

I don't feel anything pulling me... Wander, what was this marsh called?

[folkscallmewander]

[He tugs even harder as Grainne attempts to pull herself out.]

It think it was the Marsh o' Sorrow? Place looks pretty gloomy to me, if I might say.

[athousandcurses]

The Marsh of Sorrow?

[A slightly alarmed look appears in her eyes. Such things existed in her first life. Places that would be affected by people as much as people were affected by those places.]

Wander, can you find a piece of wood or something? Something long and flat that I could rest on. It's an old trick I remember from the bogs in my homeland.

[folkscallmewander]

Got it! [He scampers away, confidence renewed now that Grainne proposed a solution. It doesn't take long to find a fallen branch in the middle of a swamp, though the trip back takes a bit longer since he has to drag something longer than he is.]

'kay, wanna grab onto one ends while I pull?

[athousandcurses]

That should help. Lay it flat so I can spread my weight out when I grab it.

[Keeping focused on getting out seemed to lessen the effect the sinking has on her, though, and an spark of an idea forms in Grainne's head. She holds on to the wood.]

It is very gloomy here. What do you think, Wander? Maybe this place is cursed.

[folkscallmewander]

Like this? [He lets it drop to the ground and rolls it over to where Grainne is sinking.]

I dunno. Could be, if there's a witch here! Maybe that's why it looks so dark? Because she likes how it looks that way?

[athousandcurses]

Yes! [The weight spread out helps a little, and she manages to pull her feet up a bit.] Thank you, Wander. And I think there's no doubt there's a witch here...