CORPSEGHOUL SWAMPLANDS and WITCHES HOLLOW

You may choose up to one companion and one accessory to take through the swamp. There is great risk involved to all that you bring along as well as your chosen character, though you may find there will also be equally great benefit.

Any rewards gained in your adventure will be account bound and therefore not tradeable. A handful of the benefits will be for the character you bring only.

Your choice in character, companion, and accessory will impact your story. Different attributes and aspects of your character, companion, and accessory will provide risks or benefits depending on the various encounters, and where one wolf would fail a situation another wolf might pass it with ease.

As the story progresses, encounters will become riskier though you can choose to abandon the adventure at any time. If you choose to remain, you do so understanding the risks!

Actaea has the option to bring her companion if she so desires, please mention in your reply whether or not he will be brought along.
Lets begin!

CORPSEGHOUL SWAMPLANDS - The Beginning

You enter through the low hanging fog into the Corpseghoul Swamplands. Ahead of you lies a large pond surrounded on all sides by boggy and mucky terrain. Frogs in the distance occasionally bellow out an ominous croak (and if you listen closely it sounds a little like "muuuuuurDER." Creepy.)

To move onward towards the Witches Hollow you must go deeper, but how will you overcome the swamp?

1. The pond appears to be deep, and the water is so murky that you can’t tell what lies in wait beneath. There’s gross foliage that might make swimming it difficult, though a larger wolf may be lucky enough to be able to touch the bottom. Do you choose to brave the water?
   
   
2. The terrain surrounding the water is gross, mucky, and squishy when tested with a paw. There is better visibility through this way, though there is the possibility that the ground may not hold your weight at all. Boggy foliage and obstacles are strewn about, that you’ll need to go around, under, or atop. Will you risk the potentially unsteady ground beneath your paws?
   
   
3. SKILL LOCKED: You do not meet the requirements for this path.
   

Actaea brings with her: Lorenzo (the opossum) and her Satchel

She had parted ways with Boris a while back, the pig wanting to wallow into a good pond of mud. She it was just her and Lorenzo that traveled further into the swamp, keeping her eyes peeled for herbs. It wasn't one of her favorite places to look for herbs, but she knew there was some around. Lorenzo sat between her shoulder's, clinging to her fur to hold on as they moved through the swamp. Passing through the low hanging fog made the companion cling harder to her, uncertain about the vibe he was getting from this place. Then Actaea halted as she came to the edge of the pond. The croaking of the frogs didn't bother her to much nor did the vibe of the area. This didn't mean she was ignorant of the strange aura, she just took everything in like she normally did.

The pond water was way to murky to see what lived in the pond, but she feared that she was a bit to heavy for the boggy and mucky terrain. She stewed on it for a little bit before she decided on what she should do.

"Enzo grab my bag and climb onto my head we are going for a little swim," she warned.

She waiting as the opossum shuffled around and then climbed on top of her head. Then she moved forward into the water to brave the water and swim across.

SUCCESS

In a surprising turn of events, the pond's depth is unable to reach high enough past your shoulders to force you to swim it after all. You are able to carefully make your way through with your paws upon the ground, feeling creatures brushing past your legs but free from the sting of their bite. The journey is so uneventful in fact, that you're patting yourself on the back for your intelligent choice. You feel your confidence in yourself rise, perhaps you are smart enough to tackle the swamp after all. [/b]

[Actaea received 10 points in Intellect!]

THE WITCHES HOLLOW

Further into the swamplands sits a decayed, broken down cottage. The roof appears to have collapsed long ago, and it appears as if no one has been here for quite some time. Jars, broken glass, and beakers lay strewn about the floor covered in a thick layer of dust and grime. Only three items within the hut appear to have been disturbed recently, and your attention is drawn inexplicably towards them.

In the far corner of the room is a package of fresh, aromatic meat. Upon a hook on the wall beside you a gourd full of paint hangs from a thin string. Lastly, a mysterious corked vial of a crystal clear liquid sits alone in a tray on a nearby shelf. Beside the door you see a small pouch that can fit one of these items snugly.

The cottage is eerily silent and outside the sun is beginning to set. You cannot stay long, though you have time to take something on your way out.

Your response at this part of the adventure will have great potential impact later in the story. It is not multiple choice, though multiple choices lay before you. Make your choice in character and write your wolf attempting their exit.

It didn't take much to cross the murky waters and she was tall enough that her feet touched the bottom of the pool of water. Once crawling from the water she lowered her head for Lorenzo to get down and she shook out her fur quickly before the pair moved on. When the two reached a certain point the broken cottage came into view and despite Lorenzo's slight hesitation, Actaea pushed forward. Into the hut she pushed before she stopped and took a brief look around. In the meantime Lorenzo caught up to her and climbed back up onto her back. She quickly gathered the small pouch and moved over to the three items. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the vile of liquid with interest. She quickly snatched that, shoved it into the pouch.

It was getting close to dark and she needed to get moving to get back home.

"Alright lets get out of here, I wanna get back and find out what this liquid is," she said. She waited until his grip on her fur tightened before turning around and heading out of the hut.


Actaea takes the small pouch with the Vial of liquid

SUCCESS

As you move to place the vial into the pouch, you hear the distinctive sound of it tapping up against something. Peering into the bag you see the prize the prior owner left behind for you - a very tiny accessory! Sweet. No wonder your vial fit so snug. You make your way out of the hut without any issue.

[Actaea received a companion accessory!!]

THE FOUNTAIN

Deeper through the marshes you notice a faint glowing, and are inexplicably compelled to follow it. The trees and reeds open up to a pool of clean, clear water that seems out of place in the gross boggy swamp. Bathing within it are tadpoles, hatchling snakes, and other various baby animals.

(UNLOCKED) The vial in your sack glows brightly as you approach, and the cluster of critters turn to gape in awe. One juvenile monkey springs out from the fountain and before you have time to react, steals the vial from under your nose. He flees back to the water and unceremoniously upends the vial into the water, bringing a chorus of cheers from the animals who have made it their home.

You may stop for a moment and investigate, though you cannot stay long and must continue forward before the night grows too dark.

1. Your thirst is calling to you. There are many other bodies of water to satiate it nearby, though something about the strange water is enticing. Do you take the chance to drink from the fountain?
   
   
2. You would not be the first wolf to worry about ingesting something so odd and unnatural, though some part of you knows the water’s importance. Do you take a moment to soak in the fountain rather than drink from it?
   
   
3. If you are exceptionally cautious you might decide against having anything to do with the unnatural pond. You may leave without any part of it touching you, if that is what you wish.
   
   
4. SKILL LOCKED: You do not meet the requirements for this path.
   

She thought she was home free, that her little vial of liquid was all hers and that it was hopefully some sort of potion or healing liquid she could learn to make. Moving through the marshes she had her sights set on heading home, until the faint glow in the distance caught her eye. She instantly felt compelled to fallow it, something pulling her again in the direction of something abnormal. The trees and reeds open up to a pool of crystal clear water with a lot of baby animals bathing in it. A sharp hiss from Lorenzo drew her attention to the sack that held the vial. She noticed that it began to glow, but before she could do anything a monkey snatched it and was quick to get out of her way as she tried to catch him with her teeth. Frustrated she glared at the monkey as he upended the vial into the body of water. Although her anger soon turned to curiosity as all the animals cheered. What was in the vial must be the same as the water the animals were bathing in.

She glanced up to the sky for a moment knowing she didn't have much time to waste. It was getting dark and she needed to find Boris before heading home. Looking back to the water she briefly looked over the animals who all looked normal despite bathing within the water. The water couldn't hurt then could it? She was drawn to the water just like she had been to the vial.

"Get down Enzo and watch my bags," she said quietly.

Once he got down she moved forward and slowly immersed herself in the water. She waded out enough that she could take a nice soak within the water, keeping her eyes on the other animals and not showing any form of threat. She soaked for a few moments before pulling herself from the water and back to Enzo. She got the third degree look from her companion and she shook her head at him before picking up her satchel and pouch and continuing on, with Enzo fallowing behind.

Actaea took a soak in the fountain

SUCCESS

Mere moments after the water touches your fur, you feel every muscle within your body begin to relax. The temperature is perfect, and it's almost as if herbs of all kinds have been mixed into the crystal clear waters to bring from it a gentle, soothing scent. From the top of your head down to your toes and tail a warmth begins to spread, and while you can't identify anything specific that the fountains have done to you, it's unmistakable that they've had an effect on something.

[Actaea has received two [REDACTED] prizes, both which will be revealed and awarded at a later time!]

NOT SUNFLOWERS NOR DAISIES

Journeying deeper, you encounter a bog of all types of sentient plants as wide as the eye can see. Their herbaceous mouths hang open, and they appear to be waiting for an unaware creature to brush by and fall victim to its fast-shutting clasp. You watch in awe as one particularly large one snaps an unaware eagle right out of the air. You must get past them, but how?

1. These dudes look hungry and unlike anything you’ve ever seen but you need to get past them somehow. If you are quiet and appear unappetizing, perhaps you can wander carefully by without drawing their attention.
   
   
2. If you believe you may appear too tantalizing for the carnivorous plants to ignore, you could try your luck with speed instead. As scary as the field of plants may be, they are rooted to the ground and cannot chase you if they miss their first bite.
   
   
3. SKILL LOCKED: You do not meet the requirements for this path.
   

Just when she was certain she was once again home free she found herself stopping to briefly stare at another strange sight. Large mouths hung open and for the most part they were still and didn't move. That was until she spotted the one snapping an eagle out of the air. It made her flinch, but she couldn't see a way around them. They stretched as far as she could see and this had to be the quickest way out of this strange swamp. She looked down to Lorenzo before looking back up at the plants. They were tall enough that maybe they could sneak through the forest of them, but she felt she needed to use a trick to hopefully help them through this.

Taking off her bags she found the most muckiest spot she could before rolling and wallowing in the mud to cover herself in both a sight and smell kind of camouflage. The plants were carnivorous and she wasn't sure if they could really see, or smell, but she was playing it safe. Standing from her brief wallow she nodded to Lorenzo to do the same. As he wallowed she put back on the bags and waited for her companion who climbed on and clung to her. He remained still as Actaea lowered her head level with her body and began to carefully wander her way through the forest of these odd plants. She was careful to avoid anything that would cause a loud noise and kept her pace careful.

She was curious about these plants, but she didn't have time to observe them to learn more. She just moved carefully and did her best to try and ensure her survival with these things.

Actaea Wanders carefully

SUCCESS

Upon close inspection you notice certain birds and bugs have evolved a color scheme that the plants do not seem to react to. There seem to be some splatters of paint left behind upon the bushes from some other adventurers, and you use those drippings to copy their appearance to the best of your ability. With your new sort-of camouflage you manage to sneak past unharmed!

[Actaea received a Post-Acceptance Marking Pass!][/i]

THE WITCHES BODYGUARD

An angry, oversized bullfrog with long saber fangs and tall horns stands in your way and lets out a bellowing, menacing croak. It stands upon a pile of bones three times it’s height and looks prepared to add your skull to it's collection.

1. A bullfrog can’t have been the worst thing you’ve fought or seen others fight, surely it is a winnable battle. You may choose to stand your ground and enter combat with the frog but be warned, he’s a more formidable opponent than he looks.
   
   
2. Sometimes power comes in small packages, and you are not willing to underestimate this particular opponent. While you may not be willing to put tooth and claw against him, there’s always the chance you can outrun him.
   
   
3. SKILL LOCKED: You do not meet the requirements for this path.
   
   

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