Morning has come to the delta. The skies are of course grey as usual. The wind is rustling through the brown dormant stalks of the marsh grass. Varjeela, intent on developing her slinging abilities, wants to take a few moments to try to hunt, but returns a short while later empty handed. Nijehl grins and pulls out provisions, and he and Joss fish for breakfast.
Huff says Skull Rock can be reached on foot. The group hide the boats as best they can, and leave some of their kit here. The map, and two days provisions, go with them. The group will need to spend considerable time on this and in the end they will recognize that it is nearly impossible to hide signs of their presence. This because the marsh grass is pervasive and once stepped on at this time of year gets irreparably damaged.
... and by mid-morning the group was in a position to continue. The
journey is led now by Huff who takes the group along the riverbank. As
the day progresses the wind picks up - which is a good thing because the
temperature is also rising and, were it not for the wind, the insects would
be coming out. Since the winds are coming off the Rozgali Sea the group
is actually going against it and so walking, talking, and the like are
a bit more difficult than usual. After several hours they find it necessary
to stop and rest. As before Varjeela will wander off nearby to hone her
slinging abilities. Once more, the fishers fish. Mawth is successful in
catching some fish for lunch. Nijehl is not so lucky... This time Varjeela
brings down some large white bird or other. The Bison Rider guts &
plucks it and it is roasted over the fire.
Mawth spends some time contemplating the spirit plane.
Dave Black> The group is able to continue shortly afterward.
And so they do... Around mid-afternoon Huff stops and points inland to
the east. "Trees. We go there next."
Nijehl> "Why?"
Dave Black> "You want to go to Skull Rock?"
Nijehl> "Yeah..."
Dave Black> "OK. That way," he says pointing to the copse of
trees some distance inland from the river bank. Since there is no path
and the marsh grass grows thicker away from the river bank it takes quite
some time for Huff to lead the group across the expanse to the copse of
trees. Eventually though they do arrive. The copse is comprised mainly
of Longleaf trees whose long supple branches flay through the turbulent
air in the wind. There are perhaps 20 of them. Huff leads them through
the copse to the further side. There he stops and points. At first no one
sees anything but after a while they begin to see that the marsh grass
seems to rise up to a higher level nearby. Again Huff plunges into the
marsh grasses and leads them into the tangled stalks. This time though
it does not take long. A good thing for overhead the skies are beginning
to grow deep grey. Foul weather may be coming... At any rate the ground
underneath begins to rise at one point and, soon after, a large grey rock
appears before them. It is half imbedded in the muck but the visage of
a huge gaping fanged mouth is clearly visible.
Joss> Ooh. Spooky.
Dave Black> The horrible visage is facing straight upwards as
if the thing were a statue of some monstrous creature laying on its back.
Nijehl> Move to Huff. "What do you say about that?" pointing
to the skull. "Have you any legends on it?"
Dave Black> In the distance the group hears the rumble of distant
thunder...
Joss> Best make us some shelter, aye?
Dave Black> "This is Skull Rock," Huff replies. Arm Rock, Hand
Rock, Leg Rock, and others lay towards the sea. Woe to all if Skull, Hand,
and Leg are joined back together!" With that Huff hisses menacingly.
Nijehl> I nod to Huff. "Is it dangerous to stay here if it rains?
I mean, with the swamp..."
Dave Black> In answer to Nijehl's question Huff replies, "No,
rain no problem..."