Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #278

Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #278 

October 6th, 2023 

• Number: 278 

• Name:  Deep Dive on a Site of Interest: The Dismal Marsh and Lotus Delta of Danthas – Part 5 

• Location: Northeast Wastelands where the Danthas River meets the Sea of Hethichol 

• Population (approx.): 4 (The League of the Forgotten Journey) 

• Brief: Before the marsh became dismal, but well after the Lotus Delta was channeled into existence, an entity, being a dark but lesser “mask” (aspect or version) of Pala and Vai, arrived in the region. This thing, a Wild Growth, settled in the region, diverting parts of the young Danthas River to form a garden of its own liking, being a murky tangle of stagnant water and twisted flora. As the marsh grew and festered, the greater powers of Earth and Water took notice and dispatched “light” counterparts (heroic lesser masks) to the marsh.  

• They contested the region versus Wild Growth and eventually contained and bound the mask into a solid form (resembling a long thick rod with floral designs) buried in the depths of the earth at a bend of the Danthas River. Pala and Vai influenced their servitor Kin to construct a monastery above the crypt of the Rod of the Marsh. Clerics of both churches worked in harmony watching over the site until Corruption tore apart the Ta’arnan Empire and the monastery was damaged in battle and abandoned. The Rod awoke and called like-minded Kin, to the site, who over the past 5 centuries have attempted to unearth the relic. Finally, about 10 years ago, Kana Sol’s bandits breached the final vaults, and she claimed the Rod of the Marsh, declaring herself the Swamp Queen. 

• As the Tribes of Taodeas see her as but a simple bandit menace, best placated with coin due to the failure of the Marshwardens to defeat her, the Arcane Guild, sensing a greater threat, has asked the Adventurers Guild to find worthy Companies willing to undertake the quest to claim the Rod. Luric Silverpath, an Adventuring Company leader, believes the Rod or perhaps a related item within the vaults, may be a relic she is seeking. 

• Luric Silverpath, 37, female High Elf, is a Wizard who leads the adventuring company, The League of the Forgotten Journey. She is short, has an aquiline nose, and a nice smile. Luric has long silver hair that she braids every morning. Her lavender eyes twinkle when she learns a new spell or cantrip. She wears robes with an embroidered picture of a sunset on the back. The robe has many pockets to hold the ingredients to cast spells. Luric wields an oaken wand with intertwined sticks capped off by a bit of silver on each end. 

• Luric's family has passed down a journal for the past two hundred years. Inside the journal are clues and hints about a rare Elven artifact. After much research, Luric formed the League of the Forgotten Journey, which mirrors the path that Luric thinks the journal writer took. Most adventurers weren't interested in helping a relatively unknown person go on a journey that might end finding a treasure that would become Elven property. Luric’s group comprises unique people from a variety of Kin. 

• Luric lived with her parents, Farlan, 90, High Elf, and Urira,75, High Elf. She now camps out with the League as they search for the artifact. Her party has Vinzent Rin, 20, a male Human fighter; Mistwyn Stoutpass, 40, male Dwarf, Cleric; and Jayla Cleareyes, 36, female Halfling, Thief. The group gets along reasonably well, and so far, spirits are up. 

• Geography: The Adventuring Company is currently camped on the north side of the Danthas River (location 7 see below) in a secluded hidden and magically cloaked site about a day’s travel east of Kana Sol’s fortress (#20, location 2). They have been carefully scouting their target, mapping the best approaches, tracking guard movements and looking for wards and traps, both physical and magical. The Queen of the Swamp’s realm covers all the island of the monastery and stretches of the marshes to the south. A fair-sized bandit town has slowly grown about the base of the sharp-sided hill, home to the ancient monastery. Prior bandit leaders and Kana Sol repaired most of the damage, raising the walls and adding battlements and two watch towers overlooking the main course of the river. Below the towers the Queen’s “navy” is concealed from view of anyone upon the river.