Boztun Badlands, Klos 18th, 350AC, 12:19  (partly cloudy, 38 degrees, crescent moon)

The badders swarm up to your group on all sides except for directly behind you.  A number of them stop a few paces from you(mostly crossbow wielders who are still pointing their weapons your way).  The rest casually walk amonst you, like arrogant bullies, snarling and hefting their melee weapons.  Their strong musk hits your noses harshly.

The masked badder (who also halted a few paces away) holds a high quality duralloy metal shield, and curls his spear under his armpit, as if ready to make a thrusting attack.  He snarls in trade tongue:  “Yoo introod on keeng’s laand.  Why we not keel yoo for dis?”

Boztun Badlands, Klos 18th, 350AC, 12:18  (partly cloudy, 38 degrees, crescent moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/grailbridge.mp3|autostart=yes]

After a moment, the masked badder makes a sweeping gesture with his spear, and snarls out a few harsh words in badder.  “Rrrrakaar tak mulkaa!!”  He leaps down off the mushroom and the entire horde sweeps forward towards your group.  They are moving at a fast walk/slow jog.  It gives you an uneasy feeling, like when a large strange dog is coming at you and you can’t quite tell if its going to stop and sniff you, or casually bite you in the leg.  Enemy weapons are still held at the ready, crossbows pointed at you.  Several of the infantry are wielding crude shields made of mushroom caps.

Actions?  Reactions?

Boztun Badlands, Klos 18th, 350AC, 12:16  (partly cloudy, 38 degrees, crescent moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/thingstocome.mp3|autostart=yes]

Ragnor steps up on the chest as the rest of you fan out and prepare for possible attack.  The noises from the forest become louder, and then a large number of badders appear (30-40?), shifting between the byllka pods.  Each is decked out in a set of ring mail armor.  Many carry wicked looking hand held weapons such as spiked maces and axes.  Half of them carry crossbows which are loaded and leveled at your group.  The badders halt at the edge of the forest.   One of them leaps on top of a 5′ high mushroom (kind of like jumping up on a table) and holds aloft a duralloy spear, as if ready to hurl it.  This badder is wearing the same ring-mail, but sports a duralloy mask, similar to the ones worn by badder hoplites (and Sir Cyr).  They snarl loudly at you with their large yellow teeth.

Actions?

Boztun Badlands, Klos 18th, 350AC, 12:15  (partly cloudy, 38 degrees, crescent moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/fireswamp.mp3|autostart=yes]

Your squad trudges west, along the southern edge of the byllka forest.  As you travel, you can make out the sounds and movements of various creatures under the canopy of mushroom caps.  You spot a number of 1/2 meter long insects flying around (their hind ends glow red periodically), and some flocks of smaller ground birds picking around in the soil.  Every now and then they seem to panic and scatter.

After moving along for about 15 minutes, you hear a high-pitched blast from a  horn.  (Wwoooooooooooooooo)  The sound comes from the forest, not far to your north, followed by the noises of moving creatures.

What now?

Boztun Badlands, Klos 18th, 350AC, 12:00  (partly cloudy, 38 degrees, crescent moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/fireswamp.mp3|autostart=yes]

The scouts, weapons at the ready, range out in front of you as you head north.  The other soldiers carry the treasure chest as you crunch and slosh through snow, mud, and slush.

The byllka pods become more distinct as you draw near, and soon they are towering in front of you.  They seem to range in height from 2 to 40 meters.  Their trunks are lavender in color, and are very straight.  The caps are a deeper purple, with a ring of black feathery material along their perimeters.  There are some smaller fungal and plant species here too, but they are less distinct (especially some of the plants which lack leaves at the moment).  There is hardly any snow within the forest, and the ground is a dark earthy color.  You think you can smell the earth, or maybe the byllka pods smell like that.  The forest seems to be blocking the wind, so you feel a little warmer.  Yet the pods also shield the sun, so its going to be darker.

The scouts halt and crouch about 30 meters from the edge of the forest, looking alert yet calm.  Bren motions for you all to continue forward, and the whole squad advances to the same area.  “So far, so good.  What’s the plan, now?”

(Sorry, I don’t seem to be able to whip off a quick quality picture of the forest.  Maybe I’ll draw one and scan it in the next few days.  I’ll post the turn rather than leave the game on hold longer.  Until then, you’ll just have to imagine it.)

11/11/10, 4PM:  Here is another grid map so you can tell me which direction you would like to go…

Boztun Badlands, Klos 18th, 350AC, 11:15  (fog, 45 degrees, crescent moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Badger.mp3|autostart=yes]

After some discussion, your group heads out in the direction you think is to the north.  After trudging through more thick fog, it quickly thins out, and you step from it as if walking out of a cloud.  There is still a thin layer of fog along the ground, but visibility is not hampered anymore.

About a mile to your north is what must be the byllka forest:  purple pods that stretch for miles across rolling hills.  They are too far away to see much detail.

What route would you like to take?  Straight towards the forest?  Or stay hidden within the fog?  Or will you head in a more westerly direction across the snowy badlands?

I don’t seem to be able to upload any pictures or sounds right now.  Please see the previous maps if you need orientation.  Your group is just to the lower left of the ruins of Car Isle.

(Ah there, Greg fixed it.)