[M]Ravenloft: Night of the Walking Dead IC

[Enigma]

Sabine whirled, heart pounding when Mendel returned, the gnome landing in Morwyn's lap, much to the elf's displeasure. She stared open-mouth at his rude tongue and absurd antics, but noticed his surprised expression when he realized where he was.

"We called for you but when you didn't respond, we thought you'd been eaten by one of the frogs," she told him. "Where have you been?"

Of course, one look told her exactly where he'd been - in the swamp.

"If we can't find shelter tonight, we'll need to keep watch," Sabine said, "if we want to avoid the giant frogs and who knows what else that lurks beneath this sullen sky."

[Nazgul]

As the day continues to wear on, the gloom thickens over the swamp as night slowly approaches. The sky still boils, but the storm still hasn't broken; but threatens to do so at any moment. The frogs are long gone now, and it seems that the people who feel out of the mist, are nowhere to be seen.

As the mist continues to dissipate, you notice a faint light in the distance. It is obviously being created by more than just a simple campfire, but it's exact origins remain a mystery. It is at that moment that the silence is broken.

“You appear to be in need of some assistance,” the woman, who was standing on a nearby raft, spoke with a thick accent., the likes of which you have never heard before.(the accent is eastern European, I don't know how to describe that) She had dark hair and wore a long cloak which was wrapped around her concealing any weapons she may have been carrying. Though one could clearly see the arrow poking out of cloak at the back and the bow laying on the raft

Valeria had been navigating the raft through the swamp for hours before she had decided to turn back toward the camp. She had hoped, in vain it appeared that the mists would allow her to leave this place and return to her home, She had things to do and the longer she was kept from her task, the less likely she would be able to finish it.

The mists, however, seemed to have other plans for her.

It didn't matter which way Valeria steered the raft, the mists always carried her back to within sight of the camp. She didn't understand why this was happening to her. Normally her people were left mostly alone to go about their lives. She found the whole ordeal to be proving more frustrating by the moment.

And now as she was about to turn back to the camp, she came across a group of people. Now while under any circumstance it would have been strange as any normal person wouldn't be trudging through such a dangerous place without knowing the way to safety. It was made even stranger be the fact that these were outsiders. The short one was something she had never seen before. But two of the others were clearly, Elven she thought it was, and the other seemed to have Elven features, though could have passed for human in some circles.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” she cleared her throat. “My name is Valeria Drugasz. And you all seem to be a little out of your element here. Though I must admit I'm not sure where you would fit in,” Valeria chuckled lightly.

“But you seem to be in need of shelter and a warm fire. No?” Valeria looked at the group smiling. “There is a camp close by and the people there are... friendly. Perhaps you'd care to join me and we will see if they will extend you their hospitality?”

[Enigma]

"Hello Valeria," The young half-elf priestess smiled. "My name is Sabine, and I'm a follower of Fharlanghn. I'm glad to hear there is a camp and a fire, I hope your friends will welcome us!"

"My companions and I are rather lost," Sabine sighed, "which I'm not ashamed to admit. We're not quite sure how we wound up on a raft in the middle of this swamp - I feel as though someone or something has taken us from our intended path and stuck us here - wherever here might be. Could you tell us where we are? Are we close to Castle Greyhawk?"

[Miss Fortune]

During the raft ride through the swamp, Eccawen remained uncharacteristically quiet, as did many of those still on the raft. The gnome disappeared for awhile, and she felt a little remorseful for his abandonment of the group - but that would generally mean more gold for those that completed the quest at hand.

It was a long while before the gnome suddenly appeared, falling into the lap of the Elf with the uni-duck companion. She listened and watched, amused with the whole situation, though her skin crawled at the thought of his grubby little fingers groping anything that wasn't his own body. She pitied the embarrassed elf, but she spared a soft chuckle to herself.

There was an unusual light that came at the end of the swamp, causing the people on the raft to look up at their leisure. They were greeted by a woman, and after some dialogue between the newcomer and the elf named Sabine, a fire and a camp was offered to the lot.

What Sabine said was true. There were helplessly lost - and miserable, if she could say such a thing. She had forgotten Castle Greyhawk, having been wrapped up in the scenery and sounds of the swamp.

"Greetings, Valeria," said Eccawen, bowing her head respectfully. "I am Eccawen. Thank you for such gracious offers."

[Anne Bonny]

"Oh yes!" Morwyn nearly shouted as she scrambled to her feet. "I think we would love to come with you!" She added her own affirmation to the Sabine's and Eccawen's.

It was a relief not only to see another face in the mists, but a friendly one who spoke of a fire and other people. Shortly before Valeria's appearance, Morwyn had began to wonder herself if there was any end to the swamp or the fog, or if perhaps the party was paddling along in circles.

The elf rubbed her hands together at the very thought of a fire. Warm and dry, just what the group needed to lift their spirits. How fortunate they were to come across the woman!