The Fens of Korvux

As the Archpriest's entourage swept majestically out of the Palace, Delloch leaned closer to the pair and murmured; "Sorry you couldn't reach an accord." Hildraft and Surya were unbothered; that hadn't really been their objective in any case. "We have hopes for his son," continued the priest. "Be sure he knows who his allies are," suggested Surya.

"Oh, he is receiving the very best theological training available in this city," replied the Archpriest with a cunning smile. "I am sure his Father Confessor will have some fascinating palace gossip to pass on. 

Narthal, Stryre, 12^th February 1602

Over the following three days, Surya composed a letter to Vardar Peacock. ".. we go into the Fens of Korvux, in search of the evidence you deny. What will you accept as proof?" he wrote.

 A couple of days later a letter returned - from a court secretary. "... We will send one of our trusted knights to accompany you, to confirm with his eyes what you do or do not find." 

Two days later, the group assembled in the courtyard of the Outer Basilica, ready to depart. As they walked their horses out into the outer courtyard, they discovered a man standing next to an armoured warhorse, waiting for them. As they approached him, he raised a hand in greeting. Surya's eyes widened.

It was Captain Ingamin of the Royal Guard.

Fens of Korvux, Stryre, 14^th February 1602

After a week of travelling, the party reached the edge of the Fens. A trackless waste of shifting bogs, the marshes were shrouded in a thick, clinging mist.

Looking at each other, the group concluded that they didn't really fancy tracking through it. With an accustomed flourish, Hildraft wove the magic that would take them safely onto the Ethereal plane, where they could walk in comfort and safety across the marsh.

To his horror, however, the magic stuttered and failed, leaving the companions firmly planted in the world of the material. The dwarf gazed at the mist with a wild surmise.  "It's blocking my magic!" he declared. Surya attempted a simple Detect Magic spell from his growing repertoire, and to no-one's surprise discovered that the mist was magical in nature - more, that it was suppressing in function. Encouraged, Hildraft tried his Holy Aura, and was relieved to feel the shimmering field of energy envelop him. Only some forms of magic, then.

For the next two days, they slogged and struggled through the stinking mass. Both Hildraft and Hansen slipped into the quagmire and had to be hauled out.

They were attacked by creatures spawned from the mire, huge monsters grown from something Hildraft  recognized from a Temple bestiary as Shambling Mounds. Slow and unwieldy, these nonetheless took some defeating, but defeated they were, and the heroes braced themselves for the final push into the centre of the Fens.