Fear No Evil

Stinking Swamp

King Iroma, Bulwark of the Coast, wasn't exactly a tyrant, nor could he be considered a saint. He had governed as his father had governed and his father before him. He knew better than to upset the status quo. His rules and regulations were the norms among all city-states. Loosen the laws of the land, and the public would be happy, however, he would have less control. Or tighten the laws, and the citizens would be sad, but he would have more control over his subjects. His laws were meant to be judicial. Firm, but fair. Obey the law. Don't cheat, steal, or murder. (Dealing with the Thieve's Guild was more than complicated.) Or break the law and face the consequences. It was a precarious balance to not be too judgemental or the next King to dethrone would be himself! In Iloner, King Reemo mistreated the serfdom to the point at which they revolted and beheaded him and his queen. He couldn't afford to be that careless.

   After all, he enjoyed a proper execution. A beheading or a hanging of serious criminals quenched the bloodlust of the serfs and their children. He relished the days when they decided upon the rare firing squad. It wasn't the spectacle it used to be, but punishment was still a business, and business was good. Yes, let the punishment fit the crime. He couldn't allow a criminal to wilt away from a harsh sentence. What he worried more about was releasing petty thieves and their ilk into the wild Stinking Swamp, forbidden ever to return. But most did not survive the night. If mosquitos didn't drive them crazy, or an alligator hadn't eaten them, then a necromancer would've taken a shine to them and recruited them into grave robbing. Or, if Omalark the moon was high, he or she might just disembowel them. Those were the choices. To serve your sentence or take your chances in the brutal swampland chock full of carnivorous flora and fauna.

   The four of them swatted feebly at an endless number of mosquitos. "Did ye notice Jedd was the only one riddled with bug bites?" Alex said. "Firewind must really hate him."

   "Not anymore," Sage said. "I secretly healed him with a touch."

   "See Teal? The Priestess can be as sneaky as ye!" She creased her brows at Sage.

   Ignoring her, Sage thought to protect them from the swarm of mosquitos sure to encircle them, and scooped a handful of marigold from her herb pouch and crushed it between her palms. "Beelarge," she incanted. "That will repel all insects from myself. Stay close to me, and you won't be bitten."

   "That's really nice because I was going to smear mud on my face and arms to keep the gnits away."

   "Is that how elves keep their skin so flawless?" Alex asked.

   "No. Honestly, it's a gift."

   The women strode across the dock and boarded an empty raft. Presumably, the one the men had just left. Sturdy guiding sticks poked out of shallow water.

   Alex removed her helm to get to her anvil-shaped earrings. "Ah, me good luck charms." She looked at Teal, who gave her a friendly wink, to which she scowled, and then looked up at Jun. "Ye hold these before I lose them. I do nae trust the Halfling." Jun accepted the earrings and pocketed them.

   "I prefer to be called Kender," said Teal.

   "What?" she replied and the thief said grumpily, "You heard me."

   "Aye, whatever. The Kender cannae be trusted."

   "You don't want to say that in front of my guild."

   Alex thought for a second and said, "Och! That would never happen."

   Sage checked for the holy symbol around her neck. "Let's prepare ourselves for the unexpected and investigate this realm of living nightmares, this graveyard of lost souls, this dread purgatory." She and Jun began to ferry them between great gnarled trees and across the sun-dappled miasma.