Chapter V: Pain in the Morass
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Just outside the gates of Cabilis, a hellish bastion of suffering and savagery sprawls into the horizon. Enormous mosquitos and floppy, phallic leeches lurk in the murky mists and waters, preying on unwary travelers. Here, Kuriak had expected to encounter a ramshackle collective of froglok slaves with limited martial ability. He anticipated the great joy he would feel bringing pain to the defenseless frogloks, but as he took his first steps into the swamp he began to grow uneasy. Leeches began to wiggle into his armor, burrowing into his scales. Constant barrages of mosquitos sought to relieve him of his blood. He persisted toward the froglok enclave, driven by his dedication to the mission. Before long, he spotted a single froglok standing before a ruined pillar, a brownie in his little webbed hand. Bake sale.
Kuriak afflicted the froglok with a disease and then turned to move into the cover of the forest, away from any froglok reinforcements. Before he took even a few steps, the froglok had closed the distance and sunk a dagger into Kuriak's back, critically injuring him. These were no helpless slaves. As Kuriak battled to regain the upper hand against the froglok, he spotted a shaman moving through the clearing, infusing his kin with the spirit of the wolf. Dreadful creatures passed in and out of clusters of trees. Barely able to keep the froglok under control, and exposed to attack from creatures of all sorts, Kuriak focused on his pain and desperation. He tapped into all the evil that festered in his soul and let it boil through his veins, where it was augmented by his connection to Cazic Thule. Dropping his sword, he placed his hand around the froglok's throat and the painful energy immediately coursed into the froglok, exploding in a flash of heat and light. The froglok's head and upper body were blown apart, and it dropped to the ground, limp and lifeless.
Having barely survived the skirmish, Kuriak rested for a moment in the clearing. Though these were obviously combat-ready frogloks, and the forest crawled with powerful creatures, he knew if he were careful and methodical he could survive the risky tactical situation. When his wounds had sufficiently regenerated, Kuriak cautiously approached the camp where the frogloks were being harbored.
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While observing the camp a terrifying creature caught Kuriak by surprise, its dreadful maw agape as it examined the Iksar. Luckily it passed without devouring poor Kuriak. The camp was populated by exiled Iksar who were clearly colluding with the froglok forces. Powerful frogloks wandered among them, moving supplies and casting protective blessings. Apparently the bake sale had been a ruse, as he saw no more delectible treats among the camp's inhabitants. Someone had intended to lure agents of Cabilis into a tactical disaster.
Lacking time to further contemplate the situation, Kuriak slithered into the swampy underbrush and continued his mission. Many of the camp's inhabitants were far too strong to engage, so he moved about, looking for vulnerable frogloks. He dragged them into the clearing where he had a clear view of approaching threats, and was careful never to expose his back to these frogloks as they had a propensity to land deadly backstabs. There was no safe place to rest; he had to be continually aware of the treeline. Time and again deadly foes emerged from behind trees only to be narrowly avoided. Though his situation was fearsome, and all the abominations of the swamp shuffled around him, with care he was able to execute his mission.
After a day and a night of warfare, having dealt considerable damage to the froglok contingent, Kuriak headed west toward the gates of Cabilis. As he left the area he spotted a wondrous sight that warmed his heart and eased his journey home.
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When Kuriak returned to Arch Duke Xog and reported the outcome of his mission, Xog seemed dismissive about the affair and after the initial debriefing he abruptly ceased any further discussion of the matter. Kuriak was quickly and unceremoniously promoted to the rank of Squire and given his Squire's Khukri before he was dismissed. It was clear something was happening; the Crusaders of Greenmist had some knowledge Kuriak lacked. An organized unit of combat-ready frogloks had established a position just outside Cabilis, where they appeared to be gathering supplies and bolstering their magical defenses. Why had the Cruaders been led to believe it was a benevolent group of escaped slaves? He tried to put it out of his mind as he waited to receive his next orders.