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See, the problem with side quests, is that I always end up in places I shouldn’t be.
For example, I was just walking with my party, trying to find somewhere to stay for the night, when all of a sudden, I hear a low, loud, booming growl, and I jolt out of surprise. We were in a forest, what in the world could have made a sound like that?
So I, being the responsible party member that I am, decided to go check. I stop to tell my party, and I say, “Hey, guys? I’m going to go check what that noise is, and I’ll meet up with you guys further ahead.”
I’m met with a few okays, a grunt, and silence. I walk off towards the source of the sound. I venture deeper and deeper into the forest, and suddenly the air becomes more dense and humid. My next step makes a squelching noise, and I recoil at the sound and feel of it.
“God, I hate squishy ground….” I mutter to myself.
I know, I know, for a druid, I have some issues with nature, but you have to remember, there’s a reason I’m also a warlock. Not that my party knows that, but that’s besides the point.
The trees start to clear up, and… it’s— just a bog?
What could’ve made that kind of sound in a bog??
Whatever, maybe I was just paranoid. I pick up a nice, smooth rock, and flick my wrist, skipping it across the water. I don’t get far, so I pick up another one.
This time, when I skip it, it hits a stone that I hadn’t noticed, and sinks into the water. Wait, hold on, that doesn’t look like any rock I have seen before….
Oh gods. It’s rising. That’s not a rock…
Well shit.
I shouldn’t have left my party.
As it rises out of the water, I get a better glimpse of the creature. It looked like a giant frog. No, toad? Whatever, it looked frog-like, and ugly. More than that, though, it looked strong.
Not only that, but the sound it made when it rose out of the water was just plain disturbing. The water splashed around it, but almost squelched as well. The creature made a groaning sound as its head got fully out of the water. Was it in pain or just happy to have new prey?
The moment its whole head was out, I recoil in disgust. It stank, and bad. I dry heave, and reach for something to fight with.
Oh god what was I going to do? I only had my dagger and… oh, right. I have spells. I forgot about those. However I don’t think it would be a good idea to use an eldritch blast on this thing, it looked eldritch itself. Besides, what if my party came looking for me and saw me using it? My secret would be out.
So I did what any respectable person would do and screamed as loudly as my lungs would allow.
I wasn’t exactly sure what it would accomplish, but maybe it would scare the creature?
Luckily, I heard footsteps running towards me, and I turn to see Mynte running with the rest of the party.
Mynte stops in his tracks and I see his eyes widen. “Aster, step back. That’s a Gitrog Monster. I’ve never seen one in person, but I know they’re ridiculously powerful.”
Mynte locks eyes with Etoile and they both brace to attack. So does Ayiona, but her magic is unpredictable. I take a breath, and decide it might be best to help, at least with my druidic spells, and brace for the worst as well.
To be continued….