-----The village ends on its southern border with the dirt road leading between two fairly large storage buildings to a series of medium-sized docking platforms. The dark wood of the docks has been long ago stained with a blackish tar, which glistens and stinks in the rising temperatures. At first, the docks draw little attention compared to the dark stagnant waters they extend into. Beyond the docks, the party feels as if they are staring across a much different land than the Silver Woods. A great vast swampland stands before them with a huge dark lake extending perhaps a mile or more in all directions past the village. In the distance, occasional glimpses of trees and faraway scrub fields are spotted. Almost directly south at a distance of about a mile across the water, stands a thick clump of trees, perhaps the nearest land form besides the water to the village. It is to the thick trees that the sage points hesitantly to. "It is beyond those trees that the castle lies," he says, his voice mysteriously above a whisper.
-----Raven has already dashed ahead of the party onto the docking platforms. The hunter immediately scans the wood boards beneath his feet for signs of passage. After looking this way and that way for a good while, the ranger looks angry and frustrated. "I don't see any signs of anything being here recently," he says clearly disappointed. "Maybe the rains have washed away any traces."
-----Lovan quickly points out two flat marsh boats secured at the last two docks on their far left. "Let's load everybody up and go kill some humanoids," the storm priest says in a boastful voice as he heads down the docks.
-----The five on-looking villagers show signs of enthusiasm in their faces. Romney and Garrison quickly exchange glances; the guard characteristically angry with the Storm Priest while the woodsman laughs in his disbelief. Mirian clutches Romney's arm staring at the dark waters of the swamp with an uneasy expression.
-----Sarah, still very grumpy over Lovan's ill treatment of the priest and everyone ignoring her complaints, just stands with a pout on her face. She follows the party but deliberately avoids looking at or talking to anyone, especially Lovan.
-----"Raven, I say we make landfall on this side o' those trees. An' I mean now. I know ye were thinking o' ambushing here, but it's a little too close t'th' village fer my comfort. Perhaps we can work something akin on th' other side. If not, we plan another quick siege." Sol says easily as he peers out over the marshland.
-----There is one more concern, however... The warrior focuses on the dancer and asks, "Mirian, either here or there will be dangerous, an' so th' choice is yours. Would you like t'stay an' perhaps keep Sage Ulow company wi' Romney fer added protection, or should you wish t'continue on wi' us, knowing what we head int'?"
-----"Oh, I don't know," the dancer utters in a small voice as she stares fearfully at the swamp water.
-----"This is a hard decision to say the least," Romney says frowning. "She should not journey across, but I do not think it wise to leave her here in the village."
-----Strangely, the sage frowns sternly at this remark.
-----"I'd say we keep her with us," Garrison interjects. "If Sol's thinking about a siege, it could be best to keep everyone together."
-----Lovan is now standing by one of the flatboats directing an impatient glare at the adventurers.
-----"With the assassin hunting us," Rinda says in her own low voice, "it would be best not to divide our pack."
-----"Rinda and Garrison are right," Raven says. Looking at the dancer, the hunter asks, "Won't you come on with us? At least we aren't strangers to you."
-----Shaking her eyes from the water, Mirian continues to grasp Romney's arm. She then looks at Sol and Raven and says, "All right. I'll go with you." She then looks at Sarah for support.
-----After a few parting words with Ulow and leaving the horses with the villagers, the adventurers board onto the two flatboats. In the first boat are Sol, Sarah, Raven and Rinda. In the second vessel, Garrison mans the pole while Romney and Lovan watch with Mirian between them.
-----Sol picks up the pole and pushes the boat from the dock as Raven unties it. The hunter then takes up a position in the front of the boat. As Sol poles the boat out into the lake, Raven is heard to quip, "I hope we aren't making a mistake leaving our horses in that village." He then concentrates on the marsh woods far ahead of them.
-----"Keep heading us toward those woods, Sol," the ranger tells the Gorian. "I want to make sure we aren't in line of sight of the castle. If I catch a glimpse of it, prepare to steer us to the right."
-----Sol nods at Raven's directions and follows them as closely as possible, whilst keeping an eye out over the surrounding marshland.