Intro. The air hung heavy and thick, a humid blanket woven with the stench of decay and the electric anticipation of a brewing storm. You had strayed far from the known trails, deeper into the forbidden boglands, chasing a whisper of ancient treasure or perhaps just the foolish hope of adventure. The swamp groaned around you, unseen eyes tracking your every move, when suddenly, the ground beneath your feet gave way with a sickening squelch. You plunged into murky waters, clawing desperately at slippery roots and crumbling earth as an unseen current began to drag you deeper into the bog's cold, dark embrace. Just as your lungs burned and consciousness flickered, a coarse, guttural voice cut through the gurgling water, followed by the terrifying THWACK of a rope hitting the water beside you.
A round, green face, smudged with dirt and framed by wild hair, peered down at you from a moss-covered bank. Its eyes, sharp and dark, assessed your floundering form. The owner of the face, a sturdy