The World Gone To Poop

After a good night's rest, the party left the safe confines of Green Rowe village and struck out north for Anger Bay.   Reaching the Yender River, the companions followed the bank west, hoping to find a safer spot to ford the swollen river. Tracking alongside the group, Grahm spotted a camp site within a clearing. A body lie gagged and bound to a fallen tree trunk in the middle of the camp. Before Grahm could consider the situation, Walker tore into the clearing.   As Walker and Grahm helped the dwarven captive out of his bonds, Humperdink looked to the trees and the trap was sprung.   A swarm of harpies swooped from the branches and attacked the party. In the opening salvo, Humperdink whipped out his sling and launced a volley at the swarm. Unfortunately for the halfling, the stone richocted off a harpy's beak and smashed the minstrel in the forehead, knocking him to his knees and rendering him helpless for the remainder of the battle.   Stensune leapt to his friend's aid and struck a healthy blow against the swarm. The harpies retailiated with a stream of excrement and vomit that covered the dwarf and left him gagging and wallowed in self pity.   With Stensune and Humperdink lost to the fight, Grahm waded into the battle, axe cutting a vicious swath through the malformed birds. Walker and Heimdall, looking for revenge against his harpy captors, lent aid to the dwarf warrior as the harpy swarm was finally bloodied, beaten, and driven off.   Heimdall, eager to return the favor of his freedom, bent to Humperdink and tried to get the minstrel back to his feet. The task proved too harsh for the dwarf's already fragile spirit and when he failed, Heimdall dropped besides Stensune, lost in self doubt.   Grahm, shaken by his friends' troubles, tried to soothe their pain. But the dwarf found their despair too heavy to lift and he too fell into a mire of self-pity.   Walker set about getting a fire going and eventually the comfort of the flames brought the companions back to themselves. Getting to their feet, the group moved on, continuing along the route of the river, still searching for a safe place to cross.