Session 24 - Into the Trap

While others prepare for their meeting with the Forest Prince, Hrefna wanders around the village, looking for information about Rada. Naum - the village headman, engages her by peppering her with questions about her companions and plans. He does tell her about a group of Rovers who went into the marshes some time ago, though they never returned. He also tells her about Velko - Rada's nephew, who apparently is fated to bear witness to the Rada in the marshes. They strike a deal where in exchange for 12 rubles, the headman says he will persuade the family to get the nephew to guide them through the Marshes.   Vadim, for his part, goes to look in on his wolverine hiding in the woods on the outskirts of town, and finds that Chrevougodnik is a bit agitated and nervous because she senses a male wolverine nearby. The male is not a spirit, apparently. Chrev. says she used to serve the Prince of the Forest. Forest spirits are cool; the ones that live in the village that are the ones she stays away from.   Having returned from the headman, Hrefna shares what she learned with Vasilii, who goes to meet Velko. The weaver tells him he has no interest in going to the Marshes, and that he is estanged from his aunt, whom he accuses of getting involved too heavily in the gods' business. He does confirm that he knows the Marshes well. Vasilii eventually persuades Velko to come, but for a lesser sum than Hrefna negotiated with Naum.   That evening, Vasilii and Vadim return to the bathhouse, where the bannik introduces them to the Prince of the Forest - who is initially a two-foot tall, hairy, crazy-eyed creature sitting on one of the benches. Eventually, he grows, enough to fill the whole bathhouse. Vasilii negotiates with him, promising one weaving to enter the forest and one to exit the forest. Though he initially says the Rada is off-limits to humans, he eventually accepts the deal, and takes Vasilii's kerchief as downpayment. Vasilii now has his work cut out - he must finish the pair of magical stockings he is working on quickly, but the party must leave quickly if they are to make it to the Rada on time.   Back at Rada's Hrefna casts the runes to see “Who are the Marshes a trap for?” with respect to the party’s plan to attend the Rada. She does not share the results with her companions.   There is much debate in the party about whether to go into the swamp for the Rada, and whether the guide Velko can be trusted. Vasilii describes the Leshy they met at the bathhouse.   The following morning, they visit Naum, who is clearly upset about the side deal the party struck with Velko, but they placate him with promises to pay the difference upon their return.   The party heads into the swamp. Velko is in the lead as scout, and Vadim sticks close to him, in order to learn his ways and route, get a sense of the hazards, etc.   Velko and Vadim talk amongst themselves about the rest of the party, and Vadim throws a bit of shade about his colleagues and how difficult they can be at times. Velko commiserates. But he seems to lead the party with confidence, and Vadim - another experienced guide - seems to think he knows what he's doing. After dealing with the swamp bugs (Vasilii was able to make some bug repellent, whch keeps them at bay), they cross a large river, which involves Vladimir putting their donkey to sleep, and then hoisting him onto a conjured floating disk, after which Dolphin Vasilii tows them across.   Eventually the party sets up a camp for the evening and Vadim and Velko go hunting for game. They catch a swan, and prepare it.   The following day, they proceed deeper into the marshes. They have chosen the more northerly of two trails through the marshes - which Velko says is actually less wet, with less quicksand, but is the more dangerous of the two routes, because the veil between worlds is thinner there. On the 3rd shift, Vadim spots floating lights that seem to be wandering through the swamp. He wakes Velko who says they are “bad news” and that we can’t outrun them.   The party braces for impact...