Swamped

You still have a notebook with you, so you start writing down what you saw. Might be important if somebody has to track Rider and company later, who knows.

You have just enough time to make a note of the stone pillar in the desert and hear Claws shouting at you before you pass out.

VOLUME 2

Deserted

Your name is Marshall.

Seven years ago, you discovered a swamp beast at your home, and your father disappeared that very night.

Years later, you left home to find your place in the world. After a few miserable years, you heard about the Rider of the Swamp, whose beast sounded more than a little like the one you had seen so long ago. In desperation, you joined the Bogknights, a military organization operating in the Great Swamp.

You had a rough start, but you were just starting to adjust to things, make friends, even feel a little bit useful.

Then the rain came, and you were caught outside. You saw the rainspawn emerge, and one of them managed to take your arm.

You didn't have much time for self-pity, though. Before long, the base had to deal with a greatrat infestation, and you had to do your part in fighting them off.

The very next night, though, you had to deal with a bigger threat: an attack on your base from the Marshguards. You gathered up some people you trusted, and made your way to the Marsh Fortress, in order to scare them into calling off the attack.

You also hoped that being captured would give you a chance to meet with the Rider and get some answers about your father. But then Rider challenged Captain Long of the Bogknights to a duel, and it concluded with them both disappearing.

Now you know where they disappeared to: the desert you're standing in now. You've learned that creatures from here have been popping up all over the swamp lately, especially the Marshguard side. And it seems Rider and Long are caught up in that business now.

On top of that, Long's come down with desert fever, and apparently your father's romance novel is the key to saving him. You don't really understand that part yet.

In any case, you're all standing near a huge stone pillar. Rider's summarized everything for poor Starling, who seemed to be in a rush to tell her squad leader, Corvus, something important, and got stuck here. He also introduced you all to Yvonne, a grebling who got lost in the swamp, thanks to the strange gateways that are the cause of all this trouble.

Then there's Rivers, or Sandra as you once knew her. She didn't want to come here, but she tried to pull Starling clear of the gateway. It was too late, and she got dragged into this mess as well.

Right now, Rider is talking with Yvonne about how to get in touch with her "team", so you can all get some shelter and Long can get the book. You're sort of following the conversation, but mostly you're just lost in thought.

Now that you're here, what are you going to do?