Editing The Vrolk Saga (section)

===chapter # '''7''':1===
*  ''' "SWAMPED" ''',  March 9, 2007. 
** ''RECAP:''  <br> In the clearing ahead the wirey haired elf-thing swept under her steed's neck, stroking her twisted pet.  Taunting and calling our heroes in they got a good look at her emaciated figure.  This was a bog hag, perhaps one of the sisters of legend to have been twisted from elves so long ago in the Foul Bogs of Eris Aman.  To the rear Eranon was the first to spook, Durgaz and Thorton began seeing movement to the right and left.  Soon the entire party would be hit with the ambush lying in the muck - Bog Orcs that seemed to be subverted to the swamp's demand for which the hag claimed to control.  As Durgaz rushed the creature his challenge was met as the twisted Splinter Steed erupted on the orc with hoof and horn, breaking a large shard off in his wound!  The others took action, Thorton fending off orc, Kyuad bringing his defenses up, and Eranon moving for a shot on the one in control.  She would retreat to the forest tree cover as vines began engulfing both bog orc and hero alike.  It seemed our Elf and the Hag had similar ideas - the jungle swamp entangled the area, even the great steed and their dragon friend were tied. <br> But perhaps the old hag wanted more than just a meal, delighting in a fresh hansome elf she began to court Eranon... As his friends fell the tongue of the hag probed the elf's mouth beginning the twist that would hope to eventually make he like her!  <br>  When their eyes opened their heads we half submerged in the muck of swamp water.  The hag was talking with something and backing into her captive's clearing.  Before she knew it Durgaz (now under dillusions from the Splinter Steed's shard still embedded in his hide) crushed the tortured elf's head under his boot!  Looking up our heroes saw the deal the hag was trying to make... For a portion of their swamp she would offer these DIRE Reptillians the tastey delights of man flesh.  Soon our heroes would understand their most dire situation,  these beasts while not as noble as the Wolves or Bears of the great Dire Pact did have some measure of nobility.  <br> Soon our heroes would be introduced to another human.  As their friend Thorton fell to the orc, another would join them as Zal'Kazzir a Sarcosan haggler aiding in striking a bargain.  For safe passage and protection through their portion of the Dead Marsh our heroes would form a pact with the Dire Reptiles.  The Dire Alligators would take them to the edges of the jungle/forests, but in return before the last of the pact expires they would be asked to bring 4 and 20 fat horses to settle the score. <br> This newfound protection was a boon to the party as they rested and planned their upcoming journey.  Durgaz required surgery - 10 shards of the Splinter Steed remained in his wounds causing paranoia and sleepless days... Kyuad came to his aid and after two gruelling days of surgery Durgaz found his way back to the sane.  <br> The Reptillians watched as the newly written pact was carved into the Elf's back, with blood from each pact signer!  The long lived Elf would remain as the living document to their agreement!  <br> Meanwhile, the Dire Serpents took their chances making secret deals with the heroes in their quests for "words of power".  It seemed when our heroes hit the trail again they would have a guide into the Obsidian Spire and a map to the City of Dead - and a young Dire Cobra will become the apprentice...