The virtual sun was leaning over an equally virtual horizon. The twilight gradually gathered over the swamp, preparing the day-old living creatures for sleep and inviting other, much more dangerous creatures to hunt. Three players were in a hurry to get past the inhospitable part of the game world as soon as possible, but the viscous slush reluctantly let go of the two-legs. Each step was given with difficulty.

- Ay! - screamed one of them and put his hands under the water, tearing another carnivorous creature from his leg.

Imposed effect!

Mean bleeding.

Duration: 1 minute 13 seconds.

Life points are reduced by 5 every second. After the expiration date, it is converted to minor bleeding.

Imposed effect!

Blood thinning.

Duration: 1 hour 7 minutes 19 seconds.

Bleeding does not decrease with time. Resists the effect of blood clots.

After a few seconds of struggle, Khimn coped with the monster and raised prey writhing in the death-waking convulsions above the water. The worm was about a meter long and as thick as the arm of a child.

Fanged Leech (Level 56)

Certainly hostile, wild, worm-like.

Dexterity: 34

Endurance: 17

Observation: 24

Suck ability: 37

Underwater breathing

Taste of blood

Scaring animals

The Dark Servant swore and threw the disgusting creature away to inspect the wound under a bitten leech pant leg.

“You can't tear it off like this, otherwise there will be bleeding.” It is necessary to sprinkle with salt, it will fall off by itself. - calmly advised Zhrigal.

- Yes, you go with your salt. - replied maliciously Hymn - Why do we even flooded through this swamp?

- I remind you that we are acting according to a plan that we discussed and everyone agreed with him. Initially we were 40 people. The usual methods of teleportation do not work on us, so for the purpose of secrecy we were divided into 5 groups, each of which follows Sonar Son in its own way.

- I already know that. And this is why I, I personally feed leeches, and do not float on a ship or go in a carriage, as I deserve.

“Therefore, my dear brother,” Muril interfered in the conversation - that the three of us, from the point of view of the law, are the most worthy.

- I did not taste logic.

“Of all of our cult, the three of us have been awarded the greatest reward, so we get the most distant ways from official authorities.”

- And what about Moire? He overcame a cloud of people, I thought he was the most famous of us.

- He knows how not to fall. Unlike you.

Muril was silent, not wanting to develop the topic, but Zhrigal did it instead of him:

- Our advice to you: if you want to hide, do not need to break into the crowd of noobs, kill twenty pieces and yell "Die to the glory of the Dark Lord, goblins!"

- The grass was good.- was not embarrassed by the gay memories of Hymn - I generally thought it was my glitches. Lead. Lead in!

The spell worked. The wound on his leg healed, the message about the bleeding disappeared.

Soon the travelers came to a relatively dry land, then a small village appeared, surrounded by a tropical rainforest. Uncomplicated houses were lined up on stilts and covered with straw. Obviously, the locals were accustomed to frequent flooding. The aborigines were tall and dark. Their bodies are covered with ritual paint and tattoos, the clothing consisted mainly of leaves of local plants. However, one should not have thought that primitive culture meant weakness and underdevelopment. They were strong, they could stand up for themselves and, most importantly, they did not ask unnecessary questions.

- Greetings, dear elder. - Muril turned to the old man who led the group of warriors who unobtrusively surrounded the travelers and played with simple but qualitatively made spears.

- Greetings, travelers. What brought you to this village that has already paid taxes?

“We need to pass through the mangroves and climb up the river.”

- It can be arranged. Only we should not pay taxes to you for this, but you should pay them to us.

- Of course.

A small purse with money passed from the hands of Muril to the hands of the elders. He smiled at the remaining teeth and asked:

- It's nice when they pay a small part of the tax. And where is the main part of it?

The damned had to part with a certain amount, after which the old man nodded to one of his people:

- Haktur, they paid taxes, take care of their transportation.

The warriors of the tribe went about their business, still playing with arms, dissatisfied with the fact that there was no chance to let him go. Haktur stroked his red beard, pondering something. The damned unwittingly drew attention to the many scars on the muscular body of an experienced inhabitant of the marshes. Life here was dangerous. Thinking a little, Khaktur led the travelers behind him, explaining the situation as they went along:

- So, today you will spend the night at my house. On the male half, naturally. At night in the swamp can not swim, let's move in the morning. For the fat man - he jabbed his finger in the direction of the риrigal - pay three times more, because it takes up a lot of space.

- Let me know, dear, for what it is we have to pay? - irritably asked Muril.

- For a night, and then for transportation.

“After all, we paid your elder.”

- You paid him a tax, and now you have to pay for services.

Himn wanted to object something, but his brother’s hand on his shoulder stopped him.

At the entrance to the hut there was a girl dressed in the same grassy outfit as the rest of the tribe’s women, but without tattoos on her face that would indicate marriage. She was not an ideal beauty, a fastidious observer would have thought her face too elongated, and her figure too squat. Crowds of fans do not run after such people, but they succeed in getting one or two boyfriends. Her curly hair was the same bright red color as the host's beard. Bare, according to local customs, the chest (of course, the men turned their first glance on her) was not saggy, like other women of the tribe. There was neither excessive fatness nor thinness. Young beauty, preserved by folk remedies, has not faded over the years. Probably, she had admirers, but their task was difficult. From the first arrogant glance it was clear that this fortress was not so easy to take.

The girl greeted Haktur, calling him father. She paid no attention to the greetings of travelers.

The dwelling shone neither purity nor grace. The creaky floor, the same thatched roof as everywhere else. The simple belongings were supplemented with a few cult objects laid out in front of the small altar of the fish-like deity. Pointing to empty places on the floor, Haktur explained that it was here that they would have to sleep, after which, having considered the duty of hospitality fulfilled, he turned to the altar:

- About Angluinninnur, lord of the waters.Thank you for a good day and for the money that these foreigners give. Praise the floating inaudibly!

The players came up with an excuse and quickly left the hut so that the Dark Lord would not think that they were worshiping someone else. A little away from the buildings it was possible to discuss the situation:

“They're heating me up.” - Himn could not stand it.

- I also do not like them, but here we are not in their power. They have become accustomed to money. There are mostly those who do not want to come across the eye of a guard under any circumstances and are ready to fork out for this. Without these Neanderthals we will not pass through the swamp.

- Let's call the demons, the most disgusting, who have no skin, so that the body is covered with worms, and that pus is draining from them. Let them rape all women, each ten times, and the men will be forced to look at it. And then they will have them. Let them know their place.

“Those demons you are talking about ...”