She could not stop now; unprepared though she might be. To do so would be to waste all this time she'd spend just getting here; and she might as well try and scout out the swamp to the best of her abilities while she was at it anyway. Damn the environment making it hard on her. Damn the muck, and the obstacles in her way. A shower would be an absolute requirement later, but she could bear with it. She'd experienced much worse before, anyhow.

Her stick helped steady her on a log as a particularly soggy piece of ground attempted to swallow her boot; a minor nuisance overshadowed by the feel of the area she was about to enter. She considered the rumors that had sent her this way... time to see what all the fuss was about.

She pushed forward.

Once she reached the outer edge of the deep swamp she could feel the pull inward. An attention on her that wasn't there prior but from what it was impossible to sense. Alike to the swamp itself growing interested she felt the gaze coming from all around her, as if it was always at her back no matter how many times she turned to meet it. A coldness sticking to the nape of her neck as she would venture forward.

Although venturing forward is a troublesome task, with thick vines and unsure footing often getting in the way.

[Roll Athletics vs Average with Two Setback]

Tyllia was determined to make it through... but she wasn't having much luck just this moment. Still, she would carry on through to whatever extent was possible.

Athletics (Conditioned removes 1 setback): 2eA+2eD+1eS 1 failure, 1 threat

Dirtied and harried by the elements, she does continue forward although the effort to manage through is considerable and weighs on her strength. as she journeys for the better part of an hour further into the swamp. At many times she feels like she needs to stop. However, the swamp continues to call her toward it's center. Creatures seem to skitter and run along the corner of her vision stalking her as she proceeds deeper and deeper within.

Eventually she comes across a small clearing with a deep and dark pool of some unknown sludge like liquid. Within this clearing the scent of the sludge at the center is overpowering. A closer inspection and the material in the pool seems alike oil in both viscosity and color. However uninviting this material is however it seems to call her forward still. An overwhelming pressure assaults her through the coldness at the back of her neck to step forward into the sludge and commit to it.

[Further checks in the Deep Swamp will be Upgrade by 1, outside suffer 1 Setback for the remainder of the day.]

She pokes the sludge with her stick first, then puts in a finger just to make sure it isn't acidic or anything like that. Then she pulled out the breath-mask from her backpack. She was pretty sure it wasn't meant to be used underwater, but at the very least it might help a little. And keep the sludge from mucking up her eyes. She looked back down at the pool. She wanted to commit to it fully, didn't she? That's what this feeling was telling her. Maybe it was a test. She put the mask away again.

Then she went into the pool.

As she stepped forward into the pool the uncomfortable warmth of the material. Each step feeling more necessary than the first as she steps forward with the scent of the place getting to become the point of being overwhelming. As she descended in toward the center it enveloped and welcomed her in until it plummeted deeply at the center.

Feeling like falling she was suddenly entirely enveloped in the black liquid, the stench of it overwhelming and then suddenly gone. Above her there was no trace or sense to how deeply she had gone. Only the surrounding blackness of the material as it covered her eyes and blotted out all other senses. That uncomfortable warmth quickly shifting as she floated there into an uncomfortable biting cold.

This was kind of crazy. But while the specifics were unexpected, the crazy was not. She wondered, briefly, what the purpose of this exercise was; a moment of uncertainty before she focused herself, thinking about why she had come to this world in the first place. The memories of that day playing back in her mind. She had purpose here.

Purpose which called her forward, inward. Enveloped by the sludge that surrounded her the world was dark and there was nothing. Nothing for such a length of time she could feel her lungs desperately searching out for air.

[Roll Discipline vs Average, Fear Check]

She carried herself forward regardless. The fear was there; yes, but she kept control of it. Allowed it to feed her strength, rather than take it from her. This was the way forward; she'd never thought it was going to be easy.

Discipline, upgraded difficulty: 3eA+1eD+1eC 1 success, 2 advantage

Eventually her breath would leave her, and there waiting in the darkness was a figure of a humans shape. There the figure watched her with two pits of white that looked alike the white of light reflecting off a pool of oil. While she steeled herself against the fear it lingered in this creature. A malice which infected and invaded wafting off it in this strange space. Reaching forward the entity grabbed her by the wrist gently but what was once a welcoming encouragement forward became something far more aggressive and threatening.

Tyllia may resist the entity: Discipline vs Daunting, Upgrade the Difficulty Three Times (One from prior, again from the previous acceptance of stepping into the pool willingly, one from GM Destiny)]

Or she may accept the entity.

This wasn't exactly what she'd been expecting... but neither was it something entirely different either. She'd always known that her path would take her into darkness. It was unavoidable, wasn't it? If she wanted to accomplish even half of what she wanted to, that was.

Still, uncertainty remained.

Was this entity merely a manifestation of the dark side? A conduit through which it could fill a willing vessel?

Or was it a thing of its own? With plots and ambitions that would seek to override hers?

She did not think she could resist now anyway if it were the latter. Not right here in the heart of its den. And she did not want to miss out on the opportunity this place represented, if it was the former.

No, she would allow whatever this was to happen. If it'd turn against her; if it would seek to control her... well, sooner or later... it would find *it* being the one controlled by *her*.

As the creature grips hard on her forearm she can feel it seeping into her. Suddenly overcome with the feeling of fierceness in an attempt to maintain control. Having come so far the source of this ferocity would not allow themselves to be cowed now. They would gain control and use the gained power for something better. However, the feelings she felt in that instant were quickly consumed and enveloped by her own and with her own. A whirling vortex of malice overtook her as the second arm latched on. Pain seared from the touch, bringing her to scream from the pain. Whatever the substance was that was around her poured into her mouth and she could feel herself struggling to move against the entity as her chest lit on fire.

Suddenly the grip was gone and she was able to claw her way out up toward the surface. Coming splashing out in a heap she sent the sludge flying from the pool, finding herself on the edge. Given a few extra heaves she was able to dislodge the sludge from her chest and walk away.

Feeling.. uncertain.

[Tyllia enters the same location as Deonis after a few moments in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=39&t=274&p=2693#p2693

Whether he is still there or not is up to you two.]