Vagabond?'s page

Posting interest, probably as a noblewoman with the politician background. I have some questions, largely about how much magic we have actually stumbled on.

Currently applying as an Investigator, though that might change later on.

Gotcha- So that's a no. But could you, for example, cast Magic Weapon on an Alchemists Acid?

Can you make magical Splash Weapons, like you would enchanted ammo? Such as a +1 Alchemists Acid, or a +1 flaming alchemist acid?

Akodo's charge cleaves a goblin in half, the fires of the flares singing your skin as you cleave the heads off of two goblins, your horse stomping the second one. Another three stand on the back, but you can tell that the entire formation is a slap across the face from breaking.
This doesn't actually slow the troop, however- They swarm over you and your horse with vigor and chaos. Both you and your horse takes 1d6 ⇒ 3 damage.

Takafumi easily doges the the goblins star candle, but the goblin ducks under takafumi's strike with ease, and attempts to stab him in the back as his partner draws and lights his own flare.

Enge's holy symbol shines in the moonlight, as she sees a young goblin woman stare with horror, "Necromancer!" it shouts, scurrying away. However, you can see about three skeletons slip past the goblins wall and begin to move to you.

Palea can see one of the goblins stand on a roof, flare in hand, shouting filled with anger and rage, "THE DEAD FEAR THE GODS!"
With that rallying cry, you can hear sounds of warriors gathering to fight against the undead rising from the hole of bones.

Takafumi reaches for the child, only for the child to jump back in terror and scream, the three goblins eyes shifting right at Takafumi. Two break from the formation while the third grabs the child and begins to run.

One fires a Star Candle, Attack Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 8damage: 2 = 2
While the other charges over, and makes a try at cleaving his head off.

Akodo rides through the goblin horde, as they begin to rise and scatter in surprise as a third party enters in addition to the undead as they cross through their bonemeal cloud.
"NECROMANCER." you hear in a cry, as the air begins to flare with light and fire.
A squadron of goblins, wielding star candles, press against Akodo.
Make a DC 15 reflex save or take 1d6 ⇒ 3 damage 50% fire 50% nonlethal

Yes, it's the PCs turns, apologies if that wasn't made clear.

Palea, being more distant from the combat than any other member of the party, can see the most clearly of the party what's going on.
The skeletons claw themselves out of the pile of bones like mushrooms from the earth. You watch as they cleave through the goblins scattered around, trying to defend like wet tissue paper.

A sound echoes, "WE ARE AS GODS!"
With the claim is a cheer, "WE ARE AS GODS!"

Akodo and his beast of burden flashes by a goblin, blade in hand, cleaving the hair off the head of a goblin warrior to it's shock.

Palea can barely give a moment's pause before a disembodied skull, it's eyes flickering like firelight, tried to bite.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Takafumi's attempt at stealth is actually much more effective this time, but he still found himself an unfortunate fate.
A small goblin, barely taller than Takafumi's Shin turns his eyes to the monk as a Trio of goblin warriors came out, improvised quarterstaffs at the ready, their eyes crazed and confused. If the problem with the child is not resolved, the kid will alert the goblin trio.

The Major Party
The Guards are swiftly in Akodo, Enge, and Paleas strike. The Walls, while they muffle the sound, fail to muffle the sounds of surprise over the wall where Takafumi lies.

Takafumi
You pin the goblin down, a gaze into his eyes reveals enough about him- Older. Much older, in fact, than most goblins, though that's not saying much.
It goes down with a strike to the face, but you can hear the village coming alive. You see a trio of Goblins, Horsechoppers at the ready and attention at their core. Each with a look of confusion and awareness. They don't seem to be looking at you- They're looking at the Lake.

All
And then there was an Explosion.
Large and tall, you saw the pit filled with bones explode into the sky, Bonemeal falling like rain.

The goblin Guard was not expecting an attack, as it gets impaled on Palea's blade with an utter ease. The other guards could hear the first guards screams.

I wouldn't say that combat has really started- I'd say you caught them entirely by surprise, and have about 3 rounds until combat begins. Use them as you wish.

Apologies for the delay, last week or so has been incredibly busy-

I ended up taking a prestige class, because it seemed much more thematically appropriate to a starseer- Because it was literally called Skyseer. Less divination focused than the regular skyseers, but unfortunately divination focused prestige classes are few and far between.

The sheet is still heavily under construction, as I still need to finish the Spells and magic items, but it shouldn't take too long to get it done.
Sheet on Mythweavers

Background is taking awhile to actually coalesce, but it's quite clear she's a competent starseer. I'm going to work on that in a while, but it'll take time.

@GMEDWIN:
Apologies, I should have clarified my Vatic/Priest request-
The Priest is basically a 1/2 BaB Cleric that gains the Knowledge Domain and more skill points a level, Akin to 3.5's Cloistered Cleric. I like it quite a bit.
This means that, since I don't trade away anything that the Vatic doesn't have, then applying the Vatic archetype to the Priest with minimal problems.

For Faiths, I feel like it thematically makes sense for it to merely be a Vekesh who masks their philosophy by acting like a member of the Clergy, though I need to read more about it.
For the Skyseer, I'm thinking about a small, relatively unknown sect of the Old Faith, one that is tinged with Panoply.

However, being able to tie myself into the adventure would prove nice for the Skyseer. Can you tell me anything about him? I can't seem to find anything about it in the player's guide.

As for the Vekeshi, the idea that the whole thing going on was highly illegal would be noted, and would be the primary reason and cover she would have for joining the Royal Homeland Constabulary. She's been faced with such terrible things in the past, and has proven herself willing to face terrible things.

Posting interest as one of there options:

1. Evangelist Cleric Vekeshi Mystic
Hotheaded. Brash. She's been called many of these things when she was young. It's probably true, even now, that she doesn't think as clearly as she should.
She was born in the Northern Shores. A beutiful daughter of a relatively minor noble family, she found herself a candidate aftering being kidnapped by another nobleman and killing him to free herself and his harem. This brought her to the attention of the Vekeshi Mystics.

2. Vatic Priest, for a divination-focused social character, who swaps out the Knowledge domain for the Conversation inquisition.
She died once. Ages ago, in her homeland of Danor. When she was a 12 year old orphan, she was stabbed in the back by a thief after the gold she had pickpocketed and left to die. But it was through the kindness of a skyseer of old, something she thought a mere superstition. He raised her as one of her own, before he traveled to Flint to learn from "Gale," where differences in styles and beliefs (She has developed an idea based around community between planets, bearing a closer resemblence to the Clergy rather than the Skyseer, plus Gales behavior to industralists). So she joined the Constabulary to help her find a place with the magical talents she'd garner over the last 10 years.

The Light that envelops Akodo's sword envelops the forest, blazing in the shadows of the night. Enough that most of the guards only stare in the forest, their fireworks at the ready and primed, well enough that Takafumi's can easily dive into the ramshackled house.

He stumbles around with a borrowed Flint and Steel, trying to light the buildings.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
You had barely had time to acquaint yourself with a flint and steel before being beset by a crazed goblin, it's mouth practically foaming as it dives right to your head!
Bite Charge Attack v Flatfooted!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

There's sounds as the town seems to rise, and Enge can see the Guards begin to scatter and return to the house, surprise on their face, as they begin to shout something in Goblin as they almost go into a full blown sprint.

The agreement and consensus reached, you stand back and watch the goblins celebrate until the day turns to night, and the light fades from the world.

You manage to avoid being caught by the four different Goblin Patrols as they return to their home, with a handful of goblins burying the bones from the previous day's encounter. You see three goblin watchmen circle around the ramshackled village, as two goblin patrols leave in the night, armed to the teeth with fireworks.

You do, however, sense another presence. You're not sure where, or how, but you know something is there in the forest and watching you.

Yikes, that sounds rather difficult. Thank you for the forwarning, however, and I will keep it close to mind. I'll continue the game, and Palea will continue her journey into the swamp, and eventually to a the distant land.

A fair count cannot be made easily. They're moving and dancing, but you can probably guess 32 goblins in total, but about 12 of which are not particularly suited to combat, being either too young, too frail, or not particularly interesting, leaving 20 or so Goblins who could manage a fight, not including the Chieftain.

A fire certainly could work well, however. Goblins themselves are simply not particularly clever, nor particularly thoughtful.

A repeated mention of Fireworks, the reason for the Goblins madness and bravery is notable. So could be that they made it, but more likely it was stolen. By who, you're not certain.

The shapeshifter nods with agreement, "Alright, so we're moving on then? Alright, keep to the shadows- That was just one patrol, we don't know what else might be around."

With that, you're off again, the shapeshifter moving forward with the party in tow.
It's slow going- There's no path, and the shapeshifter is taking you slow "To make sure none of you get lost- Something's hunting in these woods, not just the goblins."

Eventually, after hours of travel, the noon sky turning to a rusty red dusk, you reach a filthy village-fort surrounded by a crude wooden palisade sits atop a low hummock of solid ground here. A wooden gate in the north wall of the palisade lies in shambles on the ground. Nearby, a large, algae-filled pool on the northeastern side breaks the palisade and allows a clearer view into the village’s interior, which consists of a collection of ramshackle huts connected by wooden walkways, all built on thick wooden stilts.

The village is lively with goblins, loud and cacophonous. Singing, dancing, and crazed stunts are performed with glee and jubilation. In the center of this, however, is a hole filled to the brim with bones and gunpowder.

You watch as the goblins carry a rickety throne, worn and barred with a relatively elderly goblin’s grimice on their face. Anticipation is in the air as it rises.

None of you can hear what he says, as he is too distant, but these cheers, while still loud, were not the cacophonous sounds of a party of crazed, bloodsucking murders, but the harmonious cheers of glory.
”THE LIVING WILL BURN! THE DEAD WILL CRY! THE SKY SHALL FLASH WITH OUR MIGHT!”

With that, you watch as the skies explode.

---------

The explosion wasn’t like the fiery orange explosion of a hay fire, or a compost heap. It wasn’t the searing flame of a spell. It was an explosion of colorful, bright and explosive sparks, like some deity with no sense of taste had hit a steel with flint. Sparks of Red and Green filled the skies, taking on shapes, as beutiful as they are fleeting.
A hand reaching to another.
Flashes of gold.
War between two unknown factions
Dragons of green, royal and imposing, playing with the life of mortal men.
A ship.
A traveler crossing a frozen hellscape.
Storms of fire.
Pictures of Shelyn and Desna, and deities from distant lands that time has forgotten.
A magnificent samurai in golden armor, then a golden dragon flying into the air.

By now it's quite clear these fireworks are not entirely mundane.

----

”I presume you have a plan?” the shapeshifter comments.

Enge manages to douse the fuses of the firework wielder that still lives, the sound fading away into nothingness, the other two fuses on the goblin extinguished. It begins to die with a sputter as Palea stabs the goblin through the chest. It's not yet dead, but it's damn close and will probably not live the hour.

Akodo's glare turns to the second goblin pikeman, swinging his sword. Only to miss, as his horse bit the goblins head off, the pike falling and his weapon dulled. Is there no end to Windspirits bloodlust?
The fireworks. Because they are still underfoot, and deal 1 damage and dazzle you for 1 round unless you Make a DC 12 reflex save.: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Takafumi's assault on the fleeing goblin is lost, as it slides out of his grasp and continues it's escape. This provokes an Attack of Opportunity. If you take it, it knocks the goblin outrider out cold.

When all seems calm, the goblin Akodo killed last explodes.

Round 3

The fireworks explode in a flash of light, or rather a burning light that sears into the eye, as, at the same time, a firework explodes under Akodo's very feet, flying past Akodo, Palea, and Enge, it's heat searing and uncomfortable.

The effects are not too hostile as the moment passes, but 90 feet away, you see a massive explosion that echos through the swamp.

Encounter End

1340 exp total, or 335 exp each.

The sound of the forest has quelled themselves after the firery blaze that exploded not 60 feet away from the party, as you see the Shapeshifter slowly crawl it's way up to you.

"I'm... Rather surprised. You're good at what you do, I can tell."

He looks to the west, "It's still a distance off. I'm not sure if anything else will be ahead, so let's make haste. We'll take a roundabout method, avoid any more patrols. Grab the spoils and we'll make our leave."

I'll give you guys a day or so to get your characters heads back together, and figure out a plan from here.

All of this is fine, I'm glad to see you guys are doing well enough.

Yep, presume you can reach any given creature.

Yep, theater of mind, as requested.

Round 1 Changes

Takodos
The pikemen duo watch as the oversized beast rears up, and bites the head of the goblin off. The duo's partner can merely stare in awe at the terrifying show of might.

Samell
Samell's expertise and experience works well to burn the two goblins, their shirts revealing a multitude of burning fuzes.

Enge and Palea
The sneak dodges under the strike, only for a retaliatory strike to hit him in the gullet, with it's riposte missing only to get impaled in the back, making a growl.

Firework Duo/Takodos again
The firework duo, with their equipment lit, begin their offensive.
One of them bolts in with their lit flare, striking the terrifying mount.
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Only to, after he hits, gets beheaded in one simple sweep of the sword. He falls and threes fireworks fall to the ground. One explodes, filling the square with jumping jennys, dealing 1 point of fire damage to anyone to walks forward, as bits of firework jump around.
The Dancing ponies Will last: 1d6 ⇒ 3 rounds.

The last goblin couldn't react, but saw Palea and Enge clumped together. It charges and triest to strike, the three fireworks on it's belt's fuses lit. It misses and provokes, one of the fireworks begining to make a noise as loud as death itself.
The Banshee Balarrina will burn for: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 rounds, and two more fireworks remain unidentified

Round 2

Pikemen Duo solo
The Pikeman realizes that, if it wishes to live, it'll have to fight much, much harder. It dives in and takes a strike, not at the horse, but at the horses rider.
attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Outrider
The outrider sees the goblin with the fireworks lit, and makes a tactical retreat, withdrawing into the forest.

Firework Duo solo
If it is still alive, it'll make an unarmed attack (Provoking an attack of opportunity).

attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 = 5Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Quick build stub:
Wizard 8 [Pact Mage][Exploiter].
Gnome

Eliza was alone now.
That was the only real thought in her head. The sun was overhead, so even her Shadow sulked away from her.
Her friends were dead. She knew this, on a contious level, but she couldn't really conceive of it. She knew they were old when the took her in 50 years ago, and she knew she was young for a gnome. But all of them were dead.

She was 55. She was aware that, compared to humans, this was a big number. But she still felt young and carefree. But she simply couldn't imagine the world without the five young wizards she's lived with for the last dozen years.

There was one left, but she was growing older, a Half-Elf named Phyllis. Her memory was going, but she was still the kind, compassionate woman who raised her. And she knew that Phyllis wanted to go home.

The trip to the Tower was long and arduous. But eventually, they reached there. Phyllis was taken in by the mages and cared for, but to keep her there, Eliza knew she needed to work.

A decade ago, she made a deal with the Shadows. The shadows would bring color to her family's life, and she would work for them. The Shadows had helped her grow, and taught her as much as the Wizards. Now, all that was left was Phyllis and the Shadows.

------------

Alright, that's the first draft or so of her backstory. She's basically a very friendship focused gnome illusionist, who lost most of her family and has joined The Mageocracy on her "mother's" demand.

In terms of personality, she's somewhat fearful and somewhat reactionary, as the Mages tricks has led to some unfortunate accidents in the past. However, should someone initiate a proposal for friendship, she's grab onto it like a crazed bard.

With no other responses, I'll presume you guys won't post for a while.

Round 1!

Goblin Pikemen
The goblin pikemen duo ready their pikes, moving first to the Samurai. The duo work to trip the foul mount.
Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Goblin Sneak/Goblin Outrider
Both act in Tandem, the outrider diving to Enge, rolling through the mud before jumping up, mud flying right into Enge's eye.
Dirty Trick: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 V CMD, Blind.
The sneak dives under the outrider, a dagger driven right between the shoulder blades as it howls with crazed laughter, it's gaze directed right to the Monk, as if to say "You're the next to follow."
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (5) = 6
Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

The Firework Users
The two firework users make haste, as they pull out their arms.
One draws a firework, lighting it with a crazed howl and making their movement to the terrible, terrible creature with it's terrible, terrible maw! The firework in it's hand bursts into light and fire as it charges.
The second draws another, different firework, lighting it and tossing it under the horse's feet as it steps behind a tree.

Unless anyone states differently, or seek to prevent this, this will be what'll occur. State who you'll target, and keep in mind Initiative. You cannot change the actions of someone higher in the Initiative order, but can otherwise act in any order.

Question, I don't have time to make a fully fledged to character sheets aside from perhaps a stub. Is a character background and personality sufficient, or will it's not be so?

The creature looks with utter surprise, before pauses with clear knowledge. On it's face you can see the realization that, yes, they were a bunch of brawlers.

The creature nods, and skulks away.
You have your place, you see the goblins focused to the south. You don't know what they're looking for, but you know that they have some ears worth quite a bit.
You guys also know that you'll get a surprise round. Feel free to post an extra standard action or so.

Holy s+#$, a 5-year-running game? I am in! I'll do some reading about where the game's at right now and stuff.

Anything you're looking for? What party members are still active? Which one left? What opportunities to introduce a party member are coming up?

How long will recruitment last?

I'd like to repeat what was listed above.

I presume Jules and her characters are not in-game (Aliases last posted 2014)
I presume Lord Grey left years ago, as Leo Spellworthy hasn't posted since June 2016? LurkingTyranny seems to have never been much of a part, so I presume he never got to play much.
Patrick McDade's character hasn't posted since 2017, so I presume he's out?

That leaves about 3 players that have been posting frequently, and I'm not sure who is leaving.
There's Rinvalak, with Ian (Hasn't posted since Tuesday this week), a Half-Elf fighter
There's Second Sight, with Solei (Posted Yesterday), an Alchemist/Assassin/Rogue
Finally, there's Tenro, with Edmond, a Soul Weaver (Dual Channeler).

Seems to me they just need a straight wizard or summoner, or a wizard equivilent.

The river proves to be comparatively calm. With patience, most of you pass with relative ease. However, halfway across, Akodo, full of confidence and strength, feels his trusty stallion panic, brushing both rider and horse across the river with a sprint.

Each of you finish your crossing of the river, the water dripping and heavy as you spend time drying yourselves off. The Shapeshifter, seemingly unnerved, gestures for you to follow, and you do so.

"There's hunters in the river, let's make haste."

--------------

The sun passes over, perhaps an hour past noon, when The Shapeshifter gestures for you to stop, and duck down low.

As you hide, you get the fortune of watching a squadron of goblins, about six in total, each armed to goblin standard, but a firework in her hands. They are passing by, obviously making attempts to hide and failing miserably. Their weapons are pointed not in the direction you are traveling in, nor facing you, but pointed southwest.

Your guide gestures for you to follow him, as quietly as you could possibly manage.

Shapeshifters Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Goblin Perception: 10 - 1 = 9

You guys can either attack the goblins, or continue to the village.

Probably, but I'm fairly certain that you could use a Handle Animal check at DC 17 or so to get him to cross.

The creature, in its gobinoid form shivers. "Yes Ma'am."

It looked to Takafumi, "The old bones. It's the noise, I think- The old bones have been in my cave since I lived there, yet the Noise, the fire and light awakened them. They've started to move."

It looks to the sky, holding its hands up like it's checking something, "Then there's the Bastard of the River, it hates fire like heaven, and I think it wants to hurt them, to stake it's rule."

It gestures for you guys to follow it, obviously hoping for fewer questions. Not long after, you reach the river.
"This is where the river is at it's thinnest. We'll cross here, then make haste until we get further into the swamp."

It's a DC 13 Swim check to cross the river safely, unless you guys have an alternate method across. It's not quite placid, but it's not really easy to cross. The Thing will Aid Another, granting a +2 bonus to crossing.

"Yes, yes, I'll guide you, okay?! Just don't kill me!!"

When you step outside Walthus's house, he gestures for you to wait. He crawls into a bush, and changes.

It's a disqueting, uncomfortable change, slow and arduous as it's skin, with it's soaked bread texture shifts and folds like clay.
Over 10 minutes, with the occasional wimper, it has taken the form of a goblin with a red scar across the eye.

"Keep behind me- The goblins have been twitchy since the creatures started fighting and Things started reawakening."

He gestures for them to follow him as he begins to crawl through the swamp.

The creature just looks at you, it's lack of a face still showing not merely fear, but absolute, abject terror.
"NONONO, I LIVE IN THE SWAMP! I HUNT FISH AND GOBLINS! FEW PEOPLE ENTER THE SWAMP, HE STEALS MY LAND YET HE OFFERS NOTHING AND HURT! HURT ME! I DRINK BLOOD OF GOBLIN AND FISH YET HE TAKE THE FISH! NOW YOU HURT ME AND I AM VERY SCARED."

The creature is flailing around in abject terror at the tiny dwarf, who's massive and terrifying personality dwarfs the creature.

The creature without a face glowers.
"I don't have much of a choice, do I? Fine then, didn't want the house anyway- Too filled with those things." it said, glaring at the snakes. It's just generally glaring at everything, to be honest.
"Why do you wish to know so much about these goblins? Despicable creatures, they are- Their leader is smart, though, and knows what lies in the swamp."
The creature looks at Takafumi, "Perhaps you could release me?"

"..."
Most folks couldn't tell, but the Samell and Takafumi could tell something plainly.
It was terrified. The creature had thrown his fist from afar with the ease of a boxer, and he knew it would beat him to death even easier than with it's bare hands.
"... Why haven't you killed me? Are one of you soft? I can tell the green one would rather my head is on a pike, so what are your plans?"

The creature is awakened, still on the verge of death, and gazes at everyone.
"Why... Am I still ali-"
It sees the snakes on Walthus, and screams, "BEAST, BEAST, BEAST, BEAST!"
It flails against Takafumi, smacking the monk in the face like a soggy loaf of bread.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
It fails to escape the grapple, but yet continues to flail. "WHY DO i li-live... Why..."
It lies limp, yet you can tell it's glaring at you.
"... Why do you keep me here."

"Wait! Before you wake him, let me try something..."
He returns with a snake, surprisingly comfortable around him. "Now hold on to me, Smith, we gotta scare the creature."
He looks to them, "We're ready. If we're not killing him, I want to see him cry."

Indeed, the creature is uncontious, and has been for some time as Walthus managed to get himself into something resembling a coherent state.

"It killed a lot of my snakes." Walthus says, "I don't know what else to say. I mean, it might know some stuff about the swamp, I think it's native to this place, but I'm not sure. But if you do kill it, just don't leave the body hanging around? I've had to deal with enough carrion."

He looks to Palea, "Old magus? I've heard of her, but I've never met her. I don't know too much about the Chieftan, though- All I know is that he's something of a terror, at least to the goblins. They're scared helpless by the guy."

Ah, my apologies then.
He stares at her for a minute, before seeing the paper. "Oh, my apologies! I must've missed that, it's been a busy day, and I haven't had a lick of sleep."
He sits and lays the pan on his lap, "Give me a while, it'll take me some time to finish up writing this, I don't generally map. I don't suppose you guys have any more questions, do you?"

"Yeah, that's good enough, but I'll need a piece of paper, or at least a piece of bark to write on. Again- Not many needs for letters here in the swamp."

He pauses, "I don't... Really think so. I could make a rough drawing, yeah, but I don't think I'd be able to make something that would be entirely complete. I'll certainly try, though, least I can do."

He sits down, "I don't suppose you guys have any ink and paper, do you? I don't generally write many letters, not much need out here in the swamp."

Oh, forgot to mention- Everyone gains 240 XP (600 party for defeating the shapeshifter, 600 party for saving walthus).

Earlier
"It was *Sob* it hit *sob* I almost *sob*"
Enge can barely get a word in edgewise as the halfling breaks into tears.

In the present

"I'd rather not have to smell a corpse every time I go out fishing, Akodo." the halfling laughs, "You can deal with it as you'd like, but just... Don't leave a mess here, can you? It's going to take a while to replace the stuff he broke, and I lost a few snakes because of him. He didn't get to the clutch Lilly had."

He sighs, "But yeah, you guys were here for something, right? I presume it's about the goblins, huh?" he sighs, picking up his cast iron pan, "Nasty pieces of work, those goblins. Don't know quite where they found the fireworks, but it's been pretty terrible until four days ago- I don't know quite what changed, but they seem to have gotten more reserved than before, more defensive and organized. They're to the southeast of here as the crow flies, but they've been guarding the rivers that lead to their camp, so you'll have to find a way by foot."

The creature is knocked out, and you guys won't be facing any retaliation from it while you remain, though that does beg the question what to do with the dying creature.

Enge, who at this point hasn't managed her way down the stairs, is the first to hear the sobbing.

If she decides to turn around, she gets the sight of the halfling crying tears of joy and peace, before sobbing.
"I'm *Sniff* I'm safe *Sniff* My snakes *Sniff* You guys *Sniff*"
He's inconsolable for quite the long time as the terror slowly subsides, and he tells the tale about how the creature broke into his house, and how it chased it off with the knife into the snake garden, which attacked the creature while it drained him of it's blood. He managed to chase it into the swamp, but hid in his saferoom where it couldn't attack him.

"Chances are, while you were exploring, it was trying to figure out how to pretend to be me. I'm thankful you guys found him out, else I'd be a goner."
He sighs, looking at the shattered remains of his table. [small]"ᴵ ᵖᵃᶦᵈ ¹⁵ ᵍᵒˡᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᵈᵃʳⁿ ᵗᵃᵇˡᵉ ʰᵉʳᵉ.[/small] Either way, thank you! I don't think I'd be here if it wasn't for you. Here," he said, pulling off his cloak, "This cloak is a old relic from my time as a rogue- I'd like for you guys to take it. Least I can do, and not like it did me much good against that thing. Take it none of you know what it is?" he said, poking it with the leg of his table.

I'd say that combat is over- The creature is too weak to fight back, and is currently just hoping that he doesn't die. If anyone attacks, combat can continue until the creature dies at -10

"Hate... You... Hate you both..." the creature mutters, still not dead. He's on the edge though. He's currently dying, but not necessarily dead.
I'm actually rather surprised, you reduced him to exactly 0 HP.

Above, you hear a noise- "Hello? Who's there?"
It's the same voice the creature wore when it pretended to be Walthus.

Begin round 2

Palea, in her rush, threw the table at the faceless stalker, flying over the creature's blasted head and shattering apart, covering the floor with wood, as Taka grabs the creature from behind while distracted, Samell's telekenetic fists landing with ease against the battered creature, it's skin feeling like that of a frog.
"HOVEL IS MINE, HOVEL IS MINE! LEAVE ME HOVEL, HOVEL IS MINE!"
It thrashes around against Takafumi's grasp, desperately trying to gain control over the grapple.
Grapple opposed by Takafumi's CMD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
"I TOOK IT FROM HIM, SQUARE AND FAIR, I TOOKS IT!" the creature cried, flailing like a mad creature, only to get impaled by Akodo's sword, blood spurting from it's chest.

"Mine... No... Take..."
The creature is clearly on its last legs.

Oh, yes- apologies, we had a surprise round. Should have made that clearer. Only you and the creature acted.

Though admitably, I was planning on giving folks two days, a lot of the posters here are relatively infrequent posters. So I gave it two days rather than my usual

I'm holding out for the Player's Guide. Unfortunately, I don't know as much about Galt, nor have as much access to the setting materials, so I'll hold out until I find the Gazetteer.

"HUNTING MEEEEEEEEE!"
I'll be working on the assumption that Akodo's action occurs on his turn, when he can act.
Presuming he survives until the end of the round (He is currently at 20 HP), he takes a jump away from Taka and up to Akodo, bashing his face in with his arms.
Attack Roll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (3, 3) = 10

Apologies for being AFK this week. Big changes in my life are happening all at once and I'm a little overwhelmed. I'll post again tomorrow.

Take your time and feel free to be patient, I can imagine how overwhelmed you feel. I'm thankful to see you in good health- A quick browse of your Paizo forums page yesterday showed you didn't post for a week. I'm just glad you're still alive!

The thing gave a moment of pause, and looked to the side to Takafumi.
In a near instant, a creature jumped out of the figment that looked like Wulthus, as it grabbed Takafumi and clumsily reaches to push him.
"THIS HOVEL IS MINE!"
Trip: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
The creature, with skin like a loaf of bread stretched across space, it's hands not pointed, but clawed nonetheless. It clumsily makes an attempt to topple him.

As Samell was wise enough to be suspicious, he is not flat footed for the surprise round.
Takafumi and Akodo, you are.
Palea can roll a DC 24 sense motive check, or (as you haven't posted in a week and couldn't really do much) a DC 15 wisdom check.
Enge, you were upstairs exploring the house, but can arrive downstairs at the start of the next round.
While Initiative will be considered, post whenever you have time. There's only really one character ATM, so order doesn't matter much.

The Halfling looks at each of you. "Alright, apologies the house is a mess. Firstly, you should know that it... Shifts. It can look like someone you know. An old friend of mine showed up, then attacked me- I was barely awake, so I took the knife, and fought as well as I could. He threw me into the snake garden, and you know snakes, they tend to be very reactionary."

He stands up, and fumbles through the cabinets, searching for something.

"When it transformed, it looked like... It's skin was like an unscaled fish. Its skin looked like a sponge. It's hands were pointed, but... Not really clawed. It looked almost like a human, but shorter."

He finally manged to find the thing he was looking for, a cast iron pan.