With a burst of rage quite surprising for one of the rescued goblins, Groonk springs from the throng of followers accompanying Blibberblab to assault the Drow who has been pummeling the charismatic story-teller.
Earlier that day, when you had rescued Groonk, he looked about on death's door. He had been part of a cave in where the humans captured the rest, and suffered the brunt of it with jagged obsidian shards piercing his stringy, green body. But over the past hours they've had a rather dramatic effect.
What bursts out now is a swollen goblin, with lower teeth elongated into tusks and limbs like tree trunks. He leaps over Blibberblab, who still reels from the bash to his head, and tumbles into the raging Drow with a large Ram's horn in his meaty fist--trying to pummel the dark elf and relieve the bard.
Groonk's newly enraged state changes the board even further in the goblins' favor. The drow, never having experienced such coordinated resistance from goblins before, are all in varying amounts of shock and apoplectic rage and pain. The drow wizard is hanging in midair, stuck in Two-Trees' clutches by one leg like a macabre balloon on a string.
The once-proud drow fighter has his katana, forgotten, on the ground at his feet as he cowers before the focused divine fury of Haluk's dark god.
The leader, however, who got the drop on Blibberblab...he's got a stunned target in front of him. Blibberblab, surrounded by his cowering fodder-goblins, is clutching his head, and stumbling around. There's an enormous red bruise on the side of his head. He's an easy target, and drow warriors don't miss easy targets.
Groonk is barreling across the field to Blibberblab's aid, but he arrives too late to stop the infuriated drow. The dark elf draws a long, wickedly curved dagger. Blibberblab, you see it flash in the darkness, just beneath the drow's perfect white teeth as he lifts his dagger to stab. His manic grin is the last thing you see.
The blade pierces your chest.
You open your eyes and stare in wonder. All around you, goblins are cavorting and feasting and drinking. There are large, rowdy circles of goblins where there appears to be fighting going on that the crowd is betting on. Crystals and gems dot the ceiling, and the diffuse fungal light is enhanced by their dusky glory.
Next to you appears an incredibly old goblin of humble size, with the milky-white eyes of the blind and long but terribly crooked ears. Wordlessly, the goblin gazes at you. Roll your Last Breath.
Meanwhile, in the land of the living, Groonk smashes the drow that appears to have just killed Blibberblab. With a flying leap you're able to get high enough to sock him right in the cheekbone. You're pretty sure it's broken, and the drow staggers, but he doesn't fall.
"Hashane`! Prela...prelawar!" comes the pained cry of the drow mage, barely conscious and floating in midair. A magic aura begins to surround the drow. The one cowering before Haluk is oblivious, but the leader startles and growls in rage in the mage's direction.
In moments, the spell will finish casting! What do you all do?
Waaaaaagh! Screeches the emerald scorpion's hindbrain as she clamp onto the mage, but no sound comes out, as scorpions aren't built for screaming. She nearly spends the last of her hold when she realizes that that would reveal who she is. And as much as hindbrain wanted to kill... talks wanted to keep her new friends.
She lets go of the drow, and stabs him with her tail again, not using any venom in the attack.
The mass blink takes effect just when Tutti's scorpion tail punctures the drow's skin!
The cowering fighter blinks away, leaving his katana behind.
The raging leader, about to turn and battle Groonk, is forced away also.
The wizard, however, has an enormous scorpion connected to his body via a stinger! Tutti, you're brought along for the ride!
All of you see the scorpion disappear along with the mage and reappear with the other three about 50 feet off, in the direction of the tower and the cave entrances. Tutti, you feel reality shifting all around you, and you land in a heap on top of the wizard! He's squirming and trying to get out from under you, you'd need a defy danger roll to stop him; and the fighter's getting to his feet, Haluk's spell wearing off from distance!
The leader begins to climb to his feet as well. "You next, bug." he spits in Greenskin (the language of...well, greenskins). He lunges at you with his dagger still dripping with Blibberblab's blood!
I look to the old goblin in puzzlement.
"You're the oldest gobbo I've ever seen, ever! You must be at least as awesome as Chief Meatsnacks! You want to come hang out with him? He's the most coolest chief eva'!"
Blibberblab, against all odds you have cheated Death! The old goblin narrows his blind eyes and sneers at you with a tch sound. Reaching out, his old fingers bunch up, and he flicks you in the chest. The flick looks incredibly light and weak, but it awakens a sharp, burning pain in your ribs.
Your eyes fly open. Your goblin fodder are standing around you, and you hear their little voices debating who will get to eat the warleader first. You see their hungry little teeth slavering over your wounded body.
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Oh a thousand curses upon these meddling Drow! They make horrible slaves, horrible test subjects, and taste just awful. And now one of them plays at magic! It is time to let him know the scale of his ignorance!
And now that they've helpfully placed a safe distance between he and them. Here's something he's always wanted to try.
Retzack ceases playing with minor forces like Vacuum and Nether and begins to tap the True Power.
"Großmeister der necropian Abgrund Ich beschwöre Nyarlathotep!"
Using his ring as a conduit, he wills a hole to appear above the Drow, a swirling vortex of purple terror that leads into an unnameable dimension. Through this hole pours a stench unlike any before encountered by mortals, and a writhing, teaming, undulating throng of tentacles burst though, searching for souls to drag to their owner's gaping maw.
The glow surrounding Retzack becomes unto a small sun in the waning light, and the sublime effort will hinder further such uses of his power.
I stand up and press a grubby paw to my side.
"For Meatsnacks! Check it out minions, I spoke his name to DEATH itself, and it sent me back to avoid the Chief's wrath!"
I glance around the camp and don't see any elves.
"We won! Whooooo!"
Seeing her chance to scurry away slipping quickly out of her grasp, Talks tries to let the mage help her up, by restraining him for a moment, so he has to push harder! Then he'll catapult her away when she stops resisting!! The only tricky part will be the landing! Then she can spend the last of her hold to anti-waaagh away!
I look to where Retzack is casting, and stop cheering.
"Guess not. Wait, giant green bear, now giant green bugs?"
Alright then, time for shooting!
Defy Danger
I manage to focus my double vision enough to pick out the elf that stabbed me.
Volley
I fire a few shots and peg him in the shoulder!
"Acolytes, these under elves defy the will of the gods. Chase them down and feed their blood to the earth."
Having ordered his minions, Haluk begins to run towards the Drow.
"Haluk! A message from beyond the Black Gates! The name of Chief Meatsnacks makes even DEATH itself quake! Minions of Meatsnacks, go, go forth, go forth and conquer! Go, go forth, go forth and die!"
Arcane Art (Haluk, +2d4 damage)
My words ring out with a dolorous sound, echoing into Haluk's very bones. He feels the strength of dozens of fallen goblins flood into him.
Retzack: You have to run a bit closer before you can open the portal at such a distance. Also, whenever you Cast a Spell, you have to choose two drawbacks, or let me choose one. Decide which.
In the meantime, you summon this. Immobile, the creature squeals in a horrible voice to the sky and tentacles burst forth from its flesh. Retzack, you toy with forces you barely comprehend, but this time, it seems, your power is enough to cow the beast into following your mental commands.
Two-Trees, you are kicked harshly in the side by the drow warrior, now free from Haluk's spell and enraged at the loss of his katana. At the same time, the wizard beneath you shakes you off and zaps you in the face with lightning. Take 2d6 damage, piercing 1. As you use the last of your shapeshifted strength to scuttle away, you feel your scorpion form disappearing into your body. You barely make it to the treeline before your identity as a goblin is revealed.
As you look across the field you see the goblins giving chase to the drow! The drow look humiliated and furious to be forced to run from such vermin, but Blibberblab's potshot cutting the leader's shoulder and causing it to bleed freely forces them into ignoble retreat. The wizard, as he flees, points at you, Blibberblab. You feel a burning sensation on your arm. Take 1 damage, ignores armor, and you look down at your arm to see a spider-shaped burn mark on your flesh. You don't know what it does...
Haluk, you and your acolytes give chase to the fleeing drow, but they have a 50 foot head start and elves are fleet of foot. Your long-legged adversaries quickly disappear into the darkness of the foothills.
You and your acolytes are in the foothills yourselves now; your chase had taken you somewhat away from the other goblins. The others are approaching your position now.
Two-T manages to get away pretty clean from the insanity that was 'going along for the ride'. The bolt of lightning arched over her exoskeleton and was mostly grounded out without any of the vitals being struck, like a person in a car that's been struck by lightning. If nothing else, the kick kind-of did the thing that she'd wanted to happen... Wheeeeeee!
Skuttle-skuttle-skuttle....
And into the trees she went.
A few moments later, Tuti comes out of the relative-same position as she'd been in before she ran off to go potty. (Plus or minus a hundred feet...) sporting a new slightly-blackened appearance.
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The Tarmogoyf feels acutely the supreme pain of summoning and searches through its agony for the one thing that will bring it succor: The sanguine of mortals. Of course they are running from him, when have they ever not? But it will not be denied its meal so easily.
A massive tentacle of pulsating flesh and spiked barbs shoots forth and smells out the tantalizing flavor of one who deals in magic. It wraps around the dark-skinned wizard and its body is pierced in a score of places by probing hollow spines. They drink deeply of his life-giving fluids until only a dessicated husk remains.
Groonk lumbers behind, eventually catching up but more out of a fear of missing action than a desire to help.
"Sometimes we have to let some live, so they can tell others of how strong Meatsnack's clan is. They tell others, all begin to fear us. Right?"
"halt my acolytes and let those less blessed by the gods rejoin us. Some may require the tender caresses of the gods to still be effective."
As Tuti emerges from the bushes after his tinkle, Groonk begins to eye him hungrily. He knows his place in this throng of goblin fodder, but ever since the goblin was rescued earlier he has been enticed by the goblin that dresses like a delicious lizard.
Talks watches Groonk watch her. Oh no... he's on to me.
"There was totally an elfses in the woods when I went to potty. I gave him a Ha, and a Hiyah! And he fought back, but he ran!" Tuti shouted excitedly, not even blinking during the lie.
"You look hurt from it. Groonk can check?" he proposes, licking his lips between the two massive tusks.
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"You two!" Retzack shouts, his skin wet and clammy from keeping the monstrous cosmic force held in sway. "Stop chatting like two nannies at tea and get to your horde,"he stares straight at Talks, and no recognition shows in his face. "If you've not been claimed then fall into my line. Else join the Priest and his zealots or the Rocker and his fanatics." His attention goes back to his monster, fully believing the matter settled.
Talks starts to nod to Groonk, that she is entirely willing to let him check her booboos... then Retzack snaps at them. She immediately hops back into place in his line, not even for a moment pondering that maybe he'd forgotten who she was.
"Cool sword! Are one of you guys gonna take it?"
At Retzack's reprimand, Groonk abandons his hope for a snack and falls in line behind the "Rocker and his fanatics". The monstrosity has no retinue of his own yet, and will have to earn it. So for now, he continues to follow the teller of stories.
Another fodder goblin belonging to Retzack's retinue immediately runs up and grabs the katana, hissing at you and swinging it around excitedly.
Meanwhile, the drow wizard - weakened by the Druid's poison and from the effort of the mass blink spell, screams and writhes in agony when punctured by Retzack's abominable tentacle-monster. With a shriek that seems to go on and on, the drow's life force is completely drained. The remaining two drow escape.
But here's the downside, Retzack...you were able to kill the drow, but the power that the monster you summoned gained from the blood-drain gave it a sudden burst of strength! With a roar, the creature gives a mighty twist of its head, and you feel a tugging on your heart, followed by a feeling of something being ripped asunder. Your control over the monster fails! It turns to stare you down, its entire head articulated with the ability to open into a jaw.
After a tense moment, the creature burrows deep underground, so fast that you can only marvel at its rapid disappearance. It leaves behind a tiny hole, surprisingly small for the size of the original creature. That thing you summoned is still out there, trapped on the Material Plane...and it remembers your scent now.
Something sparks in Trees when the goblin grabs the sword and begins hissing and swinging. Something instinctual. Was... was this a goblin game? Keep-away?
"Mine!" she shouts, ignoring the tentacle monster as an unimportant backdrop.
She dives towards the other goblin, knocking the blade aside as best she could, before trying to wrestle it out of his hands.
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Retzack does his best to ignore the two goblins from his horde scuffling in the dirt and focuses his attention on the hole the demon left. Something strikes his memory, something about monsters and burrowing...?
He glances at his notes and, his curiosity sated, begins scribbling ideas for a new spell on a sheaf of fresh parchment.
Two-Trees, you overcome the goblin easily. You wrestle with bear cubs in this forest all the time, and sometimes the adults too, and this goblin's nothing like that strong. You easily snatch the katana from him.
Due to its size, you have to use the katana two-handed; and it's a +1 damage katana, designed according to drow sensibility and aesthetic.
While the others fought over the katana, Moxie went after the dead drow's body. Her left eye spun as it looked this way and that with her right focused on the body. She made an inventory check to make sure everything to make the body sevicable was accounted for, attached or not. She removed one of the three jars on her belt and unscrewed the lid. "Moxie fix you up good. Make you useful. Yes." She spoke as she stuffed the elf in the jar. "You and Drunk be useful." Her deed done, she made her way back towards the others.
While the others fought over the katana, Moxie went after the dead drow's body. Her left eye spun as it looked this way and that with her right focused on the body. She made an inventory check to make sure everything to make the body sevicable was accounted for, attached or not. She removed one of the three jars on her belt and unscrewed the lid. "Moxie fix you up good. Make you useful. Yes." She spoke as she stuffed the elf in the jar. "You and Drunk be useful." Her deed done, she made her way back towards the others.
Haluk returns towards the camp and speaks to bilbberblab, "I believe the gentle caress of the gods can help you right now, but a require a song in praise of them and the victory their servants brought them this night.
Assuming he agrees Haluk will cast cure light wounds on the bard.
for healing
The bloody knife wound in Blibberblab's chest seals up again, mostly. Still hurts like hell though.
All of the fodder goblins are fully roused now from their night of sleep, and are chanting for more drow blood. They gather around their respective warleaders and chant "Meatsnacks! Meatsnacks! Meatsnacks!" making quite a noise in the night. Off in the distance, you can see that the dark tower rising between two foothills is much closer now than it was before. What do you do?
Talks's eyes grew wide as watched the other goblin stuff an entire drow into a belt-jar. "Wow. That's so neat! How do you do that? WhAt's in the other jars!?" she asked, being annoyingly curious and friendly.
But... was quickly drawn into the chanting. "Meatsnacks!
"Victory? Our victory still awaits us, priest! Your gods' song of praise will be the death of these cave-dwelling vermin! MEATSNACKS! MEATSNACKS! DEATH itself fears and respects his name! Onwards, Champions of Meatsnacks! WAAAGH!"
I gather my horde and set forth for the tower, chanting as I go.
Despite being part of Retzack's retinue, Talks is drawn in by the charisma of the bardic goblin... And follows along with his troupe.
Groonk is likewise caught up in the chanting, even though he has never met this "Meatsnacks" before. He imagines an enormous goblin with fire for hair and claws like diamonds. Of course they should chant his name! How lucky he is to now join this clan!
He is quick to join those heading for the tower, eager to be near the front in order that he can be among the first to overtake these cowardly elves!
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Retzacks finishes his diagram. It is a crude thing, yes, but the theory is sound.
He closes his spellbook with a snap and goes through the yelling throng to join Haluk, talking to him like two parents chatting while their children destroy the diner.
"Shall we continue forward, or are is it best to grab more sleep? I could always flay one to keep them quiet. And I need more blank scrolls anyway."
"And, is his name 'Meatstacks' or 'Meatsnacks'?" he asks, blandly. "I swear I've heard it both ways."
"I doubt the under-elves will still be here if we wait till morning. I don't know maybe both as long as there is chanting?"
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As you approach the valley you see buildings off near the a trio of caves that weren't there before. It looks like a tall cylinder-shaped tower, still being constructed, with pale purple lights dotted all over it and partially-finished battlements that point ominously up into the darkening dusk sky.
Retzack checks his copious notes and compares it to the mutating skyline in the distance.
"The elves are building fortifications. There is high probability that they are planning a permanent residence, and will only be dissuaded by razing the structure.
Still, if you...know something...that I...do NOT...then by all means, make haste. Unless you care to....share? Your secret? With me? I'll find out, eventually, you know. You may as well be forthcoming. Perhaps I can help?"
As random as the questions seem, Retzack manages to sound as if he's assured that you know exactly what he's talking about.
Spout Lore
Haluk can sprout lore too, maybe not as eloquently as the mage can, but he can make things up as well.
"The elves are known to be terribly cowardly creatures, who retreat to their under-halls at the first sign of resistance."
"I... uh. I'm. I... I have a sword!" Talks holds up the weapon proudly. "And I have a problem with signs."
Retzack, you think hard about the creation of architecture used by the drow. You remember once hearing a story about a band of wicked elves that set up shop near a human village and created a tower nearly overnight, created by a mysterious purple bag that spat smoke. You don't remember anything more than that, though.
As you march through the foothills, following the zealotry of the bard Blibberblab, your gobbo troupe is making a lot of noise. There's no chance that the tower won't know you're coming from this distance, with all of your fell voices bouncing off of the surrounding hills.
The hills around you are creepier than you remember. Besides the addition of the black tower over yonder, which doesn't help, there's also the fact that the trees this close to the mountains are all gnarled and old, having survived many years looking down over the forest you just left. The barest hint of whispers tickle your hearing as you pass beneath the shadows of the dead branches overhead.
You reach a fork in the path, in the middle of which is a tall standing stone. There's an engraved eagle's skull hung from the stone at the very top, looking down at the path below.
There's a signpost here, but it's crawling with some kind of thick-shelled roach-like creature, so much so that you can't even make out what it says.
"Waaaaaaaaaggggghhhh! poured from the emerald green goblin's mouth as she hurtled herself, and her sword, forward to assault the signpost, bringing the blade around in a glinting arc, trailing sparkles across the ground as the blade rose up.
"Yes! Yes! Raze all of the elf-creations to the ground! Go minions, shatter that stone! Make them tremble in their tower!"
I scurry to the stone, climbing up it and trying to topple it over.
Realising it's a bit beyond my ability to move myself, I perch on top of it and shout to my followers. "Push, you scrawnies! Push!"
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Retzack frowns at the signpost, obviously distraught that a massive insect should stand between him and knowledge. Most goblins with a dozen followers would just have them clear it off. But then he wouldn't get to use Science on it!
He conjures a glowing glob of mildly irritating aether and hurls it at the signpost to clear the creature off.
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Blibberblab, you suddenly find yourself being lifted high in the air atop the horn of a monstrous rhinoceros beetle. The standing stone - engraved eagle's skull and all - is actually the rhino beetle's horn. The beast lets out an ear-shattering bellow that actually knocks off all the goblins that were climbing over the signpost. Two-trees, you're among the goblins knocked flying by the blast, you're thrown over 10 feet away in a heap of other goblin fodders.
The rhino beetle is of ridiculous size - towering over all of you with a body as long as a school bus. It shakes itself loose of the earth that it was partially buried under and glares at Blibberblab. Its eyes, originally black, are turning red. What do you do?