"He wasn't joking about it being disorganized in here. Place's a mess," the kitsune thought to himself. He also noticed that the halfling was acting...odd to put it mildly. Walthus definitely didn't want them here, but why?
"They did say before that the swamp hermit was a bit odd and eccentric but still, if I hadn't been able to diplomatically convince him to let us in he probably wouldn't had."
"Is there something wrong? You don't seem to be too happy for us to be here."
The kitsune calmly placed his hand on the hilt of his katana, but he positioned himself so the halfling couldn't see him do it.
"Me...I'm fine just tired is all...and a little absorbed in my work. Sorry for the mess..."
DM EYES ONLY KEEP OUT:
Bluff:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Leokian you notice many texts stacked around the room, still open. Most seem to be books on biology and zoology and books on reptiles. You also find a tank filled with rodents.
"A hobby really...though I have some snakes out back in a pen...pack quite a wallop if you get bit to...sweet little devils. Yes I'm fine just finding off a bite from yesterday...little bas...creature bit me as I was trying to feed it yesterday." he comes back from the kitchen with cups of tea.
Derric:
As Walthus comes back into the room you notice a strange rippling effect that seems to slither over his face and hands, almost like the body he's showing you isn't his actual form. You are unsure of anything that would cause this though.
Derric's eyes widened in shock as he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly as he watched Walthus's skin and face begin to ripple.
"What...what was that!? Your face...your skin! They...I saw them rippling! What...who are you!?"
He withdrew his katana and held it firmly in two hands as his ears flattened against his head and his mouth formed a snarl, baring his fangs as he glared at whatever it was he was facing.
He shouted at his companions, "Somethings not right about this...thing!"
I'm going on a limb here but I'm guessing somethings not right about Walthus!
When Derric turns on the Halfling, Leokian looks up from the books titles he has been perusing. He glances at both Derric and the Halfling and can't figure out what set Derric off.
He's alway seemed rather...excitable. Is he entirely sane? Does he hate tea?
I am but a simple snake farmer I assure you, nothing for you to get so bent out of shape about. Come have some tea, I'm sure it will calm your nerves." the halfling offers Derric a cup of tea, ignoring the fact that the Kitsune is about to cut him in twain. Derric you are sure he's telling the truth but your also sure you saw what you did. Very strange things are going on.
Shaeda if you enter the room you can make me a perception check as can you Leokian to notice what Derric is talking about. If you do you can read the spoiler if you roll over an 18.
DC 18 Perception check:
You notice a strange rippling effect that seems to slither over his face and hands, almost like the body he's showing you isn't his actual form. You are unsure of anything that would cause this though.
"I know I saw something! It look like his face and hands were rippling! I swear in the name of that is holy I saw something! I mean it was like his skin...wasn't...his...own...wait a moment...are you some kind of shapeshifter like me?"
To illustrate his point, the kitsune holds up one of his hands. His normal fur covered hand soon transformed to that of a furless human's hand before turning it back to normal.
"That's the only explanation I can come up. And I don't think my eyes were playing tricks on me," the samurai said to his companions.
Yeah that's the only thing I can think of to why the halfling's skin and face rippled. I could be wrong though!
After the demonstration from Derric the halfling smiles "Very good young Kitsune you have figured it out though my shapeshifting is far more developed than yours. Here let me show you my true self." As he speaks Walthus melts away and a hairless, leathery biped with a face dominated by grotesque and unsettling whorls and slits instead of actual features takes his place. He is a good two feet taller than Walthus was as well.
"There this a little more comforting?"
Everyone can make me Knowledge Dungeoneering checks to try to identify the creature. If you pass a DC 12 check please read the spoiler below.
I'm not sure of the exact rules, but I believe that anyone can make a check in an untrained skill, but they are limited to a max of 10. Whether the 10 is before or after ability points I don't know. So his check would be either 10 or 14 depending.
Derric growled and showed his fangs at the insult.
"My what!? I'll have you know you whatever you are that we kitsunes are quite skilled shapeshifters! And also at least I don't go around pretending to be something I'm not!"
Derric has just used his challenge on the whatever that thing is. He's also doing total defense as well. Can't recall what that means in terms of his AC but I hope it's good!
Shaeda is correct that generally people can't make untrained knowledge checks. The only exception being Bards because of a class skill they get(Bardic Knowledge).
No one is able to identify the creature. "Watch it youngin you come into my home and insult me, where are your precious manors. Now lets have a seat and have some tea. Unless you just want to leave that is."
Shalelu hisses in anger "I know Walthus personally and you are not him...this is not your home you are an intruder here." She will then lash out at the creature with her short sword. Both of her strikes fail to penetrate the creatures skin though.
Leokian readies and casts Grease if he can target a 10' area that begins with "Walthus" and extends back from him. Omitting Shalaelu and the others from the area. If not, he casts Magic Missle.
Leokian you set the floor slick with grease and the creature falls provoking attack of Opprotunity from Shalelu, Derric, yourself and Sheada. The creature on the floor becomes a bloody mess as Derric and Shalelu connect with their attacks. Derric you swing out with your Katana at the monster once more but this time you fail to connect. Shalelu will try to connect twice more with the monster and end the fight but only one of her slashes connects and just barely at that doing minimal damage. The faceless stalker will kick out at Derric trying to take the kitsune off his feet but he fails to do so. Shaeda your whip connects with the prone creature. He's still alive but not happy at all.
Yeah grease in a confined space = lots of AOO's lol. I didn't roll one for you Leokian because unless you wanted to punch out at the thing I didn't see you being preped for one. If you want to make one go ahead and roll it.
As I am armed with a whip, I should not be getting AOOs. Also, the creature falling shouldn't provoke AOOs, but when it tries to get up it would, and at that point everyone would have +4 to hit, since the creature is prone at that point.
Yes post actions for the second round and I'll get things wrapped up. As we talked about in the discussion thread while Shaeda is right I will keep it in mind for next time but won't punish you guys for my mistake by taking away damage.
Deerric sees a very disheveled looking halfling peering around a door. "Yes I was hurt by that shape shiftier but I'm fine now, What are you doing in my home" he asks.
"We were trying to find you in order to aid us in locating the Licktoad goblins. They hurt some of our friends and we heard they had fireworks and were using them to attack travelers and caravans. We were afraid they would soon attack Sandpoint so we decided to track them down and stop them. We found this shapeshifter in your place and well...you see what happened. It is good we uncovered this imposter before it could deal with you," Derric said hoping to defuse the situation.
Derric shot Shaeda a look to hush before turning back to Walthus.
"You'll have to excuse the priestess. She, like the rest of us, is a bit on edge since we were attacked twice in one day: first by some sort of swamp monster and then by this shapeshifter. However, unlike some, Shaeda here tends to show her emotions openly, even when it's inappropriate. But she has a good heart and noble soul."
"Not unappreciative at all lass...just don't like strangers in my home, and since the last one that I had showed up tried to kill me...I would think you would understand my concern." Walthus says shaking his head and makes his way toward the rest of the group. "Looking for the Licktoads are you? Not many want to look for them, most want to steer clear. You're either extremely brave or extremely stupid...not that there is much of a difference. I do know where there camp is and if you had a map I could circle it for you."
"So that's backwards," Shaeda thinks to herself, "or have I been using those two words incorrectly all of these years? No, it is he that is wrong. Well, I will just leave it at that."
After face palming himself, the kitsune then nodded at Walthus.
"We do have a map. Actually it's Shalelu's map. But still yes we have a map. And if it's not much trouble, would it be alright if we rest and recover here? We'll help you clean up the mess as well as pay for some supplies too."
