Maeve coughs slightly in order to interject. "Mister Proudstump, we were told you know the swamps really well. There was a goblin attack last night, and there's some fear they may have taken some people instead of just killed them this time. We were wondering if you would know where the Licktoads make their village."
"I am Malnival Selintin from Sandpoint, Mr. Proudfoot. We mean you no harm. Please open the door, we have questions about pressing matters in the swamp." Malnival steps back from the door so as to not crowd the doorway.
The door remains closed. "Umm, ahh... my home is a mess right now. Not in any condition to, umm... have visitors. You should go find those goblins. Definately!"
Maeve blinks, clearly surprised by this reception. "Are you all right?"
"We could really use a place to rest up for the night Mr. Proudfoot, and I would love to see if you have a recipe for gumbo."
Poor soul, woken up at this hour, I'd be out of sorts too. I wonder why his house is such a mess?
"It is perfectly alright for your house to be a mess Mr. Proudfoot you are a hermit living in a swamp after all. Please let us in, we know it is late but we have been told you know alot about this swamp.
You hear a loud sigh, and a resigned "Give me a minute to... straighten things." A minute of shifting and shuffling precedes the door creaking open a few inches. A scruffy halfling peers out and looks you up and down. He has a fresh cut along his scalp, and he looks exceptionally tired.
Maeve blinks a few extra times on seeing the halfling. "Looks like we aren't the only ones who were up all night. What happened to you?"
Harlan limps forward, concern evident on his face.
"Can I heal that for you sir? Sarenrae has touched me with her power and I'd be more than happy to heal that for you."
With a look of innocence Harlan will touch his hand to Walthus and heal him.
"May the fire of Sarenrae burn away the darkness that has fallen upon you this night."
That should fix him up properly. Hopefully that blow to the head didn't knock his gumbo recipe out of him!
Walthus flinches back warily from Harlan, but as he explains his intent, lets him apply the healing magic. He gives you a reluctant smile in thanks.
"I was attacked today... in my garden... by a giant snake. We wrestled and fought, but I was able to escape and hide indoors. It must have crawled away by now."
You are definately getting a feeling that the halfling is hiding something.
To Heng, Walthus replies, "No, no... I did that! When I was trying to get away. Enough on that... If you're insisting, then please come in and I can... umm, make you some food?" he offers with a wan smile.
Maeve frowns a bit more at that. "Uhm...thank you. I think we'd be delighted." She coughs slightly, making little gestures at the rest of the group.
Walthus looks at Maeve with a raised eyebrow as she gestures. He does a double-take, continuing to wave the group into his home.
Oblivious to all gestures and subtle non-verbal hints, Parity hops up and rolls towards the voices in the house, "Food sounds fantastic, friend halfling. You have enough space to bed us all down for a bit?"
Perception:
"Thank you Mr. Proudfoot, a proper breakfast would really be apreciated." Malnival enters the halfling's home.
Whatever set Maeve's little gesture fit off, she follows the others into the house, looking increasingly uncomfortable.
Harlan enters Walthus' home, looking around curiously as he does so.
Now's your chance!
"Tell me Master Proudstump, as the guardian of these lands have you seen anything strange about? A place to rest would be wonderful, and if you're offering food I would love to help you. Tell me, do you have a recipe for gumbo? I've been looking for a good one lately. I can offer you a truly delightful black bean goat chili in return."
1 pot Simmered Black Beans
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 onion, finely chopped
4 large garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons mild ground chili (or use hot, or use more)
1 tablespoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
3 chopped tomatoes
2 chiles, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Halfling oregano
Salt to taste
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 pounds goat meat, chopped
1. Make the black beans as directed, preferably the day before you wish to serve.
2. Heat the oil in a medium skillet, and add the onion and goat meat. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is lightly colored, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, stir together for about a minute until fragrant, and add the ground chili and cumin. Cook, stirring, for two to three minutes, until the mixture begins to stick to the pan. Add the tomatoes and their juice and oregano, and salt to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and the mixture is beginning to stick to the pan, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste dissolved in water and the chipotles, and bring back to a simmer. Season with salt to taste and simmer, stirring often, for 15 minutes, until the mixture is thick and fragrant.
3. Stir the tomato mixture into the beans, and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring often, for 30 to 45 minutes. Taste and adjust salt.
4. Just before serving, stir in the cilantro. Serve with cornbread.
Walthus waves you into the main room, which features a small-sized sofa and several potted plants, a few of which are smashed open. A stairway adjacent to the entrance leads up to the second floor, and three other doors lead to different rooms. He gestures into an open room, a dining room of sorts, with a small table and single chair. "I don't have much seating, but make yourself comfortable in there."
To Harlan's questions, "Umm, well... there's always strange things about the Brinestump Marsh. You might see the Soggy River Monster, or old shipwrecks. You can stay for breakfast, but then you need to be moving on. I'm sorry." When you mention recipes, he looks at you blankly. "I don't know gumbo."
Maeve stretches out slightly, looking around in circles. "....Why so eager to be rid of us?" she asks, sitting on the floor near the sofa.
"But Mr. Proudstump, what if that snake comes back? And what is the Soggy River Monster? How do ships wreck in the swamp? Or do you mean on the coast?"
While asking this barrage of questions to keep Walthus off balance, Harlan moves to the stairs and sits down, rubbing his leg with one hand while casually moving his other hand over the blood on the stairs.
Perception:
Malnival frowns after spotting the blood on the stairs, then turns to Walthus. "Mr. Proudfoot. You said you fought a giant snake in your garden then escaped by fleeing indoors, yes? Then how did the damage get done to items in here? I do understand that it is still early but you have not been very hospitable since our arrival. These questions and your actions shine a very poor light upon things here. Wouldn't you say Walter?"
Kvalsir stands nearby scowling for much of the conversation, wishing that the talking would end so that he can get some sleep, the better to be prepared for killing later.
He yawns as Harlan and Maeve talk to the halfling, and idly glances around. Terrible place to call home. Better off somewhere settled; places like this fall easily to raiders. He snorts at the thought, considering the plan of attack that he'd make on such a stead. Probably more trouble than it's worth, though. Better to attack a town.
"Warden, let's cut to the chase. You don't want us here. Fair enough, its late. Tell us how to get to Gutwads lair where he leads the Lickspittles from and we'll be on our way."
Walthus sighs, his shoulders slumping visibly as he walks back in from the dining room. "I've not been entirely honest with you, as I think you've guessed." He walks over towards the stairs, gesturing to the blood spots. "There's a simple explanation to the problem here..."
"You ask too many questions!" Walthus growls as the halfling's form ripples, the features fading until what stands before you is a hairless, leather-skinned biped with unsettling whorls and slits on its head where a face once was. Silently, it lashes out at Harlan, cracking his skull against the wall and knocking him unconcious.
;
Maeve sits in place, shocked by the sudden outbreak of violence even if she was expecting it. This slows her effort to get to her feet and in position. Careful examination might reveal the soft glow of magical power as she taps into the magic Ameiko taught her to feel for.
Round 1 Initiative Dying
HP = -4/9
AC = 19
Weapon Equipped = None
Speed = 10'
Channel = 4/5
Oracle Spells Left (CL 1, +4 melee touch, +0 ranged touch):
1 3/4 Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Cure Light Wounds, Enlarge Person
Status Effects = Dying
Sense Motive:
Perception:
Malnival draws his longsword in preparation for what is to come.
Parity stands with his mouth open as he's obviously awaiting a reply to his question. Completely taken aback by the change in tone, he finds himself on his heels as he reaches over his shoulder for his falcata and shield.
Move to attack
Attack:
Damage:
Initiative:
Sense Motive:
Perception:
Kvalsir lets out a mighty roar as the halfling reveals its true self, and draws his scimitar to hack at the goblin. "Finally, a fight!" he screams, brushing away his tiredness with blood rage. "Dø, djevel! Føl stål av bladet mitt!" Twice he strikes at the creature, to no effect, starting an Ulfen song of battle as he does so.
Surprise Round:
Move Action: Draw Scimitar and Shield
Standard Action: Attack the creature
Note: If Kvalsir is not in range, then he instead takes another move action to move up to the creature.
Attack Roll:
Damage Roll:
Round 1:
Standard Action: Attack the creature
Attack Roll:
Damage Roll:
As Harlan slumps to the floor, Kvalsir and Malnival quickly draw their weapons, while the rest of you have a moment of mute shock.
Kvalsir charges, screaming curses in his own dialect, but haste spoils the swing of your scimitar . Maeve stands and takes up a defensive posture, clear of the melee but ready for anything.
Parity silently draws his blade and shield and closes into the melee. The Walthus creature lurches forward aggressively, as if to slam Kvalsir, but then leaps back at the last moment. It steps over Harlan to stand just inside the stairwell.
Malnival and Heng move in as well, but Mal gets there a moment sooner, leaving Heng unable to get close enough due to the tight confines. Mal swings and connects, leaving a terrible bloody slash across the creature's shoulder.
Maeve concentrates as the stairwell becomes blocked by her own comrades. She starts to move in, becoming a twirl of motion as she begins to dance. Her feet pound out a cadence on the ground that seems to fill her allies with power as their strikes seem more inclined to strike in time with it, the glow around her limbs emphasizing each motion.
Round: 2
Initiative:9
AC:15
HP:9
Status : NA
Attack:
Damage:
** spoiler omitted **
Same action as stated earlier.
Kvalsir growls at the creature's trickery as he swipes at it again. "Blod og torden bære vår vrede!"
Standard Action: Attack the creature
Attack Roll:
Damage Roll:
Edit: Changed AC to reflect flat-footed.
Round 2 Initiative -
HP = -4/9
AC = 19
Weapon Equipped = None
Speed = 10'
Channel = 4/5
Oracle Spells Left (CL 1, +4 melee touch, +0 ranged touch):
1 3/4 Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Cure Light Wounds, Enlarge Person
Status Effects = Stable
Harlan drips on the floor, his flaming red hair stained by the blood dripping from his cracked skull. The pool of blood slowly drips down the stairs, permanently darkening the wood. If Proudstump still lives, he'll have a permanent reminder of Harlan's quest for gumbo.
Uncaring that no one understands what he's shouting, Kvalsir swings his scimitar again, but the creature does a nimble, spinning duck and avoids the strike . As Maeve starts her dance to encourage the group, Parity stabs out with his falcata, but the creature sidesteps again .
Kvalsir, angered by his inability to connect and off-balance from the foe's feint, falls prey to a vicious uppercut, unseen til it hits his jaw with a bone-rattling crunch.
;
Malnival tries to manuever in, but the walls of the stairwell block lateral movement. A feeble sword strike careens off the wall. Heng leaps in, literally, vaulting off of Parity's shoulders to land behind the creature.
Maeve continues her dance, focusing and waiting for an opportunity to open up.
Round: 3
Initiative:9
AC:15
HP:9
Status :Casting on the Defensive
Concentration:
Ray of frost:
Damage:
Long sword Attack:
Damage:
I would have done my acrobatics upon realizing I was behind the front line, so I could still get my strike in. Ok moving on, acrobatics was my move for round 2, but I still get an action. can I just use my previous attack roll?
Cursing at his current ineptitude, Kvalsir backs away from the creature to clear room for others. What manner of beast is this? A worthy foe... but first I must fix this damage. Limping away from the combat, he grabs Harlan and tries to move him out of the house. This does not bode well...
Standard Action?: Not sure how to model dragging Harlan outside. Maybe the Drag combat maneuver? Here's a CM roll, just in case:
Also, knowledge(Nature) against the off chance that it will ID the creature:
Limping away from the combat, he grabs Harlan and tries to move him out of the house.