The goblins all point in unison at one of their group, who then begins to stammer
I seen Smash your Face - but he told me, he wants to be called "Eat your Eyes" I should spread the word among my tribe so he knows who his friends are.
From outside you suddenly hear loud gasping and very heavy footsteps advancing...
Putting my hand to my lips in the universal sign for quite.
Shhh, we have company.
Stealth:
Nymeria presses herself against the middle wall of the cave right where everyone can see her.
Stealth:
Attalas attempts to emulate his friends hiding...
Then he decides against it and just stands out in the open resting on his sword in a friendly but assertive manner.
Shaking his head at the various attempts at Stealth Ragnavald stands behind and a little to the side of Attalas.
"The only people who try and hide are people up to no good I reckon, seems like a funny way to greet people and then says you weren't doing nothing wrong when they find you hiding in their house eh?"
"Bah, this just makes it faster to get to the inevitable brawl."
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"Now we meet Mr. Smash-Your-Face or Eat-Your-Eyes."
Mobo proudly stands in front of the Licktoads, puffed up with a grin shining from 'neath his low-brim hat.
Mobo breathes in deeply, his blue patch fur/hair bristling.
"But what if it's a girl?"
I cannot say that I am an expert on ogres, although there were more than a few in the armies of the Worldwound. However, I doubt that most ogresses are big fans of flowers, unless they are stuck in the mouth of whatever recent kill you are offering her. Remember Attalas, you are a good person with a good heart, few other of your giant brethren will be likewise. So please be careful.
Realizing the futility of trying to hide, Jez steps up next to her larger companions.
Suddenly the cave opening darkens as a large shadow block the sun from you. A stone-grey head - reminding you a bit of a statue - with glowing yellow eyes is the next thing you see. Mobo's friends were right, the cave owner with the strange name is indeed a stone giant!
The foul odour of the thing is impressive and even Attalas flinches at the stench of foul meat, sweat and worse things the giant emanates.
The goblins loudly gulp in unison and point at the giant
It's him! It's him!
We were admiring your artwork. This bearded fellow. Pointing at the painting of the taxman. I would like to find him if you know him.
Diplomacy:
Attalas looks at the Giant with some concern, not being used to seeing things bigger than him.
"Which leads me to wonder why it would bother eating eyeballs. At that size they'd hardly be considered seasoning let alone a meal."
The giant seems to have a hard time listening so several people at once - after a moment of deep concentration he decides to answer to Ragnvald
I lika eyeballsa - sweeta and softa - but musta eat alot...mhm...I'ma hungry....
The goblins now look even more frightened, but the monster goes on and looking at Jez he says
You lika me cava? I lika the colour of your eyesa, hah! Me not know man on tiny pictura - he not hear when I found cava.
At last he turns to Mobo and his goblins and says
You cleva! You not call me Smash your faca, like the other goblins! My name is now Eat your Eyesa!
The creature is obviously totally demented/insane, but the bulging muscles on his arms don't let you forget that he is immensely dangerous.
"Hrm, well we've seen all we need to see then. We should be moving along. Villages to burn. Taxemen to collect. That sort of business." Says the cleric giving a window in which to climb out of.
Smiling - Well my friend Eata-your-eyesa, thank you for your help. We really need to find this man. And have appreciated your hospitality. Should we meet again, I will buy you a rack of lamb and some eyeball soup.
Jez nods her head to the goblins indicating that it its time to begin a slow withdrawal.
The goblins are surprisingly clever and understand at once when it comes to fleeing...slowly and trying to look unsuspicious they shuffle out of the cave, shielding their eyes...not from the sun, but from the greedy gaze of the giant.
Outside of the cave you get the first good look at the monster and yes, he's at least an impressive 4.5m tall, with thick muscles and a stone club heavy enough to make jelly of you with one hit.
The giant seems satisfied with you leaving the cave - lucky you! He even waves goodbye once you leave the bluff area.
Axeman gone north we say, we didn't meet him in the south or east, great water is in the west, so he must have gone north.
says the cleverest of all goblins once you are out of the giant's reach.
Well, what direction next? We still must get to Ravenmoor at some point.
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"My Licktoad friends say he went North. They not meet him in South or East and big water in West. So if Ravenmoor North, we head North."
Mobo waves goodbye to Eat-Your-Eyes and makes a mental note of where the cave is to visit later with optical gifts.
Mobo gives the last of his Halgrim toes to the Licktoad goblins as thanks, and makes sure the yellow toad he was gifted is snugly tucked away in his goblin felt.
"Licktoads showed us to the cave,
Face the giant very brave,
No eyeballs for him to shave,
Or Licktoad goblins for his slave!"
"Elf-Wart in the pack he goes,
Jump when Nymeria never knows,
Where he pees warts can grows,
Lick him and colors he shows!"
North it is.
I put my sword away and start to head north figuring everyone else will follow.
Ragnvald follows behind.
Attalas seems satisfied that all his friends are alive, and continues to follow on the party. He seems a bit incredulous that you can grow so big just by eating faces and/or eyeballs.
I wonder where that giant came from. Not easy to hide when you are that big. And that smelly.
Looking over to Mobo - You have any more treats? That meat in the cave was good, but I am already hungry again.
The goblins look a bit sad as Mobo leaves them and one even bites into his toad not to start crying...you leave them behind and soon they are not more than yellow/green dots on a large field of grass.
During the next days you travel further northwards and on the evening of the fifth day you reach the outskirts of the Ravenmoor.
A forlorn land: brown, grey and dark green dominate the landscape which consists of moory swampland with crippled fir trees, small islands, large ponds and a gloomy sun above it all.
The permanent humming of mosquitos and gnats surrounds you and you wonder why someone would want to build a village here. A narrow path leads further and on the right of it is a sign that reads
Ravenmoor - 10 miles
below it is a smaller sign - which looks fairly new
Taxes PAID!
Ok all, looks like we are almost here. Remember, we need to try to fit in and get information - which may be difficult with an elf, but we will do the best we can. Everyone on their best behavior. That no starting fights Ragnvald.
"I traded in the smell of goblins for the smell of a dank bog." Slapping at an errant mosquito he growls. "At least they didn't attempt to steal my blood."
Looking down at the sign Ragnvald smiles with bemusement. "Looks like our job is already done."
The last ten miles of your journey are by far the hardest ones - there are so many mosquitos that the smallest one among you have to fear to get drained of their blood before they reach the hamlet - luckily the mentioned one possesses a very hungry toad with an impressively long tongue that is very good in catching the insects mid-flight...
After you have jumped over yet another flooded part of the path, the first houses with thatched roofs come into sight. There are about 30 of them centrered around a well and a small market place. Thin lines of smoke rise from several chimneys and proff that someone is there, even though the streets are empty.
Some of the houses have small gardens or fenced in areas for keeping goats or sheep.
"This place looks nice, real friendly!"
Does not look like a bunch of tax avoiding outlaws. Lets see if there is an inn. It is clear that they consider their taxes paid. But the question is, where is the taxman. Actually, we should act with great tact, after all, if they did pay the taxman, then they will be very interested in finding him and assuring that Magnimar gets their taxes. Nobody likes to pay their taxes twice, and nobody like somebody stealing from them by absconding with their tax payments.
Looking down, then up, then straight at all the monsters he says. "Perhaps it's best that you reassure them that you're not going to burn their cottages to the ground and devour their children and horses before attempting anythin as intricate as tax collection. Of course you could attempt to collect tribute instead."
Calmly turning and looking at the crazed Ulfen:
My understanding is that we are seeking to find the taxman, not collect taxes.
Attalas walks forward, leading into the village.
Onward.
Attalas has nearly reached the small bridge that leads over the creek at the edge of the village as you all suddenly here an annoying voice shouting loudly
Aaaapplesauce! Aaaapplesauce, c'mer boy!
Nymeria tries to get a closer look.
Perception:
Nymeria spots a straw-blonde young boy running towards you from the banks of the creek - Mobo however is unable to spot the child since a large crimson stirge hovers directly into his direction!
This thing is fast! Irf you manage a Dc 20 Perception you may take an action - if you would like to enter combat, just tell me and I'll roll for initiative.
Perception:
Jez sees nothing and continues to scan around for some applesauce.
Perception
Attalas watches Jez who is looking at something else.
Suddenly Jez has a thought, apparently not a very good one.
Maybe they like applesauce in this town. Did anyone see any apple trees on the road into town, we could pick some to get some bonus points with the locals. Knowing a little of their customs can't hurt.
Perception
Ragnvald looks in Attalas's direction, realizes that from his height it is far from a pleasant sight and shields his eyes.
As Mobo starts to talk, Jez turns to see what type of bug is the next meal.
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