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You are goblins of the Licktoad tribe, who live deep in Brinestump Marsh, south of the hated man-town called Sandpoint. Once, other goblins tried to burn Sandpoint down, and they would have been legends if they had succeeded. But they didn’t bring enough fire, and got themselves killed as a result. Yesterday, your tribe discovered that one of your own had
been using forbidden arts and was engaged in one of the greatest of taboos—writing things down. In fact, rumor holds that what he was writing was a history of your tribe! There’s no swifter way to bring about bad luck than stealing words out of your mind by writing them down, and so your tribe had no choice. You branded the goblin’s face with letters to punish
him, which is why everyone calls him Scribbleface now, and then you ran him out of town, took all of his stuff, and burned down his hut.
That’s where things got interesting, because before you all burned down his hut, Chief Gutwad found a weird box within the building. Inside was a map and a lot of fireworks—fireworks that immediately came to use in burning the hut down. Then, this morning, Gutwad announced that tonight there would be a feast in order to drive out any lingering bad luck from
Scribbleface’s poor decisions. But perhaps even more exciting, all of you have been secretly invited to meet at Chief Gutwad’s Moot House. Why would the chief want to speak to you? It can only mean that he’s got an important mission for you all... one that the other goblins of the tribe couldn’t pull off. This could be your chance to go down in Licktoad history!
Lying at the center of the village, the chief's Moot House is a veritable museum of Licktoad Heroics-crammed with trophies such as stolen weapons, shiny bits of treasure, and the brine-pickled bodies of dozens of brutally slaughter small furry animals. His Mighty Girthness Chief Rendwattle Gutwad rules Licktoad Village from atop the great Teeter Chair, which is 6 feet high and allows him to more properly look down on his subjects. By tradition, Chief Gutwad does not speak directly to his subjects. Instead, he employs an advisor through whom he whispers instructions, for Chief Gutwad has convinced his goblins that the words that come out of his mouth are so mighty that they might frighten away all the words in the heads of lesser goblins. Only his duly appointed advisor,an overdressed, pompous goblin named Slorb, can handle the might of the chief's words without fainting from fear.
You have all gathered outside the entrance to the Moot House, awaiting invitation from Slorb to enter.
Ghlurb shifts back and forth on his feet, and alternates between sitting and standing. He often scratches at the stitching that holds the wolf ear to the stump of his own long gone left ear, and constantly adjusts his impressive jumble of trophies to better display all of them- from old boots to pickled fingers, severed ears to horsetail rope.
For a goblin, Ghlurb strikes an imposing figure- his rippling muscles and proportionally huge and jagged teeth are reminiscent of hated and feared dogs, and the illusion is amplified by his huge, canine left ear.
Erahai is ready to burst into maddened giggles of glee. She is here, a WOMAN of the tribe, asked to Chief Gutwad's Moot House. Bark! is here, too!
Right now, Erahai is busy making certain her hair is extra spikey with Goblin Dog slobber, while Bark! is enjoying crunching on a swamp lizard that wandered past. Each time Bark! crunches down on the lizard, the goblin dog giggles at the snapping sound of tiny bones. The best part of swamp lizard, after all!
Ponk, so skinny his bulbous head looks like it should snap off under its own weight and roll away, paces half-circles around the entrance, possessed of an energy that keeps him in constant motion. He fingers one of the many dry fetishes hanging from his clothing and gear, it smokes then bursts into flame as he tosses it aside, oblivious as to who it lands near, or on. He can be heard muttering under his breath.
"Stupid Slorb, thinks he so great. Ponk can make fire without torches. Much better than Slorb..."
He pauses in his mutterings to bite the corner off a waxy, greenish block clutched in one long-fingered hand. His face scrunches in delight as he slowly chews and swallows, as if it were some great delicacy, better than pickles.
Bregnac starts on the path towards Chief Gutwad's Moot House. She is distracted momentarily when a small rat darts out between the huts with several small goblin children in tow. He eyes dart to the creature and the her destination, quite obviousness torn on what her instincts are screaming at her to do. She reigns in that primal part of her with great effort and stomps the rest of the way to the hut
Dressed in her best; a rusty set of scale armor, two dogslicers slide into a chain belt at her waist with a dagger in the top of her left boot. She wears the top half of a dog's head as a helm and carriers a small pack with all her essentials for pillaging and setting flame to all that requires it.
Bregnac looks to the others also about the entrance the Moot House and moves to stand at Erashai's side, opposite her mount. "You all be called too..." she says in a squeaky voice and with an assessing gaze.
She looks at Ponk with a slightly dreamy look before she pats him on the shoulder and comments "We know how fire works good. You no worry Ponk, da great Zarongel will know who be da bestest!"
A tall, lanky goblin wearing leather horsehide armor studded with keys, belt loops, and boot buckles and a bucket as a helmet walks forward from the shadows. He seems to be a hunter, spear in hand, with bow, sword, and bear trap across his back, and a few dead rabbits hanging from his belt.
He spits on the ground and says, "We having party outside or go in?"
Grulo walks to the door and pushes it open.
Startled, Ghlurb sidles sideways through the tent opening- the only way he fits through most goblin "doors".
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From inside the house you here a high pitched voice call out, Come, Come, Chief see you know You recognize the voice as Slorb, the chief's advisor.
Inside, Chief Gutwad sits precariously atop the Teeter Chair. Gutwad is a corpulent goblin.
Slorb spits and walks by tapping spots on in the dirt You sit here, here, here And keeps going until he has pointed a spot out for all of you in front of the Chief.
In classic form, Nenus shows up late... and drunk. Looking up from his half empty bottle finally, Nenus slurs, Now there be annoying voice I know!
Grulo presents his rabbits to Chief Gutwad before taking his seat.
The goblin woman eyes thin and her pointy teeth bear just so slightly at the lack of respect Slorb is showing, to a priestess no less. She looks to the Chief and nods her head in a respectful manner befitting his position and takes a seat, just off of where Slob pointed to sit.
Ponk bows before the Chief, then plops down in his appointed spot, glaring at Slurb's back and pondering the idea of a hotfoot later.
Ghlurb clears a space unceremoniously with his foot before sitting, dusting Slorb with a slight coat of dust and dirt from the floor. He shoots the pretentious goblin a toothy grin before plopping into his space.
Grulo twitches and fidgets, obviously not accustomed to sitting still for long. The occasional sigh and groan are issued, and he starts fiddling with the fletching on one of his arrows.
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With the great honor of sitting in front of the chief, you eagerly await to hear what he wants from Slorb, but much to you surprise the chief himself speaks to you directly in a deep, booming voice:
“You all be heroes. Each of you. You are best Licktoads but for me. And maybe but for Slorb. That you aren’t fleeing in terror from mighty sound of my voice is all the proof you should need. Yet soon, all Licktoad goblins will know your might, for I have picked you for a dangerous mission. You know about fireworks and map we found in Scribbleface’s hut. Fireworks were fun. But map is more fun. It shows a route to a place near the coast where Scribbleface found fireworks. And it says there are more fireworks there! I want them for Licktoads. You all go get them tomorrow. Tonight we have big bonfire to burn bad luck away from you, and we play many games. Much fun. Tomorrow you fetch me fireworks. If you meet men, you make them dead. If you meet dogs, you make them dead. If you meet horses, you make them dead. If you meet Lotslegs Eat Goblin Babies Many, you maybe should run. And if you not find fireworks, you not come back or we feed you to Squealy Nord!”
"Sound like fun, Chief. We not fail. Always wanted to explore that part of swamp, anyhow." Grulo grins wickedly, "What I get if I kill Lotslegs?"
Laughing as he pulls yet another bottle of booze from his pack, Nenus retorts,
If Grulo kill Lotslegs, *hic* then it be Lotslegs Goblin Baby Many. *hic*
Grulo laughs heartily at Nenus' joke and pats him on the back. "You funny."
Grulo then heads outside, happy to no longer have to sit still.
When Slorb comes outside, Grulo asks, "So, where party?"
While the chief speaks, Ghlurb sticks a finger in his wolf ear, lest the chief's voice prove too much for the obviously inferior wolf's ear.
Ghlurb squeezes his immense frame through the tiny door, and adjusts his ear. He grins menacingly, glad to have something to do that might involve hitting things.
Ghlurb like to hit things.
"So, Ghlurb, that make you werewolf now?"
Ghlurb spends a few moments looking around for the wolf before realizing what Grulo means, going so far as to look up.
You never know, with wolves.
As the Chief departs the priestess stands and turns to Slorb and asks, "Where dose dis map show da fireworks to be?"
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Slorb hands you over an oriental hand fan with a crudely drawn map on it of the Brinestump Marsh area that your village is located in. Here map, now leave chief house! He says in that high-pitched nasal voice.
If you want anymore knowledge of the area please give me a Knowledge(Local) check even if you do not have any ranks in it.
(Untrained)
As the Chief departs the priestess stands and turns to Slorb and asks, "Where dose dis map show da fireworks to be?"
Ponk peers closely at the map for several long moments, then puffs out his chest and stabs a finger onto the map.
"Simple! Right here! We here, they there! We go this way!"
Whether he's actually right or not seems to matter little, as he's extremely confident in his reading, especially if he beats Slorb to the punch.
Ghlurb grunts at the news, hurtling through the camp on all fours. In a moment, he returns, a great tortoise shell strapped to his arm, heavy layers of fur and hide draped around him. Yellow teeth show as he smiles, flexing his giant axe. His pack, a repurposed old boot of immense size, is strapped to his back by the old, mangy laces.
Looking over the map the goblin woman considers...
The previously quiet, day dreaming Zinc, looks at the map too!
"Wat we have here?! Somedin ta blows up!?"
Knowledge Local (Untrained)
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What You Know:
Brinestump Marsh: The marsh is a place of great bounty, with lots of places to hide and lots of delicious things to eat. Some of those things are kind of poisonous, though, so take care. One of the best things about the marsh is that the humans don’t normally come into it. They’re afraid of the monsters. Which are a concern, but if you know about them before they find out about you, running is always an option. Among the dangers that you can expect to face in the portion of Brinestump Marsh that you’ll be heading through are wild dogs, giant bugs,giant snakes, and giant frogs. Oh, and Lotslegs Eat Goblin Babies Many. And maybe Vorka.
Lotslegs Eat Goblin Babies Many: There are plenty of giant bugs in the swamp, but of late, the giant spider known as Lotslegs Eat Goblin Babies Many (known more often simply as “Lotslegs,”) is the most notorious. The giant spider lives somewhere in the marsh between the Licktoad village and the coast, and the route that Scribbleface’s map shows leads right through the giant spider’s territory.
Scribbleface’s Map: The map is relatively simple, showing little more than the Licktoad village, the old shipwreck on the coast that supposedly contains the fireworks, and the creek that runs between the two locations. By following the creek, the PCs should be able to easily reach the old wreck. Unfortunately, the old wreck is also located in the part of the swamp that all Licktoads know to be the territory of Vorka the cannibal.
Vorka: One of the greatest terrors of the swamp, at least to the Licktoads, is old Vorka, a ravenous cannibal goblin who, legend tells, was once the wife of a Licktoad chieftain. She murdered and ate that chieftain, as well as several other goblins, before she was driven out of town many years ago. Since then, the story says that she’s lived alone somewhere along the coast to the west of Licktoad village, and while she’s never returned, most goblins who go missing in that part of the swamp are assumed to have been eaten by the cannibal.
Grulo disappears into the underbrush for a few minutes and returns with a rabbit and two squirrels, still alive, though a bit broken. He gathers the younglings about and teaches them a new game he invented.
"Lil'uns, give me strong string. We ties the squirries tail-to-tail, and tie the middle to a stick. Now, Lil'uns, give me sturdy bucket. Oh, wait, I use my helmet! We ...break!... rabbit's back legs!" (demonstrating as he says it) "Then we toss rabbit in bucket."
Grulo hands the squirrels on the stick to an older youngling. "Now, take turns jabbing squirrels with pointy stick and lower in bucket. See what happen! First to kill rabbit this way get prize from me." Grulo then sits back and watches the fun as he chews on some dog jerky, smiling every time the squirrels and rabbit screech.
"We need be careful... but dat's in da morrrow. Many chances to bring more greatness to Licktoads. But tonight... We banish bad luck and feast!" Bregnac says in a jubilant manner.
"Mmmm...feast! But first we need fire. That Ponk's job," the sorcerer says with a wicked grin.
He begins a strange hopping, twirling dance about the growing pile of wood, breaking into song as he does so.
"Greatest gift of gods to us is fire,
so dance you now around the pyre.
Flames will crackle and pop and roar
so roast you rabbit, frog, and boar!
Tonight we eat and feast and snack,
Food crunch real good if it turns black.
So pile on tinder, wood, and oil,
But stand you back or you blood will boil!
At the end of his song, Ponk throws out a hand and a sizzling ray of flam shoots from his fingertips to set the bonfire blazing, laughing at any goblins too slow to take his cue and move aside.
Nenus disappears briefly, seeking something out from off in the distance. Returning, rolling on a keg, comes Nenus, knowing how to start a good party.
Clearly having started the party hours ago, Nenus manages to slur out,
Dis be da wei we stahrt thah besshht partiieys!
Ghlurb sharpens his axe impatiently, but quickly fills an old lamp with the grog, gurgling down the fiery liquid. He licks his lips and snaps hungrily, eying the rabbits.
As the bonfire starts to grow the priestess squeals in delight. Bregnac jumps up and towards the fire and starts to dance around it, encouraging others to join her. She starts to chant...
"Fire, fire burning bright
Showing off our Goblin might!
Build it up, throw more on
Tell these bad spirits to begone!
Bring the best ale, bring the doggie stew
Drink up now and chew, chew, chew!
Rise up all and make a fuss
Licktoad, Licktoad, that be us!"
She begins the chant over again as she makes another round about the great fire.
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As night falls, a group of four struggling goblins attempting to carry out the teeter chair that the chief still sits upon. The chief brings out a barrel of fermenting cider apples early on and most goblins get drunk very quickly.
A very, very drunk goblin comes up to your group and speaks, Ah iz da big shots, bet ewe coushnt evin dance wit squealy Nord
Tilted to one side, Nenus looks through the bottom of his empty bottle and returns,
Nahw dat schoundss lick uh chullenge ah be willun ta cept!
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As you are dragged to Dance with the Squealy Nord, who has been described as a fearsome boar who lives in a muddy pit in the middle of the village, right next to the goblin baby cages. You finally see Squealy Nord, a hyperactive piglet probably escaped from a nearby farm. His pit is circular and 20' in diameteer and over 10' deep.
A set of four goblins tether squealy nord while you mount and then he is released.
I will need a few of Ride checks from you Nenus as you cling to the poor piglets back as long as you can.
Ponk moves eagerly to the pit to see Nenus ride. Alternately shouting encouragement and licking his chops over the yummy-looking porker.
"Nice Piggy..."
Grulo strides casually over after all the kiddies leave the rabbit game to see the others try to ride Squealy Nord. "Piggies for eatin', not for ridin'..." Grulo mutters as he approaches the pit.