Rokkad sends out a silent call and Kokip quickly finishes circling the house to slither into the open front door.
the large serpent calls out in a deep, resounding voice that echoes through the house.
"The Soggy River Monster," Arieys comments at Mitsuko's question. "It's a sinspawn that's been making its home here and attacking travelers over the past few months. And it's nowhere near friendly enough to ally with anyone, even this thing."
When she hears Kokip speak, she approaches the door as well, keeping near Rokkad.
"Mr. Proudstump, is that you? The real Mr. Proudstump, I mean. We've got that monster that was pretending to be you hogtied. You and your vipers are safe now."
Both Shalewen and Shadow look at Kokip with the same curious expression. Neither knew the thing could actually speak. Shadow goes to get a closer look again while Shalewen lowers her bow. It seemed things here were getting under control. That just left the thing following them, as not-Walthus reminded them. She whistles and Shadow leaps to her side. Together they move towards the bridge to keep watch. They others could handle the talking part.
Arieys frowns.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Proudstump. That monster tricked me into healing him, and I only had the one healing spell."
She looks at the others.
"What do you all think? Does this...Volorog deserve any mercy?"
Mitsuko shook her head. "Hanging won't prevent it from trying to get free. Quick and with mercy with a blade is the way to do it. I will do it if no one else want's too." Her blade was still out and pointed at the creature.
"Since Walthus is the one hurt by this thing, I think it right that he decides its fate. We will not get anything else of use from the creature." Rokkad states, looking towards the halfling.
Tregdorult shakes his head, still straining against the creature held in his arms. "You are right, and we seem to be in agreement. If it must be done, I would imagine that our duly appointed deputy should be the one to take care of it." He looks up at Ikoma, a question in his eyes.
Arieys looks at Ikoma and nods.
"We have another job we came here to do. Also, if this creature takes on a form that seems innocent and manages to deceive the townsfolk that we are in the wrong what will you do?" The likely hood of that happening was low but she was curious on the answer. Also, reminding them they spent a day and a half travel just to get here.
"It will probably be best to render him unconscious for the duration of him being tied up and back in town so we have no such worries of him managing to escape and bonds put on him nor fooling anyone. Also, what will we do about the goblin threat in the meantime?"
Kneeling next to Walthus she pulled out a handkerchief and would hold it out. "To help with your wounds. I know its not much."
Rokkad kneels down to examine Walthus. "Those wounds do not look good. I saw some herbs nearby that will help with the pain and prevent infection." he states after a minute. He runs into the swamp, coming back quickly with several plants. After shredding, grinding between two stones, and chewing on them, he wraps the sticky mess in a wet piece of cloth and ties it over the wound.
Mitsuko would pull out rope for them to tie the creature up.
Nodding she would smile at Rokkad when they were complete. "It is good to know. Thank you Rokkad. I am not skilled with medicine myself. Perhaps I should invest in that kind of magic."
About to say more she stopped when she heard Walthus bring up the goblins himself. She would check out the cloak with a quick glance casting Detect Magic
As if second nature when he started to heat up tea she would move to grab tea cups and looks for a tray or makeshift one. "I can help serve tea if you wish."
A flurry of excitement draws Shalewen's attention back to the hut. Everyone appeared to moving into the drab building. And the imposter was still alive. Odd turn of events. The thing that had been following them was making no sign it was going to attack. Probably wasn't with so many people in one spot. Deciding against staying out all night, she whistles to Shadow and they head back to the cabin. Besides, she vaguely heard the word goblin.
Arieys smiles as Walthus' wounds are tended to, and his snakes happily crowd around him. It was adorable to see animals that most people feared fawning over their master so.
"I agree. Tactics over tea sounds like a great idea, though we'll probably want one of us to keep an eye on Volorog here to make sure it hasn't got any more tricks."
"Thank you." Rokkad states solemnly as he accepts the gift. He is seating himself cross-legged on the floor for tea when Arieys comments about Volorog. Nodding, he gives a quick glance to Kokip who curls up near their prisoner and stares intently at him, his tongue flicking out periodically.
"Mr. Proudstump, do you know anything about the 'Soggy River Monster'?"
"The creature tied up right there mentioned the Soggy River Monster. Claimed to be acquainted with him and how he would lead him and others to cause chaos." She would take the tea pot and serves tea with the poise that had been taught with her.
Once the tea was set down. "Were they running from something or celebrating something?"
The tea begins to whir and whistle through its spout as Walthus takes it off the wood burning stove "The Soggy River Monster... Now that is a myth I haven't heard of in quite some time. Someone been talking about the Sandpoint Devil?"
"It's real. I've seen it." Or at least she was fairly certain that that abominable silhouette was the beast. That was her only comment but she did listen intently about the odd goblin behavior. You rarely saw female goblins. They must have been very scared of something.
Arieys takes a seat politely and reshuffles her cards, re-attuning herself to its energies and nods when Shalewen and Mitsuko explain about the Soggy River Monster.
"Are you sure, Mr. Proudstump? A gluttonspawn has been sighted along the trails nearby. Those only started showing up about a year ago."
Rokkad takes a sip of tea and nods at Shalewen's words. "I saw it as well. Surely you must have seen something roaming around the swamp in all of the time you have lived here?"
Arieys looks between Shalewen and Rokkad and Walthus, biting her lip and wondering how their host will react.
"Not yet, thankfully. But the local tribe out here apparently got their grubby little mitts on a cache of fireworks, which made them feel like they could take on the world. Sheriff Hemlock doesn't want something like the attack on the Swallowtail Festival last year to happen again, so we've come out here to nip the problem in the bud."
She politely accepts some bread and nibbles on it.
Arieys finishes her bread and takes out her cards, shuffling them as she does.
"Have you ever had a harrowing, Mr. Proudstump?"
Mitsuko sipped the tea with pleasure taking careful notes. "There is an old Tien Proverb my mother would tell me. 'If man has no tea in him. He is incapable of understanding Truth and Beauty.' Your tea is excellent Mr. Proudstump and my mother would have enjoyed it greatly." She sips again letting the proverb slowly sink in.
"I am sure that you don't want to seem like you are telling a tall tale so it is okay to seem nervous. You feel conflicted on telling us what you know. Why is that? You have nothing to fear from us. We will take your words of wisdom and cherish them."
Rokkad takes a bite of bread, then finishes off the last of his tea, deciding to let the matter of the monster drop for now. "We have already dispatched a dozen of the goblins we came across on the way here. We are hoping to finish them off to ensure the safety of the town. Do you know where their main lair would be?"
Arieys smiles as Walthus seems to calm down and become more friendly.
"We welcome your hospitality Mr. Proudstump! Fear not, by the time we're done, both the Licktoad goblins and the Soggy River Monster will no longer plague you! To say nothing on that monster tied up outside."
She helps Walthus clear the table and begins to set her cards out.
"I won't require any tea for the Harrowing, Mr. Proudstump. Harrowing and tasseography don't really intersect."
"It's still out there," Shalewen says from a corner set as she sips tea. She looks out the window in the direction of the bridge. If they stayed, they'd need to keep watch. The walls of this little cabin might not be enough. She gives Ikoma a meaningful look. She was concerned for his horse which would not fit in the house.
Arieys holds out her cards for Walthus to select from.
"What is it you seek, Walthus? Ask your question," she says reverently.
Arieys casts the cards to reveal the answer to Walthus' question.
"Hmm...the Survivor. Clearly a reference to your struggle with Volorog...Snakebite's misaligned....a symbol of the bond you and your snakes have...The Winged Serpent...Your knowledge of this swamp and its dangers will help you find the safest place for Schnels."
She smiles.
"Though I imagine this place will become much quieter after we've dealt with the goblins and this Soggy River Monster. We'll make sure neither pester you again."
"Thank you for the information Walthus and I understand the conundrum. Do you have a map with the locations you have mentioned? Including this cave?"
She finished her cup of tea with a pleased sigh.
"I didn't mention us leaving out right now. It is prudent to rest up and recover and start fresh. When time is on our side instead of not." She gave the creature a long intimidating look.
"It is also why I said to knock the creature out. I am well aware he is waiting. If he acts up I am not afraid to end him."
Shalewen almost forgot about the thing in the corner that took Walthus' form not too long ago. It was indeed very quiet. She looks at it like one would tool they didn't know how it worked yet. "Bait," she says, finding a purpose for it. Maybe they could lure the Monster in close with a little live bait.
"I appreciate your offer of hospitality. It would be easier to make an attack on the goblin camp in the morning when they do not have the advantage of darkness." he states with a quick glance at those in their group who are not gifted with darkvision.
Shalewen almost forgot about the thing in the corner that took Walthus' form not too long ago. It was indeed very quiet. She looks at it like one would tool they didn't know how it worked yet. "Bait," she says, finding a purpose for it. Maybe they could lure the Monster in close with a little live bait.
Arieys frowns.
"Far be it from me to suggest he deserves genuine mercy for what he's done, but using him as bait for a monster seems unnecessarily cruel, Shal. It might be better to just finish him off quick and be done with him. We don't even know if this monster would eat a creature like him."
As the others talk, Arieys begins reassembling and putting away her harrow deck.