In that case, Mogmurch will use a move action to retrieve a potion of Cure Light Wounds.
Actually, if it's not too late to change this, make that a potion of Cure Moderate (just realized that I have 1 left).
As Mogmurch slips into the room, Cuddles lashes out at him. Splatters of drool spray the goblins face as the beast snaps its jaws closed long before reaching it's target.
Capitalizing on the alchemist's distraction, Rita leaps onto the creatures back and wraps her scrawny arms around it with ease.
The prone goblin's frantic swipes nearly nick Rita, but fail to come close to the intended target.
Chuffy thrusts his blade forward as Cuddles twists away. Just as it seems the goblin will do little more than shave the dog, Rita manages to force it back into the blades path. A soft *poof* can be heard as the weapon pierces its side.
Gurgling breathes emanate from the creature as it glares at Chuffy. With a ragged snort, he tries to rip a chunk out of its rider. Connecting soundly, Reta looses a large patch of her thigh.
With the effort, Cuddles collapses on the ground, goblin flesh splattering on the ground before him. Gurgling breathes emanate from the dog as the pool of blood nearby slowly grows larger.
Reta
Poog
Cuddles
Poog breaths a sign of relief as the frightful hound finally hits the floor, then starts laughing maniacally, glad to be alive. "HAHAhaha!" He quickly scurries forward on his hands and knees and rams his dogslicer into the Cuddles' head before any of the other goblins can get there first, "Haha, Poog kill dog! Poog be bravest and bestest goblin!"
"Poog not kill dog!" Reta screams from her bloody entanglement with the dog. "Reta blood kill dog; that clear. Dog go chomp on Reta leg... dog die immediately. Reta is dog poison!"
Reta looks around the room for her healer, and her eyes settle back on Poog. "Reta leg also very bleedy. Poog call Zarongel. Fix leg."
Poog pulls out his wand and holds it high, "Poog call Zarongel only if Reta tells truth! Dog not die from Reta blood, dog just slip on puddle 'cause Reta bleed too much." He then stuffs the wand up his own nose, breathing deep of it's healing powers as his beady eyes stare tauntingly at Reta, "AAah, that feels gooood!" He says in a nasally voice, not bothering to remove the wand.
Unscathed and finally covered in the blood of his foes , Chuffy approaches the dog as though in a trance. Quietly, he stabs the dog in the stomach repeatedly, sending blood everywhere before he collapses with exhaustion. Chuffy is best goblin in tribe. Even better than chief. Chuffy kill chief like dog soon.
Eventually, Chuffy rubs some of the gore from his eyes and stands back up. "We have fireworks. We kill many bad guys. Chuffy says we go back to tribe now," he says, eager to get those damnable fireworks out of his pants, surely stained in dog blood at this point.
Mogmurch watches his bestial companions frolicking in the blood puddles with amusement. While they are so distracted, he steps forward and deftly slices out Chuffy's tongue and fashions it into a talisman he can wear around his neck. "Good thing you all follow my plan! I show you real leadership - just like chief - stand in back and direct minions!"
Eying the wounds still oozing blood from Reta and Poog, Mogmurch considers whether he and Chuffy can carry the fireworks back by themselves, but quickly concludes that the wounded minions have yet some purpose in his life, and doles out a potion of cure light wounds to each of them. "Here, take this, you feel better, then carry box. And hurry up."
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Mogmurch manages to call on the power of Zarongel again and mend Reta's leg. Torn between the idea of Chuff and Cuddles, he decides to take Cuddles tongue as a trophy now, and save Chuffy's for later.
Searching the room, you find little of interest. The dead dog and dismember Scribbleface are of little value to you. Though, finding Scribbleface's head in a bloody sack may reaffirm one should not steal words...
Making your way back to the tribe, you are met with joyful rapture.
"Feast!" exclaims the chief, ordering those lesser goblins of the tribe to bring all the food out for you. "Yous did goods! Yous all good! Tell Mighty Chief Gutwad of yous adventure! Tell chiefy now while food readied!"
"WE KILL EVERYTHING!!!" Reta exclaims, so excited she can't contain herself. "We find Lotslegs, Reta slash slash slash; Lotslegs no bother Licktoads again!" She dances about, demonstrating her moves and nearly tripping over the singed, muddy edge of her wedding dress at one point.
"Then we find Scribbleface place on map. Funny boat out of water. There, mean, powerful horse outside! Reta dive at legs and distract horse perfectly so other Licktoads can come in for kill. Horse dead!"
She turns to Chuffy, Mogmurch, and Poog. "Why we not bring horse back? We could eat horse? Chief should send scavenger party to fetch it."
"Chuffy stab many things! AND RETA GET KICKED IN HEAD BY HORSE! NOW EVEN UGLIER HAHAHAHA!" his laughter sending him to the ground before he can explain much more of the events.
Eventually, he makes his way to the feast. He begins by wiping his puss-filled face over all the food he wants to eat, leaving a greasy, goopy deterrent to the other goblins, and gorges himself.
Poog joins in with the laughter as he is reminded of Reta's hilarious encounter with the horse, "Ha! Yes, Reta be GOOD distraction, always gets kicked in BIG HEAD! Hahaha..." He holds his aching sides, laughing so hard that he starts to choke on the extra saliva in his mouth produced after all the talk of feasts and horse meat.
Once he has composed himself again, Poog continues where Reta left off, "We kill big horse - MMmmmm, horse - then kill many many dogs - Mmmmm, dog - and then kill Vorka while Mogmurch be eaten by frog-god - MMmmmm, frog-god..." Poog licks his lips as drool puddles at his feet, suddenly feeling very hungry.
"Yes, of all the fearsome foes faced by foursome, frogosaurus freaking forget-not-possible! It could have killed us all, then come to village and devoured all the Licktoads. But luckily, brave Mogmurch - that's me - remembered importance of taktiks, and pretended to offer himself to frog so the loyal foot soldiers - " here Mogmurch gestures to his companions - "they could follow his plan and kill the beast. And recover the fireworks, so many fireworks! We have brought them here. And it's all - " Mogmurch pauses briefly and puts his most smarmy and ingratiating smile onto his ugly goblin face - "- all because of the wisdom of our great Chief Gutwad, only you would have known to send such acceptable minions along with your first general! So all my, I mean our, victories are really the glories of Chief. Hail, hail, hail!" After a brief - very brief - pause, Mogmurch continues, "So, about those fireworks, I guess you most probably want your main general and lead counselor - I mean me - to catalogue and test them, right?"
"All do good." beams Chief Gutwad as he listens to the tails. Snapping his fingers, his daughter scurries over. "But Gutwad know best. Gutwad say bestest one be...." Trailing off he looks to each of you, silently counting things off. Running out of fingers quicker than expected, he drops to the ground and begins using his toes.
Leaping back to his feet, he announces "Poog! You is marry Gupy Wartbits! No worry. All do good. All get title. Chuffy, you be Overseer of Village Stabbings! No stabby less you say so. Big Reta be Head Village Watcher."
Turning to head to the feast, he stops after a few steps. "Sumtan miss...Moggy Mogmurch! Yes. You so gud you gets news title! You be Boss of Big Fire. You test big fire. You make big fire work!."
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Chuffy's overly large goblin head is consumed in a sadistic smile. I will be best Overseer of Stabbings... MANY stabbings, mmmmmmm yes... Remembering that he still has to ingratiate himself towards the chief, he prostrates himself before him, bowing several times. "Chief Gutwad is best chief! Chuffy make Chief proud with many stabbings!" And Chuffy start with Reta...
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"Chief Gutwad very great chief!" Reta immediately takes her title to heart, peering at every goblin near her (but mostly her companions--no--mostly just Chuffy) with a gaze that seems to try to find their soul. "What you up to? No funny business!" Reta watching, Reta always watching.
She wears her suspicion with pride.
Mogmurch can barely contain his glee. Big Fire Boss?!? Big Boss Fire!!??!! Can it be? Dreams, they do come true! He immediately sets to work, preparing for the bestest fireworks show in all goblindom. A true artist must think of all the details, not just how long fuse needed by Desna's pinwheels, but everything, like, even where the guests sit to watch. That's why I need build the grand pavilion for Licktoads. Then all the goblins gather together under my great pavilion tent and I show them the glorious power of fire, I mean fireworks. "Oh thank you Chief Gutwad! Truly you the most best chief ever. To honor you, I will prepare a great fireworks demonstration as soon as pavilion tent ready. You be sure to bring Reta, Chuffy, and Poog too...."
Poog is gobsmacked, mouth flapping open and closed as he gazes at his new bride, unsure what to say. Poog is marry chief daughter!? What if Poog make Gupy Wartbits not happy? Chief feed Poog to Squealy Nord... He starts to sweat profusely, ears pinned back and wringing his hands nervously. Wait! What if Poog make Gupy Wartbits real happy? Then Chief make Poog trusted son. Then if Chief has 'accident,' Poog be new Chief! Suddenly Poog raises his hands in the air, cheering, "Poog be bestest goblin!" He scurries over to Gupy and, with a huge smarmy smile, offers her the leg he sliced off Lotslegs.
You are the heroes of the Licktoad Tribe, living legends afer you triumphed against the terrible goblin cannibal Vorka and recovered many fireworks from her lair. Your tribe used the fireworks to great effect, but one day while you were out scrounging for more fireworks, adventurers came into the swamp and wiped out your tribe. You returned to your home to find it in ruins.
Now homeless, you have decided to travel to the closest tribe of goblins you know about—the Birdcrunchers. Maybe they’ll have room for you to join! Only, now that you’ve arrived in Birdcruncher territory, something seems wrong. The Birdcrunchers appear unusually nervous and frightened, cowering around the entrance to their cave. They aren’t even trying to defend their territory. And now, a wrinkled old goblin with bulging eyes is waddling out of the crowd, approaching you. She’s obviously some sort of shaman—maybe even the chiefain. If anyone here knows whether or not you can join the tribe, it’d likely be her!
Poog doesn't really miss the other Licktoads, but he does miss all the adulation, the fireworks... and maybe Gupy Wartbits. Gupy Wartbits was quite fun at times, especially when she set Chuffy's tent on fire! Still, there are plenty more goblins near the sea. During their journey into Birdcruncher territory, Poog keeps moaning about how he was "Bestest goblin of whole tribe! Now Poog be bestest of just Reta, Chuffy, and Mogmurch." And occasionally throwing in a "Where was Head Village Watcher when home be burned? That's what Poog wants to know." For good measure.
As the old wrinkly goblin approaches, Poog puts his hand on his hips and comes up with the only logical explanation, Birdcrunchers be scared of Licktoads! He smiles widely at the approaching chief, or shaman, waiting patiently, sure that the waddling old crone is about to grovel at his feet and proclaim Poog the new chief of the Birdcrunchers.
Chuffy gonna stab them all anyways... BUT SOMEONE STOLE MY KILL! Chief was mine... MINE! "It is all Reta's fault! Stupid big head not full of eyes, so Reta WORST tribe watcher!" he piles on after Poog's dig.
Chuffy's beady eyes stare intently as the goblin raisin approaches, weighing his options. If Chuffy kill Birdcruncher leader now, then Chuffy become leader! But... Birdsniffers acting stupid, need to know why first... can maybe use raisin before stabby, stab.
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Reta smacks Poog on the back of the head. "Poog know where Head Village Watcher was! Head Village Watcher was stabbing big dog while Poog hiding under bush!!!"
And then she wheels on Chuffy. "Reta head perfect size with perfect eyes." She uses the frayed and singed edges of the threadbare bridal veil to frame her face in a beauty pose that would frighten canines more than her famed dogslicer ever did.
Dropping her hands from the veil, she casually turns towards Mogmuch. "How it be that 'adventurers' happen to 'burn down village'?" She not one that could have ever learned air-quotes, but the gesture can be heard loud and clear in the sarcastic lilt of her voice. "I never see adventurer. Only smoke and embers. How you know it adventurers, Mogmurch?"
When Reta sees the Birdwatcher goblins cowering, she openly grimaces, instinctively challenging their fear and trying to provoke a reaction. Why they so scaredy? Weak tribe. Weak tribe. Easy for Reta become chief, then fix this. No good goblins be so scaredy. Reta make own tribe of powerful strong goblins, go kill dogs and set fires!
She watches the old woman approach. She weak too. Reta be chief soon, Poog, Mogmurch, Chuffy be good lieutenants and we make bestest goblin tribe ever!
“Well, well! What have we here? Licktoads, by the look of you, and from what I hear, orphans as well, hmm? Looking for a new place to live, I suspect? Well, you might be in luck, because we need new blood. Our own chiefains have been... lacking... in chiefainish ways. We’ve been having problems lately with an ogre and his fire-breathing boars, you see, and any goblins capable of killing the boars and driving off the ogre... or driving off the boars and killing the ogre... or... or whatever—well, they’ll not only be welcomed into Birdcruncher territory with open arms. They’ll be made chiefains, one and all!”
With that, the gathered Birdcruncher goblins suddenly animate into cheers and song. Eager and excited, they surge out of the cave to welcome their saviors, but suddenly freeze as the old woman shrieks "NO TALKY!!". The goblins freeze in place, and she continues in a softer voice.
“But we can’t just assume you’re the stuff chiefains are made of. You might just be lucky. No, no... before we accept you as our saviors and before you’ll even have a chance to face off against Pa Munchmeat and his pig... I declare we have a Chiefain Moot!”
At the declaration of a moot the goblins leap out of their hiding places "YIPPEEE! WE GETS NEW CHIEFY!" Hoops and hollers ring out across the region.
The wise Mummy Sprattleharsh barks out a few orders and the Birdcrunchers scurry about to see to a few tasks. From the looks of it, the primary task is setting up a feast in your honor! Turning back to you she asks "You stay outside all night? No! You come in. You come sit by big fire and warm self with Mummy Sprattleharsh. You come now!"
Mogmurch accompanies the others with uncharacteristic sullenness, rarely speaking, and frequently kicking random pebbles, or, when fortune provides, the occasional ant, which he kicks and then stomps. How adventurers get to burn village!?! I waiting my whole life, training year after year, practicing on Gupy Warbits, for the chance to burn whole village... And then some adventurers just wander in and burn everything without even a chance for Mogmurch to toast Chief Gutwad?!? Why life so cruel to me? All my dreams, destroyed... Mogmurch lets out a long sigh, and even the goading of the bird-brained Reta - who was surely born to be a birdmuncher - cannot get a rise out of him.
No Chief? How Chuffy kill Chief if there is no Chief? Hrmm... Maybe Chuffy let other goblin be Chief and STABBY STABBY! The hideous goblin quickly follows into the cave, eager to gorge himself in honor of himself. "Chuffy want to know more about firepigs. Ogre is ogre and is stupid. But pigs are food and goblins add fire, make bacon... mmmmm bacon..." he asks while getting quickly distracted by the thought of bacon. Drool pouring out of his mouth in thick ropes, he wipes some of it off and onto one of his subjects-to-be. "Not normal pig that bring own fire," he finally continues. After a moment of furious synaptic effort, an idea springs itself upon him, "DOES PIG MAKE ITSELF INTO BACON?!"
Reta grins when she realizes what Mummy Sprattleharsh means. This easy way to chief. No have to kill anyone, just win title. Reta like. She begins moving among the Birdcrunchers, chatting them up and trying to learn what she can about them... and if possible, about the moot.
Her manner is as one would expect, basically a hard interrogation of her imagined future subjects. "You! Tell me about you. Tell me all you know. What Birdcrunchers like? What tests be in moot? WHY YOU RUN AWAY?"
Poog is shocked to find out that he was actually quite close to being right for a change, "Soo... We all be chief?" He asks, trying to wrap his head around the idea. But how we know who in charge? Unless... Aha! Poog be chief of chiefs! Poog's smile widens and he struts into the cave to enjoy the big fire.
"Not that Poog scared, but how big is ogre?" Poog asks his many new underlings, wondering if Pa Munchmeat would still be hungry even after eating the other three Licktoads. "He bigger than two goblins tall, or maybe..." He starts counting on his fingers, concentrating hard, "Three goblins tall? And where ogre be when he sleep?"
A few of the goblins shrink away at the mention of the fire pigs but one manages to summon up the courage to discuss it with Chuffy. "No no much. Fire pigs breathes fire. Sad no chance ta eat yet...Bacon?! Yessssss mes likey bacon! Pig gud size pig...like size horrid dogs!" it exclaims spitting. "Tell more bout bacon!"
"Ogre? Uh...maybe...uh..." the goblin quickly counts on its hand...but looses count a couple times before shaking it's head. "Maybe three goblin? Or two big headed goblin? Not sure. Not likely live once...err...you be fine. You good chiefy goblin...maybe....or no come back...me sure you win!"
"Mmmmmm.... bacon... is greasy, sizzly, and smell so good! Make Chuffy drool lots. Like to stick pig with knife!" he declares, brandishing his dogslicer. "When Pig not looking, Chuffy real sneaky so pig not know. THEN STABBY!" he screams, thrusting his weapon for emphasis. "Slowly carve off pieces while pig squeals for bacon!"
The mention of bacon perks Mogmurch up and he begins to sniff around in hopes of finding some.
Not finding any, he purses his lips grimly. No chance to burn down own village, and now no bacon. Life could not be any worse! But the realization that the Turdcrunchers are going to send them after the bacon-pigs rouses his interest. How much bacon in one bacon-pig? How I keep Reta from stuffing her giant head with bacon? Hmm, carefully planning needed. Lucky I smart one with nollidge.
Mogmurch's spirits continue to rise as he realizes that as the new emperor-chief, he can do whatever he likes, even order the Turdmunchers to set their own village ablaze!
Bolstered by dreams of bacon and arson, Mogmurch gleefully tackles this new mission. First job: win the moot so my minions have all respect to me. Should be easy cuz I smart and they dum. Better get some inside nollidge...
To the nearest goblin: "Hey, what happen in moot? Only tell me, then later when I emperor-god-king-chief, you be first minion."
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As Chuffy continues to describe the bacon, a thick white bubble slides out of the goblins mouth and slowly descends to the cavern floor. "Yes! And you give piece to goblin friend. Yes! You good Chuffy maybe chiefy!"
As if it suddenly remember the feast, it rushes towards the table and piles a plate high with food. Staring longingly at the plate and back at Chuffy, it frowns and hands the platter to the goblin. "You be good chiefy!" Scurrying back, it helps itself to some of the food.
Considering the inquiry carefully...well as carefully as any goblin considers anything, the creature carefully looks from one side to the other. Squinting it's eyes, as if to think, it quickly glances up and down. Finally, it leans in real close to Mogmurch. "Shhhh you no tell I told. No tell Sweaty Pants tell you. Shhh..... Moot be several challenge. Win bestest...mostest and maybe be chief!"
Glancing up again, it leaps to its feet and scurries away.
The Birdcrunchers seem a buzz of excitement the next morning. Several wear large pumpkins over their heads and chant "Reta Be Bestes!" while others hold makeshift blades and stab at the air. "Chuffy! Chuffy!" Others still jump up and down screaming "Poog bestest chiefy!" A final group toss rotten fruit around screaming "Moggy Murch...MOGGYMURCH!"
Wise Mummy Sprattleharsh has somehow managed to corral the tribe to the outer edges of the first trial, while the four of you stand before it. You are standing in a valley to the south of the tribal cave where you feasted and woke but a few hours before. Stepping forward, the wise goblin blindfolds each of you and hands you bows with three arrows each. The arrows are marked with a colored banner that matches your bows.
Suddenly the sounds of the tribe die down and you hear Sprattleharsh begin to speak. "Maybe chiefies! Yous first trial be simple. Goblin only need mostest points to win. Me be releasin bird gulls. You find an shoot gulls. You each shoot three. Bestest shooty goblin win."
Silence falls over the valley, an electric vibration of anticipation hums in the air...suddenly you hear "SHOOT!" followed by a *thud* as the woman dives to the ground and a *CAW CuckAW* of the terrified birds being released from a cage.
Chuffy
Poog
Mogmurch
Reta
"Ooh, ooh, for sure I know where they are, right there, I can't miss, no chance!"
"Die, gull, die!!!"
Poog sticks his tongue out in concentration, making full use of his one and a half ears to pinpoint his target. However, Mogmurch's excited screaming puts the cleric off. "SSSshhhh! Mogmurch have big mouth, how Poog 'sposed to hear bird if all Poog hear is stupid shouting?" He moans, very tempted to aim his bow in the direction of the alchemist's screams. He decides against it, however, when he remembers how big the ogre is, and how handy Mogmurch's bombs might be. Instead, he trusts in Zarongel and fires in a random direction.
Reta beams when she sees her supporters wearing their pumpkin heads. Of course, Reta head big like pumpkin! Why Reta never think of this? So awesome! She chants back, joining in the support of herself. "Reta be bestest! Reta be bestest!
When she is handed a bow, she immediately places it at the ground by her feet and draws out her own bow instead.
Chuffy does his best to sear the face of the goblin who gave him his own plate of food. Goblin almost as big a fool as Reta-Fat-Head. Will keep as number two when Chuffy Chief. Die first to defend Chief Chuffy form enemies.
The armed goblins please Chuffy to no end. Hoping to incite some sort of a riot and see the weapons used, he jeers at the idiotic pumpkin heads. "Chuffy hate pumpkins! Only good for smashing and stabbing!" he shouts, stabbing the air as though it were filled with delinquent pumpkins. And then all Reta's goblins die! HAHAHAH!
Yet before he can get much further with his plan, a blindfold strips him of his vision. "Chuffy don't like bow! Chuffy sneaky sneak and stab with knife when not looking! Even birds!" When the blindfold isn't removed, he grumbles and does his best to shoot something he can't see. Chuffy kill new Chief first and dumb lady second.
________
You each fire your arrow towards the sounds of the screeching birds. Though your blindfolds prevent you from seeing the results, you hear the tribe call out with each shot.
The goblins stay silent as he looses his arrow. "Ooooo No need eyes!" calls out a goblin from the crowd. A solid *Thunk* reaches your ears, followed by hoots and hollers. "MOGGY MURCH BESTEST!"
Hearing their cries of favor, Poog knows he can do better that the pitiful Mogmurch and fires his bow. A long pause follows....broken by "HA HA HA HA HA! Pooey Poog hit dirt! HA HA HA! Maybe pray more!"
"Wook! She preparedly have own bow! She obvious bestest chiefy!" calls out a pumpkin headed goblin from the crowd. Pleased with her fans, she takes aim at the screeching flock, turns towards Mogmurch, and fires. "She no aim? HA!"
"Chuffy right! Pumpkin head no hit nothing!"
Though annoyed with the blindfold, the goblin confidently takes aim and fires. A solid *Thunk* rings out amidst screams and cries of "See! Chuffy bestest than pumpkin head!"
"No shoot. Me let out other birds." calls the familiar voice of Srattleharsh. Moments later, another cry rings out of panicked birds with the solid *Thud* of a goblin diving for the ground.
Round 2!
Chuffy
Poog
Mogmurch
Reta
"NO! Poog be bestest goblin." Poog screams at the jeering crowd, stamping his feet, "Poog be chosen of Zarongel! Kill dogs with FIRE like chief goblin, not STUPID birds gulls with STUPID bows like weak goblin." At this moment, the only thing stopping Poog from burning the whole flock of birds (and a few jeering goblins) with a fireball is that he wouldn't be able to see the resulting carnage. Instead, he trusts in Zarongel to guide his bow and fires in another random direction.
Chuffy like sound of Chief Chuffy... Maybe Chuffy win moot and be Chief, not kill new Chief and be Chief... Ego swelling, Chuffy puffs out his chest and begins to scream. "CHUFFY! CHUFFY! CHUFFY! CHUFFY! CHUFFY!" Must be what big head feel like...
________
Reta uses her acute powers of echolocation, reading the sound reflections in the air as they bounce off the pumpkin heads of her fans...
...either that or her blindfold has slipped just a tad and she can just barely see over the top with one eye. She takes aim and fires!
Mogmurch would much rather be throwing bombs at these dastardly birds, but the knowledge that both Poog and Reta failed in the first round fills him with sweet satisfaction. Bowing to his many goblin fans among the Wordscrunchers, he once again lifts the bow in the air, straining to feel the force, Luke, feel the force figure out where the darned birds might be...
Poog begins explaining why he is obviously the best, and fails to pinpoint the exact location of the birds. Turning towards the onlookers, he fires his bow. "ACK!" rings out, followed by numberous *Thud* sounds as goblins dive for the dirt.
Chuffy begins chanting his name with pride as he points the arrow at the shrieking birds. As he releases the shaft, a shout of "CHUFFY BESTEST! CHUFFY BE GUD CHIEFY!" causes him to turn just a hair and the arrows soars out over the valley..... "AAAAAAAAWWWW!" rings out.
Certain she has the flock in site, Reta takes aim. Her pride and hopes overpowering...she fails to draw the string back far enough and releases the projectile prematurely. It sails true through the air for a moment, before the onlookers realize it's going to fall short. "OOOOWIE! HEY! Reta Shoot Bird NOT GOBBY!"
"Reta pierce Moggy Lover foot! HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA!"
With a smile, Mogmurch steps forward and releases his shot. With perfection it flies into the air and pierces one of the gulls. A "CAW BUck" calls out with a soft *Thud*. Cheers soon follow.
"You wait now." advices the familiar female voice. Seconds pass and the familiar screams of the birds ring out. *Thud*.
"You shoot. Last cage!"
Chuffy
Poog
Mogmurch
Reta
If there had been anything except a chiefdom at stake, Reta would have been mightily pleased at having pinned one of Mogmurch's supporters to the ground.
But, a chiefdom was at stake! So Reta calms herself, trying to find a zen center from which to release the perfe... angrily draws back and releases her final arrow, barely taking any time to aim.
With cold determination, Chuffy steels himself for the last round. Tribe need to know Chuffy good for Chief too. Winning not important, but Chuffy can't lose or look like bad Chief and not get support when stabby stabby...
Relying on his predator's intuition, he draws the string back and launches another arrow.
________
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Without a single bird, or even a spectator, hit by one of his arrows, Poog is starting to grow desperate. He stands perfectly still, trying his best to burn holes in his blindfold with his eyes, and turning bright red from all the effort. Eventually, he gives up and shoots towards the sound of the nearest rival supporters out of spite.
Mogmurch pulls back the bow string with confidence. Not for nothing has he long considered his erstwhile companions to be, in fact, minions. It is good that finally their status, and his, will be confirmed in the eyes of all goblindom. These Shirtlunchers will be good vassals, I'm sure. What should I wear to my coronation...?
Reta's rage building, her thoughts overwhelming her senses...she finds herself unable to concentrate as she fires off her arrow. It soars high and true...towards the crowd.
"AAAYYIIEEEE!" shrieks a goblin as it narrowly avoids the projectile. "Reta shoot bird! No birdcruncher!"
"HEHEHE Moggy close ta loose gobble support! HE HE!"
Chuffy steps forward. Knowing he needs to do well to win support, even if he looses the moot, he takes aim. 'Birds was o'er dere last? Mean utter side now...right?'
Turning around, he fires his arrow far...far away down the valley. A distant, *clink* can barely be heard as it lands.
"What Chuffy shoot at?"
"Chuffy no shoot bird...no shoot goblin...chuffy shoot rock?"
Turning towards the jeering goblins supporting their victors, Poog sneers. Drawing back the bow, the goblins realize his intent and begin leaping for the dirt. *Thud*Thud*Thud*Thud*
Releasing his arrow, there is the breifest of pauses...before the crowd erupts.
"Poog good shot! Poog bestest shot! Hehe"
"Poog be bestest to shoot ground! HE HE"
"Oh Chiefy Poog saves us from dirt! HAA HE HE"
Mogmurch, feeling confident of his chances, begins to plan for his chiefly acceptance. Fairly certain he knows where the birds went, he closes his eyes...though blindfolded...did it make it easier? Harder? and looses his arrow.
The arrow flies for a long...long while. Before Mogmurch feels it impact the dirt inches from his own toes.
"Ooooooooo" rings out over the crowd, followed by a hushed silence. After what seems like forever...though only a few seconds, another goblin screams "Moggy do it purposeful-like! He know he gud and no want lesser licky toaders ta feel bad!"
"Otay! Otay. Quiets now!" shrieks the wise goblin leader. Each of the contestants feell their blindfolds removed and she collects the bows. "Now Mogmurch lead. BUT Moot no over. Still be time fer others prove more chiefly than Mogmurch."
The onlooking goblins erupt in cheers, calling out their support for the various potential chiefs. Quickly, they are hushed again.
"We go to next contest now." states Sprattleharsh. Leading you all to the west, you find yourselves in a swampy area in a particularly low valley. Fetid water stands around numerous haphazardly arranged wobbly stilts protuding out of the boggy ground. A few of the posts have wooden planks laid across them to create narrow bridges 10 feet off the ground.
Wise Mummy Sprattleharsh walks over to four large pairs of boots and hands you each a pair. "You put these on. You stomp stirge!" she advises, pointing to the insects tied to the posts over the stagnant fluid below. "Bestest goblin be one kill most....OR....only one left. If fall, you lose stirge stomp!"
Reta
Mogmurch
Chuffy
Poog
Stirges
Reta grimaces at Mogmurch's victory. Reta know Moggy never do anything make Reta look good. Never do anything make any goblin look good except him! That bad shot, and Moggy know it too!
She gets a quick jump on the others and uses it to run up the longest plank. She rushes up to the first stirge, and gives it a mighty stomp.