Kagyu acts quickly to display the power of his faith to his new friends and it is quite effective. Two of the skeletons drop to pieces.
The monk navigates the bridge well but misses with his first strike, fortunately Gortrek launches and arrow which neatly ends the remaining skeleton.
[u] Combat Over [/u]
You find very little on the skeletons, the armor is in a bad state and the blades are rusted. One skeleton wears an amulet with a red stone embedded in it.
On the far side of the bridge, a bit past the skeletons, you spot a badly-mauled corpse. It looks like an animal, half-eaten, surrounded by three-toed footprints. A few bugs cling to the carcass but not enough for it to have been here that long.
The footprints appear to lead off to the East while the path you have been told leads to the halfling continues south.
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Losjien is impressed by the display of arms his companions show. As the bones tumble to the ground Losjien rushes across the bridge to the strange mutilated creature. He kneels and tries to get insight into what beast this was and what beast did this...
He looks both ways down the path contemplating which to choose...
This is not a beast you are familiar with it seems Losjien.
With the skeleton threat now dealt with, Miyagi cautiously crossed the rest of the bridge and also inspected the corpse of the dead creature. "Wasteful beast. Leave half of meal behind." He scoffed as he took note of the weird footprints. "Perhaps this is track of rumored 'bog monster'. Even if not, clearly mark of dangerous creature. Question is if we follow or if we continue to halfling."
You cross one final BRIDGE but this one is fortunately sturdy and has the bonus of handrails. The sounds of the swamp continue and Losjien was bitten by another large flying insect that flew off before retribution could be paid.
A muddy trail leads up to a swampy lagoon. The open ocean is visible just beyond these shallow waters, while an old TWO-STORY BUILDING , its walls soggy with moss and its roof sagging with age, sits on the lagoon’s eastern shore. The more observant among you notice that the house, reputed to be the home of a halfling, is built to normal human scale.
A halfling stands as you approach, he has clearly been injured but fits what you would know of WALTHUS PROUDSTUMP.
“Who goes there. Not goblins I can see at least.”
"No, not goblins, friend. Their fireworks earned themselves notice and a bounty. And do you know you have undead roaming nearby? And a three-tier beast on top of that?"
"Greetings, friend." Miyagi said upon his approach of the warden, bowing once he came to a stop before looking around. "Have decent home for swamp dwelling. Must be spacious for halfling."
"Oh, no I will heal on my own." Walthus says with a bit of a chuckle. "Giant snake. Managed to bite me before I stabbed it and it slithered off into the swamp. It was huge! Would've had me for lunch. I'm still feeling a bit under the weather. But you so go on your way."
The marks you can see appear to be a small for what he is describing and more numerous. More wounds from smaller creatures maybe?
Walthus shuffles on his (bare and dirty) feet and says, "The goblins, though, they live in the southeast part of the swamps. Go get them. Leave me to myself. Recently they've really been at it -- whooping and hollering and setting off explosions. I've never seen goblins this fired up. I think they might be getting themselves encouraged enough to attack the town! Sandpoint is probably safe, but there might be some casualties. These goblins sure seem to like fire. I wouldn't be surprised if they sneak in to the town one night and start lighting places up."
Walthus finishes by saying, "Anyway, the old fish trail goes straight to them. If you double back to the coast road, then head further south, you'll be able to find the trail. It's a little overgrown now because people don't use it as much, but the goblins set up their village right at the far end of it."
Something is off in his behavior. It would appear he dosn't really want you to come closer.
Upon hearing the halfling's story, he immediately became skeptical and narrowed his eyes a bit. "Hmm... Expect giant snake to have giant gap in teeth marks. Too many marks... too close together... also seem eager to keep us away. Not hiding something, are you Waltus-san?"
"Well of course. Who else would I be. Run along now, my house is a mess."
With that he starts to hobble back towards the house, looking over his shoulder form time to time muttering to himself, damn snakes.
"Oh the three-toed thing. Probably the creature that lives over to the east. Check that out too."
Sorry Miyagi-san I missed your Sense Motive
Something is clearly amiss. He is lying and does not want you coming closer to his house.
The halfling's response only further reinforced the monk's suspicions. "Goblins are important... but lying halfling lies before us. No doubting that now. Want to look around, but could use help." He spoke before looking to his peers. "Won't take long if we work together. Help old monk indulge curiosity... promise first round on me upon return to Rusty Dragon."
"Agreed, Miyagi-san. The goblins aren't going anywhere, but whatever this halfling is hiding may not be here when we return."
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Gortrek cocked an eyebrow. "He's lying? What about?"
He shook his head. "Though regardless, I don't think the goblin's aren't 'going anywhere'. They're armed with explosives, and exceedingly rowdy. We were sent here because they are a threat. You're asking us to ignore a known threat for an unknown hiccup."
He closed his eyes as if in thought, crossing his arms before himself. "Men have thousands of reasons to lie. That doesn't make him a criminal or a threat. But if you're gonna push this, I won't stop you. But don't expect me to partake unless there's an active threat. And I ask that you make it quick before the known threat gets worse."
"Only push for little bit, Gortrek-san. Have feeling more going on than what we first see." He replied as he let Waltus walk a bit away. With the halfing's back turned to him, Miyagi pulled out a flask of water, popped the cork and took a big swig, even letting some dribble down the sides of his mouth just to empty it more. Once he swallowed his drink, he wiped him mouth dry, called to the halfing, and approached him from behind. "Waltus-san. Sorry to trouble further, but could use drinking water for swamp trek. Can't imagine swamp water good for digestion."
The halfing stops. "Water? I.. why cant you leave me alone."
The halfling lashes out at Miyagi-san as his shape changes, losing form becoming a wrinkled, hunch-backed humanoid creature with mottled brown-and-red flesh and a spherical head with no true face—only a crooked slit from which a rasp like tongue periodically lashes and licks.
"First the little blighter and his snakes and now you fools."
Bold may act
Losjien, Gortrek, Kagyu, Miyagi
Creature
Kagyu nods to Losjien in thanks and dashses up to Gortrek and Miyagi while drawing his needle.
"What are we even fighting about, Walthus? Can't we talk about this !?"
Recoiling from the slam, the samsaran coughs up a bit of blood. Now, he was mad. No one gets the drop on the monk and gets away with it. Now was the time to channel his wrath upon this thing and repay blood with blood. "KONOYARO!" He shouted in Tian at the top of his lungs as he tried to strike the monster with his fists before stepping by his bulkier friend.
Losjen and Gortrek ready their weapons in preparation for battle.
The cleric closes the distance trying to talk the creature out of the fight but it does not seem willing.
Miyagi-san, having been hit pretty hard misses with both of his strikes.
The creature takes a step back so as not to be surrounded "This is my home now, no more halfling, I will kill you." The creature attempts to strike the half-orc, its skin still shifting slightly as it moves.
Bold may act.
Losjien, Gortrek, Kagyu, Miyagi
Creature
Kagyu steps in close following the monster.
"What do you mean 'no more halfling'? Where is he!? "
Kagyu punctuates his question with a jab from his needle.
With his orcish friend now distracting the creature, he took a quick breath before rejoining the fight with the thing. He could tell that thing was going to keep running. So there was one thing that was going to keep it steady. Gathering quickly gathering his strength, Miyagi threw his might into his next punches as he aimed to try and knock the wind out of him.
Slashed, punctured and finally beaten about the face the creature collapses to the ground dieing from the abrupt beating it received.
The area is quiet except for a few bugs still making noise outside the general area of the hut.
From inside the hut you hear a weak voice. None of you can make out exactly what is being said but it is unmistakably a voice in need of help.
As the party listens the door to the hut opens and a halfling, bound hand and foot as well as gagged hops twice and then crashes to the ground. You can see he is bleeding from several locations. This is Walthus Proudstump .
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As the creature fell, Gortek waited a moment before lowering his guard. He reached into his back, pulled out a small cloth, and wiped the blade clean before placing it back in its sheathe.
"It would appear this creature's lies are not as small as its form. This brings into question the directions we were given. I believe the best course of action is to check the house for a more... Reliable guide."
As the door opened, Gortek instinctively placed his hand back on his weapon. Unwilling to take second chances, he called. "Who goes there?"
Making sure Proudstump and Miyagi are in range, Kagyu channels the divinity of Shelyn for the second time that day.
"I'm glad you're ok. " Kagyu says, and gives Losjien and Proudstump some space.
With the creature now dead at his feat, the monk grunts and gives the corpse one last kick to make sure it is down. With the death confirmed, he coughed a bit and looked himself over to asses his injuries. 'Not as bad as first suspected, but still bad. Just glad this thing didn't get a hold of me.'
"It would appear this creature's lies are not as small as its form. This brings into question the directions we were given. I believe the best course of action is to check the house for a more... Reliable guide."
"Agreed. Lie to us once already. Could've lied to us again." Before he could say much more, a new, yet familiar face hopped out, bound and gagged with rope and covered in injuries.
As the door opened, Gortek instinctively placed his hand back on his weapon. Unwilling to take second chances, he called. "Who goes there?"
"Easy, friend. Really that worried about someone bound and gagged halfling?"
"Proudstump! Quick someone, he needs some aide! Miyagi, I woud have walked right away from that beast. Good show!"
"Glad to know my pain was worth some enlightenment." He joked, chuckling a bit before groaning from the pain of combat.
Making sure Proudstump and Miyagi are in range, Kagyu channels the divinity of Shelyn for the second time that day.
"I'm glad you're ok. " Kagyu says, and gives Losjien and Proudstump some space.
Feeling the flash of invigorating energy, he found it easier to breathe. Sure, he was still sore, but he was still better than when he was sneak attacked.
"My thanks, Kagyu-san." He says, taking a stand beside him as he keeps an eye on Proudstump.
"By the gods, you've saved my life!" says the halfling. "It's over. It's over. I'm safe. It's over."
While speaking the halfling rises to a sitting position, as he clutches his knees and rocks back and forth.
After a few awkward seconds he draws a long, shuddering breath and regains his composure.
"Travelers, that thing broke into my house and tried to kill me! I fended it off as long as I could but it hurt me badly and tied me up. I can't thank you enough for what you've done."
Standing slowly, still shaky
"Where are my manors? I am Walthus Proudstump and this is my home though I suppose the monster probably said the same thing!"
He looks around again for a moment relief plainly on his face.
"This is [u] my [/u] home. Please, make yourselves comfortable. I'm sorry don't have much in the way of amenities, but after saving me from that creature, whatever meager hospitality I can provide is yours."
Walthus takes another shuddering breath and you realize that he's still pretty badly beaten up and shaken.
"Oh! One important thing. I have several pet snakes; I keep them out in the back garden. Usually they just hide in the bushes, but just keep an eye out and don't stab them, please!"
"Other than that, I'll uh . . . I'll put on some tea in a moment when I've caught my breath."
"Thank you for your offer. I am Kagyu Mamoru. Let me see if Shelyn can do a little more to heal your physical injuries."
Once more Kagyu casually presents his shield and mumbles to himself releasing a burst of vitality.
"We were lucky to find you when we did. We were actually looking for the goblins that have been been causing problems here again. Have heard or seen anything of them lately?"
"Thank you again. I feel pretty good, it is much appreciated. Goblins? Yeah they have been about. The snakes have kept them out of here for the most part but they have captured an abandoned village, south and a bit east of here."
He pauses, stretching a little.
"God's that does feel better. Let me get you something that may help you." He digs into a chest just inside the door and comes out with a cloak, dark green on one side and brown on the other.
"I picked this up during some of my adventures on the way up here," Walthus says. "I've been meaning to hem it, it's nice and warm and the warding glyphs on it are supposed to protect against hostile magic and misfortune. I don't plan on getting into any more adventures any time soon, so it would be a pleasure to me if you folks would have it." He practically shoves the cloak into Kagyu's hands in thanks for the healing.
With a sigh he looks around. "So tea? Anything else I can help you with, not man folks come out this way which usually is a selling point for me but I am glad you did."
Kagyu is taken by surprise by such generosity.
"It is a thing of beauty indeed. Both the gift and the offer itself. Thank you Walthus. While I would love to stay for tea, I think that our friend Gortrek here is anxious to be after the goblin menace. Is there anything else we can do for you?
With another burst of energy from the cleric, Miyagi felt himself revitalize further, to the point where even his aches and pains had dulled. 'Happy to be around Kagyu. Will need to thank him somehow'
The offer of tea was nice, but he knew they had a job to do. Still, he knew of a way for the halfling to help them out. "Perhaps when you catch breath, you can show us where to look." He replied as he got the map the sheriff gave them and held it out for the halfling. "Maybe also tell us of other threats in this swamp, such as rumored bog monster.
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Gortrek grunted. "I am not merely anxious. I simply don't wish to be distracted from our reason to be here."
"Given that your snakes have had encounters with the goblins, I feel it's only fair to let you know; the goblins have come into possession of explosives, and I find it likely that you and your snakes will be on their target list. As such, we would request you give us any information you can, for your sake as well as ours."
""Maybe also tell us of other threats in this swamp, such as rumored bog monster."
"You mean the Soggy River Monster. No idea what he is, my guess is he lives over to the east of here so I just don't go that way. Palid complexion about the size of a man but he is hunched over, if straightened probably eight foot tall from what I hear. His tracks have three toes."
"Given that your snakes have had encounters with the goblins, I feel it's only fair to let you know; the goblins have come into possession of explosives, and I find it likely that you and your snakes will be on their target list. As such, we would request you give us any information you can, for your sake as well as ours."
"Well I do not have much more then I told you. They are off to the south east a but, took over an abandoned town or outpost or something. I have peeked a bit but it is hard to tell how many there are, more then ten."
He looks at the partial map you were given and indicates that they are in the area of square U and Y. The monster he thinks is around N or R.
"I have also hear a rumor of some undead about. Skeletons and worse in Tian insipred armor. I think there may be a connection to the goblins being more active."