Nicat's uncomfortable posture relaxes visibly as Desna's healing energy flows into him and he takes his hand away from his side with a smile, saying "Oh, that feels a lot better." He stretches his arms up over his head and winces a bit, pulling his right arm down quickly, "Ooh! That still hurts a bit. But I'll be all right."
Turning to the conversation with Walthus, he says "I sure hope you can point us to some goblins. After the beating that thing gave me, I'm ready to try again at hitting something - and I'm sure Desna will guide my blades more surely next time."
Zeema grabs Nicat's shoulder. "Here, that should take care of most of it." The white energy that was swirling around her hand dissipates into Nicat's wounds. She then awaits Walthus's response.
Sunny has no healing skills...though she does offer consoling hugs for people's ills, ails and wounds. (^_^)
"No, no, take it. A life saved is worth far more than this cloak. But I actually have no idea what that was, some kind shapechanger I believe. It seems he mostly wanted the house to life in."
He looks a lot better after you treated his wounds.
"Goblins? You mean the Licktoads? They have their village near the old fishing trail, you can't really miss it. So far they always were somewhat peace full, leading to a kind of live and let live situation. Far to cowardly to attack anyone, those little buggers. Only since they found that damned firework are they getting to brave for their own good."
"Hmm, that isn't too far from here. I wonder when we inevitably enter a fight with them if disabling any goblin that has fireworks would cause the others to lose some of their nerve? Either way I would guess that the fireworks might be the most dangerous things they have." Cerana gives another bow.
"Thank you for the information Walthus"
Quietly listening to Warden Proudstumps directions Hideo gives a smile of thanks and claps the elderly halfling on the shoulder. Hey! Thanks Warden, we will swing back by after we take care of the licktoads, I figure you would want to know about it... Ugh, oh yea! I don't suppose you know where the goblins got fireworks do you? After respectfully listening to the responses from Walthus, Hideo withdraws with thanks, heading out the door after Cerana.
"No, I sadly don't. But it seems they started to build more themself, although it's far weaker than what they found."
"Thank you, Zeema. I'm good as new now!" Nicat jumps to his feet, gives his arms an experimental windmilling swing and smiles.
"That's mighty nice of you to reward us, Walthus. I'm sure someone in our group would benefit from your cloak. I don't need it, you see, as I walk in the favor of Desna. But the information about the goblins will sure come in handy. Let's get going, crew!"
Hm, we should try to find out, where this firework came from. Maybe the swamp witch knows it.
Sunny goes about helping clean up the place. Helping sweep up the flour, the blood stains and dragging the...body...outside.
"Here? Where shoulds we start diggin' a hole?"
Not having realized that the body of her kill would need to be disposed of, Zeema is curious as well. Yes, what should we do with it?"
In response to Gromsch: "Yes, and perhaps she may be able to explain the origins of this aberrant being as well?"
After you buried the body in some (not that small) distance to Walthus house, you start moving towards the goblin village.
While the old fish trail is a lot less well used than the new one, you still manage to find your way without problem.
After a good half hour you see a crude wooden palisade in the distance, the ramshackled fortifications of the licktoad village.
While you wouldn't expect goblins to have anything fancy, this is also not what you expected.
While most of it is still in somewhat good, although rotten shape, the area around where you the gate was is broken down with splintered pieces of wood strewn wide about. You can't help but manage the faint smell of burned flesh in the air, as well as a small stack of very old bones with new fractures and scorch marks slightly outside the village.
Nothing seems to move inside the palisades.
Zeema walks with her scythe in hand as she had before, her quarterstaff once more on her back. Seeing the state of things, Zeema can't help but think that there might be more than just Goblins afoot. She centers herself and attempts to see if she can sense anything otherworldly around them, vigilantly maintaining her extrasensory ability while the group cautiously moves into the Goblin camp.
You detect no otherwordly presence.
What happened here... Hideo wispers, gazing over the destroyed gate and the wreckage of the village beyond. The silence is unnerving and Hideo slowly eases his way past the bone piles, leading the group deeper into the village. It... It looks like they were already attacked, but by who? And you all smell that? Smoke, something was lit on fire. This is not right. Shalelu told me a little about the Licktoads once. They like fire, but this wasn't an accident. Everyone be on your guard. Hand slightly shaking Hideo takes a deep calming breath before he eases his fathers katana reverently from the scabbard. Feeling the tightly wound silk that grips the hilt, the young samuari is reminded of why he is here. Right, I'll take point. Hideo utters as he grips the blade with both hands and slowly moves into the village.
Nicat looks at the wrecked goblin-town in surprise, and says "Wow, looks like someone took care of the beasties for us. I almost feel sorry for them."
He reaches to his shoulder and draws his shortswords, telling Hideo "I got your back. If we get into a fight, I'll try to get around and flank 'em."
Nodding to Nicat, Hideo feels some of the anxiety start to drain out of him. Yea, that will work buddy. It will be just like the time me, you and Sandru stumbled into that stirge nest. Laughing to himself at the memory of Sandru half drunk swinging a torch around at giant bugs while cursing in varsian brings a smile to Hideos face. The anxiety behind him Hideo begins to step foward with more confidence. Whatever was here, at least Hideo would face it with his friend.
Nicat both laughs and grimaces at the funny, somewhat painful memory, "Desna's Dice, I hate stirges! Let's try not to stumble into anything if we can avoid it."
The chummy nature of Nicat and Hideo affects Zeema deeply. These people know each other that well? They've fought together before? I... I knew I was the odd one out, but not to this extent.
The loneliness of the past few years dawns on her. Living off the land, not seeing other people for days or weeks at a time... The fact that hardly anyone recognized her when she went into town despite all her years of living around Sandpoint? The Kaijutsu siblings even knew Warden Proudstump, a hermit! But not her.
She becomes frustrated with her lack of success with detection, and decides to try a different approach. Ceasing to concentrate on her ability, she instead mutters a few words in Druidic while making sweeping motions with her arms.
Well, if there's fire there might be magic... she reasons.
The small gnome takes up her crossbow as soon as they depart from Waltus' (after a semi-lecture to the halfbling about staying out of the swamp until his wounds heal.) At seeing some devastation her alertness peaks up.
Noticing nothing of importance ahead the gnome looks to Zeema who seems withdrawn and flashes the woman a smile and puts a friendly hand on her leg. She whispers, "Worry not, Desna will provide."
Current AC: 21 (19 Flat-footed / 13 Touch)
Current HP: 18 / 18 remaining
Current Weapon in Hand: morningstar +2 (1d6/x2) and shield
Spells (0-level, DC 13, at will) Create Water, Detect Magic, Spark, Guidance;
(1st level, DC 14) Bless©, bless, bless, longstrider(d)
Channel Energy (1d6, DC 14) 6 of 6 uses remaining
Bit of Luck (Sp) 6 of 6 uses remaining (Any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favorable result) (6/day)
Agile Feet (Su) 6 of 6 uses remaining (ignore all difficult terrain for 1 round) (6/day)
Gorag walks near Zeema.
When these two are an well-rehearsed fighting team, we two should probably try to work together too.
After some consideration you start moving deeper into the village.
Inside you see 6 small huts build on stilts as well as two bigger ones, one of which looks like a storage. You also find the burned down remains of a sevenths small hut and a big pig pit in which you identify the cremated remains of a good dozen goblins as the source of the ungodly smell.
Leaning in close, Hideo lowers his voice but continues to advance into the village at his normal pace. We aren't alone. I see movement in the huts. Whatever is in there must know we are here. If we are attacked try to protect Aloria as much as possible. Then in a much more normal volume Hideo begins to speak as if he never uttered the whispered information. It looks like that hut over there wasn't burned recently. Shrugging Hideo continues upto the pit and then draws short before backing away from the horrendous smell. That... I... I never heard of goblins doing that! They love their fire, but that's going overboard. Vile little beasts! Keeping his sword at the ready Hideo motions to the largest hut. Goblins are all about the strongest one gets the shiniest things. Gold to coppers that the chief lives in the biggest hut, if there's going to be of them left here it will be there. Lets move.
"Um...guys? Maybe we should, y'know, slow down jus' a tad...?" Sunny cautions, even as she glances around at the ramshackle huts. Though she stops and peers inquisitively at the burned hut...then looks back at the skeletons.
"Here? Are Gobbies rilly that big?" She asks, pointing out the size of the skeletons...
Cerana nods, silently keeps to herself as she creeps behind the rest of the party. Crossbow at the ready and spell in mind. She hasn't noticed anything inside the huts but trusts Hideo when he says there are goblins there.
I doubt there will be a way out of this other than killing things, I hope that this doesn't become too bloody.
Cerana tries to move as quiet as she can as she approaches the largest hut with the rest of her group.
Nicat follows close behind his Tian friend, whispering "I didn't see anything move, Hideo, but I'll take your word for it. Probably wasn't stirges that did this, eh? I agree, let's head to the big hut."
Turning over his shoulder to his companions behind him, Nicat whispers "Anything any of you magic types can do to figure out what's out there, or make us better prepared to fight them? Can anyone turn me into a dragon? Or ask Desna for a little help?"
Cerana shakes her head. "I can see if there is magic about once we get a bit closer." Cerana casts detect magic per-emptively and will cast it again closer to the hut concentrating if she finds anything to focus on.
"I will help you for the fight, though I will control the enemies movements rather that aid you directly. Think of it as helping by making the target easier to stab. However before I forget..." Cerana also casts mage armour.
Sunny scampers up to join in the 'Fighter' line. Loosening the long, slender Elven blade across her back.
"I still think we should be slowin' down an' lookin' abouts more..." She whispers.
"Who were it whut attacked teh Gobbies...?" She asks, looking about for more clues.
You make your way to the big hut only to find its big double door barricaded from inside.
"Here? Any one bothered ta learn speakin' Gobbie? I in't never felt the need afore now...." Sunny looks at her companions,
"I mean, I learned a little of whut folks speak down in'a islands...waaay South where all'a Pirates live...But that in't rilly Gobbie speakin'..." She adds.
Nicat looks at the barricaded door and says "You guys heard something in there, huh? Sounds like goblins? Well, they're not much threat to us if they're hiding in there. I say we leave 'em be for now, and see what's hiding in the other huts, and likely watching us. I sure don't want to bash down this door and be fighting goblins with one hand and even uglier nasties with the other."
Turning to Hideo he says, "Where did you see the movement? Any particular hut we should start with?"
"I speak goblin, let's see if I can gleam something" Cerana says whispering.
"They're talking about the 'deads' returning... wait.. deads? I'm guessing the mean Undead things. Now that's a problem if that's true. One of them is worried if that'll spell their doom? Maybe some undead killed some of the goblins already?"
I don't want to be fighting the dead and goblins at the same time. One of those is more than enough of a problem.
Aloria looks to Hideo, her brow raises in question as he whispers to the others, "Protect Aloria? I may be small, but I am no child 'young' Kaijitsu." She could say more but this was not the place or time. She scowled and peered about, but got nothing as her thoughts keep her distracted.
As Cerana comments Aloria says in a whispered tone, "Perhaps we should try to talk to them then, find out what really happened. They seem scared of us. This could be the right time to make a deal with them."
Current AC: 21 (19 Flat-footed / 13 Touch)
Current HP: 18 / 18 remaining
Current Weapon in Hand: morningstar +2 (1d6/x2) and shield
Spells (0-level, DC 13, at will) Create Water, Detect Magic, Spark, Guidance;
(1st level, DC 14) Bless©, bless, bless, longstrider(d)
Channel Energy (1d6, DC 14) 6 of 6 uses remaining
Bit of Luck (Sp) 6 of 6 uses remaining (Any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favorable result) (6/day)
Agile Feet (Su) 6 of 6 uses remaining (ignore all difficult terrain for 1 round) (6/day)
It has nothing to do with you being small! Hideo snaps, showing a bit of reserved anger. If one of us takes a spear to the guts, it's going to be you that can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why I said to protect you. Frustrated at the turn of events Hideo stalks forward towards the larger hut looking for something to take his anger out on. As Hideo begins to step up to the Huts door he glances back, worry visible on his face. They said they were attacked by Undead? peering nervously around, and then looking back to the piles of bones outside the gate Hideo gulps. All the more reason to deal with the mongrels quickly.
"I can sense undead if I concentrate on it. Was doing it earlier too and there were no signs of any that were still active."
Sunny frowns, "Um...but there's not been talk of undead-ies about tha place afore...." She points out.
"What if somthin'...unatural...be happenin' out in'a swamp?" She looks nervously out behind the party, back towards the broken gates and the rustling bushes beyond.
"We needs ta know whut happened here. Talkin' ta dead Gobbies be of not much use..." She points out, looking to .
"You puttin' yer learnin' ta good use would be right handy." And she moves over to stand besides the other Elf. (^_^)
You still don't see any signs of undead or magic.
"I can speak goblin, doesn't mean I'm good at any form of diplomacy!" Cerana takes a deep breath in. "I can give it a go if you like though we'll lose the element of surprise if we don't just attack, so .. we sure about asking them?"
While she waits for an answer Cerana thinks about what has happened in the swamp over the years and what that might mean for the swamp now.
Aloria nods to Hideo, "Very well. But know that I am not that fragile."
She smiles up at Cerana, "Well then. Aren't you glade I am here. I can do both!" She looks about to the others, "If that is the plan. Talk to the goblins that might be left and letting them move on from the swamp for information?"
As Hideo reaches the door to the largest hut, he whispers toward their elven companion. I thought every elf despised goblins. They are a blight on nature and civilization. I know Shalelu hate them. And if I'm being honest, well so do I. Shaking his head in confusion he continues. Cerana, you don't need to worry much about diplomacy when it comes to goblins. Just poke them a bit when a sharp stick and they will talk. They are cowards the lot of them. But I'm not willing to let them go. They attacked Sandpoint! No matter how pathetic the attack, it was still an attack. If you want to interrogate one, then fine. But I'm not allowing even one to go free. Besides, you have lived in Sandpoint for years. You must remember when the horde of goblins attacked us shortly after the dedication of the Sandpoint Cathedral. They can't be trusted. No, what we need to do is give a strong show of strength. Once the Licktoads are wiped out, the rest of the tribes will give the "long-shanks" a wide berth... at least for a few years. Finally at the door, Hideo raises his boot and prepares to gives the door a sharp kick.
Nicat walks hurriedly after Hideo, saying "Hey, calm down for a second! Just 'cuz you and Aloria had a misunderstanding is no reason to open that door and put us between two enemies..."
Nicat is interrupted by Hideo kicking at the door, and he says quickly "Okay, looks like we're gonna do just that. But let's do as you say and scare 'em good, instead of just trying to kill them. Maybe they can tell us about the other baddies here in the village before we have to fight them too."
As Hideo works on the door, Nicat grips his swords tightly and keeps a watchful eye on the other huts.
Let me do this. I know how to frighten these little bastards.
Gorag drinks 2 potions from his belt pouch.
After the first, his muscles bulge and his nails and tusks extend. The second let's him grow to almost double his old size.
With a now very deep voice he says aloud:
Open the door, or I will tear open the roof to this fiddling hut and I will pick you out of it one after another.
Gorag begins to shake the roof construction.
As Hideo's foot is raised, alarm bells start going off in Zeema's head. Her mind starts racing, causing her to verbalize the thoughts that she would usually keep to herself: "Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait! Zeema whispers hurriedly. "We should think about this! If there are other enemies than the ones in this building, we should take care of them first so we don't get overrun from both sides. If what Cerana is saying is true about them anticipating an undead attack, they'll most likely stay inside behind their fortifications. We should sweep the camp and smaller huts for other Goblins first, take care of them in what fashion we can, and then attack the big hut."
Open the door, or I will tear open the roof to this fiddling hut and I will pick you out of it one after another.Gorag begins to shake the roof construction.
Well that escalated quickly... Zeema thought, as her words leave her mouth just a little bit too late. She holds her scythe at the ready, anticipating attack at any moment from any direction. I hope we don't get surrounded here!
"So... the defenseless, women, and children goblins are fair game as well Hideo? Could you bring yourself to kill a child? Even the mayor in Sandpoint mentioned that normally the goblins are pretty quiet... give em a chance to move off, away from the city. If they want a fight I am sure you can still stick yourself three or four of em if they give you any trouble," she says not happy about the young land wanting to kill those that cannot defend themselves. She looks up at the young man and hopes he chances his mind... or there is going to be some very awkward moments...
She cracks a smile thinking, "I am defending freaking goblins! Goblins!" She looks hevenward and mutters to herself, "Thank you Desna, you test your servants well."
She then looks to Gorag and groans, "From the frying pan to the oven..." She looks up at the now enlarged Aasimar.
Current AC: 21 (19 Flat-footed / 13 Touch)
Current HP: 18 / 18 remaining
Current Weapon in Hand: morningstar +2 (1d6/x2) and shield
Spells (0-level, DC 13, at will) Create Water, Detect Magic, Spark, Guidance;
(1st level, DC 14) Bless©, bless, bless, longstrider(d)
Channel Energy (1d6, DC 14) 6 of 6 uses remaining
Bit of Luck (Sp) 6 of 6 uses remaining (Any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favorable result) (6/day)
Agile Feet (Su) 6 of 6 uses remaining (ignore all difficult terrain for 1 round) (6/day)