Sheepishly "So what exactly is a 'goblin' and what does it look like?"
Corvus looks at Jean – amazed that he could consider goblins mythical. ”What are they like? I use to remember Ameiko telling me about the ten facts about goblins, but that was when I was a girl.” Her hand absent-mindedly goes up to touch the scar above her eye.
”What’s to tell? They’re nasty, nasty creatures. They’re little for a start and they’ve got big heads, a bit like humans but with far too many teeth.” Her hands are gesticulating wildly to demonstrate their height and the size of their heads – and her fingers illustrate their pointy teeth. ” And they love junk. And they hate dogs and horses too. Oh, and they love fire – but not as much as they like setting fire to things. And they eat non-stop, and I mean non-stop. ” She pauses for breath. ”Does that give you an idea?”
Then as an afterthought, ”What’s the Kraken?”
Toshiro continues walking forward, smiling at Corvus' question, but a hint of sadness in his face.
"No need to be embarassed, I am okay with speaking openly about such things. When the goblins attacked the town, back when the Heroes of Sandpoint arose, I helped around where I could. However, I was so caught up in my training and pursuit of Irori's teachings that I was oblivious to how badly the town needed help. When the 'Heroes of Sandpoint' arose to defend our town, I continued training, hoping Irori would enlighten me and bring the physical perfection I felt was necessary to defeat the evil in our town."
His gaze shifts from the canopy of the trees to the ground at his feet.
"The night that Ameiko's father, Lonjiku, met his end... He came to me earlier that day. He sensed that bad things were happening. We were old friends, you know, and even though we didn't see eye-to-eye in many ways, I respected him. We saved each other's hides on multiple occasions, back in our more foolish and reckless days. Anyway, he came to me and asked me to watch over Ameiko, should anything happen to him. I laughed at him and said he was being too paranoid..."
As he talks, his walking pace gradually slows further and further. After a moment, Toshiro realizes what he is doing and coughs, shaking his head with an embarassed look.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on like that. Anyway, yes, I have fought a handful of goblins in my time. If you're alert, they aren't too much of a hassle. But the fiends have a habit of sneaking up on you when you don't expect it. I recommend leaving your guard up at all times when goblins are suspected."
Toshiro continues to look carefully along the ground, searching for tracks that belong to goblins or other creatures, while (hopefully) heading in the correct direction that the Warden lives.
Mukluk actively listens to Treygan, punctuating the story with some 'oh yeahs', 'good call', and 'definitely'.
"So, you one of them Dawnflower followers, eh? I ain't seen too many of them up here in the north, mostly they stay where the sun comes out every day. See? They love to bake their brains in the sun and the desert is a perfect place for that...blahblahblah...once saw a gnome of Sarenrae, crazy fellow...blahblahblah...too many hits to his head during a gnoll raid...blahblahblah...naked and screaming about putting the sun where it shouldn't shine...blahblahblah...and that's why I don't sleep well around gnomes," Mukluk finishes, looking pleased at his story.
"Say, what was the question again?" Mukluk asks Treygan.
Time seems to pass by quicker once you start conversing with your fellow adventurers. The swamp gets more murky and mucky as you venture forth into it and you start hearing all sorts of sounds coming from its denizens. Before you know it, the outline of a small hut silhouettes itself against the vestige of the swamp. The hut is small and seems to be falling apart at its seams - siding is next to nonexistent and tiles on the roof have fallen off and now lay scattered in a pile next to front door as if someone took care to sweep them out of the way. Smoke is visible in the chimney signifying that someone also took care to light a fire and the smell of some type of meat pleases the nose of those running on empty stomachs. The mosquitos now have gotten quite the number to them now and none of you have escaped their ire. Walthus' hut, however, seems to be as good a place as any to start.
Toshiro crouches low while he walks, while also waiving his arms about his head in a rhythmic fashion.
"If you stay low and move your arms about enough, the mosquitos will have a hard time attaching themselves to you. You all should try it, it's very helpful. You wouldn't want to catch any sort of disease out here on your first day of goblin hunting, would you?"
Perception
Mukluk continues his chatter with Treygan.
"...I then I says to that Sarenrae gnome, I says "Why are you carrying that donkey?"...blahblahblah...gnome confused and sunburned...blahblahblah...said "Bugbears are coming...you said we have to haul ass!"...blahblahblah...idiot gnome...blahblahblah...so dumped him...blahblahblah...two paddles and the kobold. Aw, those were good days, I tell ya. Hawhawhaw!"
Mukluk looks around.
"What were we talking about, Treygan?"
Perception
"A Kraken is a beast larger than a triple mast, with more tentacles than your goblins have teeth, kept in check by Besmara's will. When released, it will shatter a hull and drag a person into the depths....the lucky ones drown..." Jean's voice trails off as he gets lost in his thoughts...
György chuckles, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't seem to have the knack of Toshiro's method yet. Good thing these aren't as big as those stirges that nearly carried you off last time we were together, eh Mukluk? Looks like the warden is in. Shall we see about getting away from the bugs?"
Corvus listens to Toshiro and as his story unfolds, she's amazed to find his motives for coming along are so similar to her own. She's not yet willing to share that piece of information but - on the plus side - it makes her feel a little more confident that she's made the right decision in joining the party.
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Corvus is amazed by Jean's description of what can only be a sea creature. Goblins must seem easy by comparison, but then that's only by comparison. "Have you ever seen one?"
Treygan listens to Mukluk's tale of the gnome, laughing as he goes. To Mukluk's question, "Was curious about you. Where you've been, places you've gone. How did the two of us wind up heading down this road?"
Treygan does his best to imitate Toshiro's movements, his arms scraping against his armor noisily. "Hmm, seems a good way to attract the local creatures. Or at least let them know we're coming. I'll try to practice without the metal on metal sound."
"Yes, I agree. These ancient bug-thwarting maneuvers will only help for so long. Shleter is a good idea."
Toshiro will push forward towards the Warden's house with the rest of the party.
Crackers as big as a ship's mast? Gunna need a lot of cheese to eat that. Mukluk thinks, mishearing over his own words. His confused reverie is interrupted by the 'biting' stirge comment from Gyorgy.
"Ah, c'mon, Gyorgy. You *knew* we were going the wrong way and you said nothing. You let me walk into that nest and didn't do nothing about it." Mukluk rubs the back of his neck, remembering an old wound. "They sucked me dry, almost. I was passed out for most of our trip though Andoran,' Mukluk grumbles.
"And it probably wouldn't have been so bad if you hadn't asked me to hold your blood sausage. I thought you were being nice. Hawhawhaw. I did get you back, remember? You remember that, Gyorgy? HawhawHAW." A smile returns to Mukluk's face, twisting into a grin.
"But yeah, we should get in there, huh? After you..." Mukluk allows others to go first.
"Oh, I remember. But, that tale will have to wait for dinner." György turns to the hut and drawing himself up to his full height and projecting his voice calls out, "Warden, we have come from Sandpoint to visit. Are you at home!"
Corvus follows György Into the home, relieved to get away from the insects and the tedium of the swamp.
Jean also wanders towards the hut, forgetting to duck at the door while he is busy scanning the area for these ferocious goblins that Corvus described. Perception
*thunk* Oww... as Jean rubs his forehead, ducking inside.
You've made your way down the trail and it's obvious that it's incredibly well-traveled, making the journey relatively easy-going. After only a few minutes of walking, you left the open fields of the Ashen Moor and entered the marsh.
The difference is instantaneously noticeable. The entire Marsh is fantastically overgrown with vegetation – a tangle of nettles, reeds, and other swamp plants often supplemented by larger vegetation – cypress, eucalyptus, oak, and willow trees mostly. The swamp is a spooky and oppressive place. You walk through frequent patches of fog, and animal calls that might be soothing elsewhere take on a strange, almost menacing tone in the dripping wetland. Those of you on the alert are frequently faced with sudden movement in the underbrush or in the tree canopy above. Sometimes you hear the splashing of something large wading through the swamp just out of sight, or eerie low growls and bellows from deeper in the swamp.
Given the frequent stretches of muddy bogs and snaking waterways, moving through the marsh is a tiring and frustrating procedure.
The larger waterways along the trail, which otherwise would require swimming, have bridges built across them. These bridges tend to be soggy wooden affairs with mossy surfaces and a few missing planks. Although they look treacherous, they seem to hold your weight and are safe to cross.
After an exhausting, but otherwise uneventful slog that crosses three of the bridges and uncountable small creeks and vast patches of mud – mud that seems determined to coat your clothes and seep inside them whenever possible – the soggy trail winds its way up to a swampy lagoon. The open ocean is visible just beyond these shallow waters, while the old two-story building, its walls covered with moss and its roof sagging with age, sits on the lagoon’s eastern shore. Based on what you know, it seems near certain that this is the dwelling of Walthus Proudstump, the self-appointed “swamp warden.”
As Gyorgy calls out, no answer comes for some time. Calling out again proves fruitless as well leading you to wonder if perhaps no one is home. As Corvus and Jean approach, however, they hear some scuffling from the other side of the door and it opens just wide enough for a Halfling to warily pop his head out.
"… Hello?” he says, more of a question than a greeting.
Dark circles of fatigue are plainly visible under the Halfling’s eyes, and he holds himself as if he is in some amount of pain.
You notice amidst the heavy vegetation of the swamp, the form of something lurking in the shadows. When you go for a closer look, however, the figure is gone. As you make your way closer to Walthus' home, your eye glints something just off the road.
Upon closer inspection, the disturbing atmosphere of the marsh is not made better by your finding of the fresh corpse of a strangely mutilated deer, its head missing and deep scratches across the flanks. Next to the body is a soggy three-toed footprint, slowly filling with water as if whatever made the print only recently passed by.
Corvus notices the pained expression and the heavy eyes plus the lack of enthusiasm in letting them in. 'These reclusive types live away from people for a reason - they don't like people! I need to sit down and get away from these insects, regardless of the fact we need his knowledge of the swamp. I think a bit of sweet-talking is required.' she mused.
Corvus smiled her sweetest simle. The sort of smile that got her a tip from even the most miserly patron at the inn. "Hello swamp warden. May we please come in? These insects that share your lovely home have taken a shine to me and I'd like the opportunity to sever the relationship before it goes too far." She steps forward, in the hope he'll simply swing the door open and show them in.
Treygan chips in, trying to help convince the halfling of the group's intentions. "We're from Sandpoint, come to deal with the goblin attacks. We were just hoping you could share your experiences with us of the swamp."
Mukluk points out the mutilated deer carcass (see spoiler above).
"This is why I usually stick to known roads. I ain't wanna see what's off road all the time. Sometimes, I just want to see what I'm supposed to see, ya see?"
* * *
Mukluk keeps quiet during the initial introductions to the Warden, fearing that most halflings know each other and it's possible that this particular halfling might know or be related to the infamously well-known and little liked Piddlespot clan of West Varisia.
Them Piddlespots ain't nothing good.
Mukluk gives the Warden a nice innocent smile.
Walthus' hair is matted, and his clothes are filthy. He appears to be quite tired, with deep bags under his bloodshot eyes. "Oh! Greetings, greetings!"he bustles out. Yes, I am Walthus Proudstump, and this is my home. Now, what might bring you big folk to my door? I'd invite you in, but it's terrible messy inside." His voice has a rather curious tonal inflection, as though he were only using two or three pitches to form words. Terrible, terrible mess, indeed. Don't get many visitors out this way!"
"I'm certain a little mess won't bother us, Walthus. May I call you Walthus? A chance to get away from these mosquitoes, we'll welcome anything!" As if in response, Treygan swats at one of the tiny invaders. "The name's Treygan by the way. This here is Mukluk, Corvus, György, Toshiro and Jean. We were hoping you could share with us some of your knowledge of the swamp. We're interested in dealing with the goblin raiders, and were hoping you might know where they lair."
Mukluk continues to smile innocently.
Suuuuureeee he ain't one of them Piddlespots. I bet he is.
Jean stares at Walthus intently as he talks....trying to count how many teeth he has...
Well the others aren't reacting badly, so he must not be a goblin, right? But he does kind of fit her description...Must be wary...
Jean just smiles and nods, much like Mukluk.
Corvus sighs inwardly. 'These reclusive types are a challenge. But he's a hafling. And in my experience, they're optimistic and cheerful by nature – and very curious. Perhaps news might entice him to open up?'
"We have news and not a little gossip from Sandpoint that I know you'll just want to know about. Let's pull up a chair and share news."
"Mosquitoes? Oh yes yes, they can be quite bothersome. I usually wave my hands back and forth about my head to stave off their advances." He demonstrates a movement very similar to what Toshiro explained earlier in your journey here. As Corvus speaks up, Walthus smiles and nods sheepishly. "Well I'm so so sorry. I don't have any chairs here except for myself. But goblins I know of! You can find them south of here. Hope that helps. Thanks for visiting. So sorry my home's messy." With that said, Walthus shuts the door in your faces.
Toshiro listens intently to the conversation between the Warden and his companions, keeping silent as to judge the character of the halfling.
The swamp stands quiet around you for a few moments. You hear minor shuffling from inside, likely Walthus continuing about whatever he was doing before you came. The mosquitoes are less intense around this area, but still pose a minor annoyance.
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"I'm sure I'm only speaking the obvious, but something was certainly off about our halfling friend. He's hiding something, I could read it in his eyes. Perhaps he's in danger? I think we need to press the issue a little further."
Mukluk shrugs his shoulders at Toshiro and goes to knock on the door.
"Hey, Halfling, do you have a map?" Mukluk pounds on the door. "Which way is south, again?"
You can still hear shuffling and a small curse likely targeted towards your group, though as quietly as it was muttered, it's unlikely that it was meant to be heard. Walthus likely believed you had left. A moment later, the door opens again. "Very sorry, but I'm terribly busy cleaning. I have no map, but the goblins are to the south. A little more southeast, I suppose. Sorry about missing that. Southeast they are. I know there's been a lot more bustlin' near their camp though. Overheard some of them the other day when they were passing by say there's a human town near here. Said they're planning on messing that town up good like they did a few years back. Said that they were gonna hit it tonight." He closes the door in your faces yet again and again continues with what he was doing.
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That gut feeling of yours punches you in the proverbial gut as you watch a small shimmer alight itself across Walthus' face as if someone had thrown a stone into still water. You can almost glimpse something underneath, but aren't quite sure what it is before the Swamp Warden closes the door in your faces yet again.
While you don't feel as if anything's that off about the Warden's details, your eyes choose to disbelieve reality as you watch something shimmer across Walthus' face, as if someone had thrown a pebble into still water. Then the door again closes.
Sensing something is wrong, Toshiro attempts to throw his foot in the way of the door closing once again. He hopes to catch it before it slams shut.
Unsure what Toshiro is doing, Mukluk nonetheless tries to help the old man stop the door from being shut.
"Dangit! I still don't know which way is sou--what you doing, Tos-- *grunt* *push*....door!"
Quietly after the first door slam Jean will check around the house for a window into the hut. Stealth Perception
If he finds none, when the door opens again after the other folks badgering, he will attempt to dice through the door into the hut.
Acrobatics
"Now, now our fearful friend...we are not the enemy here, we'd like to help you as well as Sandpoint...those goblins must have been some kind of bother to you as well..."
(OoC) If it helps for reaction timing for this...
Initiative
Corvus stands in amazement. OK, the reclusive hafling really should have been more hospitable, but to try to force their way in? But then she trusts Toshiro's judgment, so she holds her tongue for now.
"Guys, guys! We can't just charge in without a good reason. We have to respect the warden's request for privacy. Especially if he's right about the goblins. Leave him be and let's see if we can't find the camp." Treygan tries to calm down the others with words, hoping not to have to resort to physical effort.
Toshiro's foot catches the door just before it closes entirely and shortly thereafter, sensing something's terribly wrong, Mukluk puts his trust into Toshiro and presses his body to the door, leaning his weight and strength into it. Despite Treygan's attempt at trying to defuse the situation, Walthus seems to have had enough. He steps back and let's the door swing open, lunging at Mukluk as the dwarf falls through the door, but failing to connect with his surprise attack, likely due to Jean's forward dice through the door. . What's more strange about it is that the halfling carries no visible weapons of any sort.
A strange aura of red outlines Walthus as your ability takes effect. He detects as evil.
Reflex
Initiative
Mukluk lands prone in the door.
"Oof! Sorry about that. Which way was south?"
Treygan
Jean
Gyorgy
Walthus
Mukluk/Toshiro
Corvus
Round 1
HP 12/12
AC 16 T10 FF16 CMD 14
F/R/W 4/0/2
Smite Evil 1/1
Effects
None
Seeing the situation starting to get out of hand, Treygan steps up next to Mukluk and attempts to ward attacks away from him. "Let's just calm down for a moment, everyone."
Mukluk waits for his moment to rise.
"Could ya point to south for me? I'm loster than Gyorgy on a woman, I tells yeah."
Take a quick glance around the inside to see if there are any other potential threats in the hut. Perception
Otherwise I will 5 foot shift to maintain a flank bonus and to prevent the Warden's movement back into the hut. I will ready to attack with my dagger (which has been out for quite a while as I've been nervous and suspicious) if the Warden takes a hostile action against any party member.
Attack
Damage
Corvus is still unsure what to do. On one hand, Walthus appears to have lunged at Mukluk, but then the dwarf had just burst through his door - and the hafling is unarmed.
Corvus therefore waits for events to unfold before she acts.
Toshiro steps forward and attempts to grapple the halfling. "Look, it's okay! We're not here to hurt you!"
Despite now being grappled by Toshiro and through all attempts to calm him, Walthis seems to have become enraged by your presence. He tries to bite at Tohiro, his mind not seeming clear enough to register escape.
Treygan
Gyorgy (Delay)
Walthus
Jean
Mukluk/Toshiro
Corvus
Jean will take his attack against the grappled (previously flanked) Walthus for the sneak attack, dropping me in initiative to immediately after Waltus, per the ready.