Round 1
Mukluk, feeling the heat of combat about him and finding himself on his knees (again), tries to figure out a way to safely extricate himself.
Mukluk will take Total Defense as standard action, putting his hands in front of his face and then stand as a move action (provoking as grapple should have happened at about the same time as MM's turn).
As Jean sinks his dagger into Walthus's back he exclaims "Die you nasty little goblin, you!"
Round 2
HP 12/12
AC 16 T10 FF16 CMD 14
F/R/W 4/0/2
Smite Evil 0/1
Effects
None
Seeing the warden suddenly bite at Toshiro and his aura, Treygan switches tactics going for an offensive approach. "Apologies, Warden, but I can't allow this." With that, Treygan brings the wrath of Sarenrae upon the Warden before striking.
Corvus still sees four guys onto one and despite the haflings attempt to bite Toshiro, she's not about to initiate combat.
"Walthus, sir, please calm down and let us in. This is all a terrible misunderstanding, sir, please!"
"Sorry Corvus, there's something wrong about this one. Let's knock him out and then see if we can figure out what's going on." The cleric draws his longspear, "Walthus, Desna stands by all of this company. Stand down and let her light guide you back from darkness."
End of Round 1
Begin Round 2
Despite all arguments to the contrary, the collective might of the goddess, Sarenrae, alights itself upon Treygan's falchion which the holy warrior proceeds to use in order to quell the resistance of the little halfling. Walthus goes limp in Toshiro's arms, his jaw coming unsnapped from the old man's shoulders as he falls to the ground. Seconds later, his body shifts and shimmers and the image of Walthus vanishes. What's left in its place is a hairless, leathery biped whose face is dominated by grotesque and unsettling whorls and slits instead of actual features.
The room is silent for a moment as you take in the sight of this creature before suddenly a loud banging sound begins to emanate from somewhere in the upstairs room. It's impossible to tell what the sound could be without further investigation, but the banging quickly increases in intensity.
Mukluk stinkfaces the biped.
"What the heck is that?"
The creature is a faceless stalker. From what knowledge you have, you are aware that they are sometimes difficult to defend against in a fight and you find yourself perplexed at the ease with which you defeated this foe.
Treygan moves to the Warden's body and attempts to stop it's bleeding. "I don't know what it is either, but can someone help me stop it's bleeding. Evil or not we invaded his home." Treygan gets cut off by the noise from upstairs. "Someone tend to him, the rest follow me upstairs." With that Treygan heads towards the source of the banging, hopefully some of the others in tow.
Mukluk stares at the biped, his look still incredulous.
"I got no idea what this is, but it reminds me a bit of that one waitress in Ustalav. Oof...what a mug," Mukluk reminisces while the banging continues.
"Is someone at the back door? Maybe it's us? Is someone going to get that?" Mukluk jokes about a paradox.
** spoiler omitted **
"What on earth?" Corvus is speechless as the form that was Walthus turns into this creature.
Before she can continue her train of thought, she hears the loud banging. "More of them?" She draws her rapier and follows the others, ignoring the creature on the floor.
György looks on at the creature's transformation, baffled by its appearance "I have no idea...but, I can try to keep it alive while some of the rest of you see what that banging is. May Desna's blessings guide you safely."
György kneels next to the strange creature. "I know not what you are, but Desna's faith is open to even those lost in darkness. I wish that you had not attacked us, but hope your time here is not yet done." The cleric presses his hands against the terrible wound rent in its body by Treygan's strike.
You make your way cautiously to the other room as the banging grows louder. Finding yourself nearing the source of the noise you find little comfort until at last you find yourself in front of the door. With a loud and final thud the door falls open and with Walthus. The little halfling begins pleading, "Oh gods thank you! Thank you! I thought I would never see the light of day again! Please tell me you've come to rescue me. Please, oh please, tell me that dreadful beast is gone."
I draw my rapier as well, proceed to impale the transformed creature, taking this "Walthus" at its word being a trusting sort....at least so much that the thing is obviously unnatural.
OoC (sorry)
Mukluk studies the halfling, comparing this one to the other one.
"Waitaminute! What was that down there and how do we know you're not of them too?' Mukluk puts his hand on his heavy pick, ready to draw it.
"Jean, no!" György tries to block the rapier, to no avail. "Truly there are those beyond even Desna's redemption Jean, but we did not yet know it to be true for this creature. Please. I know there are horrors that dwell in shadow. But, killing indiscriminately makes us no better than they. Do not deny me the opportunity to bring them to light." György closes the creature's eyes and stands to go see what the others have found.
"Do I need to come up there and grapple that one too?"
Walthus stammers at the sudden interrogation. "No! Gods no! I'm not one of him! I don't even know what it is. I was out back in the garden a day or so ago - gods, how long was I in there for - when he came running at me babbling something. I didn't understand it, I swear. But he and running at me and I ran inside. I think my pets got him a bit because he screamed and shelled and cried some more, but I ran in here to this little room I got hidden here and hid until I thought he was gone. He didn't leave though so I just stayed there. Then I heard you bunch and heard him crying out some more so I figured I was safe. I didn't know who you were but I couldn't hole up there anymore. Let me go and I'll tell you whatever you wanna know, I swear!"
From Jean's earlier investigation of the house, he can corroborate Walthus' story somewhat based off the back garden who has a broken fence and several dead snakes.
Gyorgy, while unable to stabilize the beast (unless you have raise dead) after Jean's stab you can also tell that the creature was dead before Jean stabbed him. You can confirm that there is some sort of poison flowing in his system. This is likely why he was much easier to defeat than the group surmise he should be.
Walthus is telling the truth as far a you can tell. He seems genuinely scared as well as grateful to you for saving him.
You feel an ominous presence watching you. Upon further investigation, you see a shadowy figure watching you from just begin the tree line, further in the swamp. As you look closer, however, it disappears.
Having never been a great judge of character, Corvus had no way of guaging if this Walthus was the real one or not.
But calming down patrons in the bar she was good at. "OK sir, take it nice and easy. We're not here to hurt you - just to help you. Now...is there anything else you need to tell us that might help. Anything at all?"
Her voice is calm and slow - she remembers being told by the sherrif that when questioning someone, they mimick your pace of speaking without realising it. Hopefully by talking slowly, she'll help the hafling (if it is him) stop his stammering.
Seeming to have a positive reaction to Corvus, Walthus slowed his breathing down and leaned back, closing his eyes and thanking you profusely. He shook his head, "I told you what I know about that thing." Another moment passed. "I seem to recall it being a creature that could take on people's shapes. Faceless... I don't remember much about it. Never actually encountered one, but I know there used to be a whole tribe of them here in the marsh."
Walthus stands up and dusts himself off. "My pets're all dead, aren't they?" He sighs as he looks out the window of his room down to his garden. "Damn. Took me a whole month to train the adder. Real venomous too it is. I imagine out of any of them, Sheila'd be the one who got him." He stood silent for a moment then snapped out of it. "Well, you didn't come all this way to save my hide, so what can I do for you folk? Not finally here about the goblins are you? They been getting mightier and mightier out here in the swamp ever since they found them fireworks."
As Jean is still by the door with his rapier embedded in the "thing"... Perception
If he notices the shadowy figure:
"Hey Muk, did you see that outside?" He will then resheathe his rapier but keep his dagger loose, shut and bolt the door we entered through, double check out a window and proceed to secure the rest of the room/chamber/hut's ingress/egress points through his natural paranoia.
If he does not notice the figure:
Jean will wipe off and resheathe his rapier and dagger, close the door to keep out the mosquitos and join the rest of the folks with "Walthus".
"So Corvus, was or was that not a goblin? Short, lots of teeth, surrounded by junk and it was biting people..."
"Actually, the goblins are the exact reason we are here. But that can wait for now, let's get you comfortable. I'm not sure about your pets, but we can look into them for you." Treygan will help make Corvus with Walthus, seeing to treat any injuries he may have suffered.
After seeing to Walthus's needs, Treygan will ask about the goblins. "We indeed are here about the goblins. We were hoping you could tell us more about them, where to find them."
"So Corvus, was or was that not a goblin? Short, lots of teeth, surrounded by junk and it was biting people..."
"No, not a goblin. They are smaller, greener and have more pointy teeth. And they are too crazy to be trying to trick us. A goblin would have attacked or hidden, but not opened the door and try to talk us out of staying. I'm sure hiding was one of the facts that Asheiko used to tell me about."
Corvus now looks like she's thinking hard - most likely about the ten facts.
Sense Motive
"Uh huh...well, that can happen to the best of us, Walthus. I remember this one caravan out in Ustalav, or was it Mendev, anyhoot, it ended in 'V', this caravan...blahblahblah...twin nymphs who loved to...blahblahblah...repeated until one of them...blahblahblah...and that's when the elf tried to jump in between...blahblahblah...couldn't tell them apart!! So we found some alchemical grease, see...blahblahblah...and they looked like them pretty servants of Calistria...blahblahblah...40 gold! "NO WAY!" I shouted, which made them pretty mad...blahblahblah...so, yeah, I never trust gnomes."
* * *
"No, I didn't see nothing, Jean," Mukluk says as he draws his heavy pick and takes a long looksee outside. "Lemme go look."
Perception
If he finds nothing looking from the porch, he will return inside to talk Goblins.
"Yeah, we're getting a good bonus for each goblin ear. We'll clean them up good, I tells ya...we just need to know where they are and what to watch out for in this swamp. We already found the mosquitoes," Mukluk mentions while itching his arm.
"No, not a goblin. They are smaller, greener and have more pointy teeth. And they are too crazy to be trying to trick us. A goblin would have attacked or hidden, but not opened the door and try to talk us out of staying. I'm sure hiding was one of the facts that Asheiko used to tell me about."
"Oh, green...I think you left that part out...So green and small, crazy, with lots of teeth...I'll remember that.
Mukluk takes note again of a mysterious figure watching them hungrily from the woods. The figure is clearly a biped but little else can be judged from your current position save that it's the same size as Treygan. It does not appear human. The figure leaves after a minute or so.
Walthus stands up. "The goblins? Yeah! Their camp is just southeast of here. Take the Old Fish Trail to get there. Used to have a map around here that I scribbled a few years back, but it up and walked away quite some time ago. Lots of stuff there I found. There's lots of stuff to look out for on the way though. The swamp itself is known for eating people and beasts up alike and then there's the Swamp Thing you got to look out for. Soggy River Monster as I've been calling it. Big as a man, but made outta the swamp itself. I can see it out there sometimes, watching me. I popped a round off at it one time, but that only upset it, y'see. Damn thing banged on my house all night trying to get back at me. Don't cross that thing. And the mosquitoes. Itching a the last thing you got to worry about with those. First, your mouth starts getting dry no matter what you drink. Then you start running a fever. Eventually you just can't hold yourself up anymore and you pass out. Best way to keep them off of you is by ducking your head low and waving your arms like this." Walthus demonstrates a technique very similar to that which Toshiro taught you earlier. "Keep yourself wrapped up and if you get bit," he runs over to a nearby drawer where he pulls open a shelf of vials, wands, and other bots and baubles. He ruffles around in it for a bit then pulls out a vials. "Aha! Not enough for all of you but this should help get the fever out of your system." He hands one vial to Treygan and rushes back to the drawer. "Got two more in here somewhere. Ah hells, all this junk. Don't suppose you lot can use this garbage?" he asks as he locates the other two vials.
Accepting Walthus' gifts bears some decent fruit. There are four vials of a blue effervescent liquid and two vials of a thick viscous green ooze. In addition, while most of the wands are burnt out, you do find one with a blue tip matching the color of the blue vials. Finally the bits and baubles turn out to be small bits of jewelry. There is an ornate earring and a ring with Halfling script engraved on the inside. Lastly there is a small brass necklace in the shape of a dragon scale.
While not in the drawer itself, you also note a silver letter opener that you estimate can be used as a dagger by anyone proficient in such a weapon.[/b]
Four vials of Cure Light Wounds
Two vials of Remove Disease
One wand of Cure Light Wounds (only twelve charges remain)
Earring of Protection
Ring of Arcane Signets - (Halfling script reads, "You've forever marked my heart.") - When activated, the default Arcane Mark is a heart.
Amulet of Natural Armor +1 - When worn, the amulet embeds itself in the wearer's skin and transforms their skin into tough scales matching the amulet.
Silver Dagger
Jean will look through the pile of junk, noticing the letter opener...since things are being freely offered anyway...what letter opener (Sleight of Hand)? As he nonchalantly adds it to the daggers at his belt, replacing it with one of his own.
This could be handy...
"Thank you sir for your knowledge and aid. We are glad to have been able to assist you." As Jean smiles his normal manic smile and bows.
Mukluk stares at the creature for a bit longer, then looks around again before going back inside.
"That is a strange thing, Jean," Mukluk confirms, uncertain about what that thing was doing. "I didn't see any color to it. It was just odd, I tells yeah."
* * *
OOH! Magics. Mukluk's eyes light up as the array of magicks are offered by Walthus. While some dwarves may love gold or gems, it's clear that Mukluk's loves lie in exploration with a more-than-passing appreciation of magic.
Mukluk casts a quick spell and begins to sort the items.
Spellcraft
Mukluk holds up the four potions. "Ah...good. Curifications! Perfect."
Then the two smaller vials. "Disease? Are we worried about...oh yeah...oh yeah...the mosquitos, right? Disease, good."
Mukluk offers the wand around. "This wand does the same as them potions. Curification."
Mukluk holds up the earring, smiling at it and turning it over in his hand. "Oh yeah, this is nice. This one here is a nice one. You sure we can take this Walthus? This one here might protect you against fell magics. Mukluk offers it around in case anyone wants to put it in their ear."
With the Ring of Arcane Signets, he offers it to Jean. "Here you go, Elf. You can use this to mark your property...or your womens. Might be fun."
"This is quite the haul," Mukluk says holding up the brass necklace. "Anyone need thicker skin? Might stop a blade or two...not that I'll need it with my trusty armor and all, but one of you might use it." Mukluk offers it around.
Mukluk ignores the silver dagger.
Walthus nods to Mukluk. "It's the least I can do for you lot saving me. If you ever need a safe haven from the horrors of the Marsh, you're welcome in my home." He gives Mukluk a hearty pat on the back as a sign of friendship.
Corvus addresses the hafling. "Is there anything else we can do for you before we're on our way?"
Mukluk hands out the magics...
Potions of CLW - Mukluk, Toshiro, Corvus, & Treygan
Potions of Remove Disease - Mukluk holds for now
Wand of CLW (12 charges) - Gyorgy
Earring of Resistance +1 - Jean
Brass Amulet of Nat. Armor - Corvus
Ring of Arcane Signets - Jean (for now, we sell later?)
Silver Dagger - Treygan
* * *
Mukluk accepts the pat on the back and offers a stout and sturdy hug of his own.
"I'll be telling your story all over Walthus. Ain't not doubt this one will be good one around the campfire. Mostly because I don't know what that thing down there was. Just strange, I tells yeah."
Feeling the goodwill all around, Mukluk claps Corvus on the back as well.
"Right you are. Let's get on our way. Thems goblin ears are for the taking," Mukluk says. "We ready to go?"
* * *
Mukluk packs up, makes sure his heavy pick hasn't fallen out of his beltloop and leaves.
He practices the weird twirling and bending motion to keep the mosquitos at bay while he walks.
Am I doing this right?
"Hey! Which way is south again?"
Corvus takes a sneak look at Jean. He didn't take to all of the 'ear' conversations well back at the inn and she wondered how he's faring now. 'And how do we prove we've killed the goblins without removing their ears? Perhaps noses will do after all.'
Corvus made a mental note to have a word with Mukluk...later. She takes the potions and amulet and stores them in her back-pack. Her first spoils of adventuring.
Then she stops and takes out the amulet and puts it on. Looking at it as she walks, she wonders what animal's bone is set in the item? Dragon sounds the most exotic and as it would be hard to disprove, she decided a dragon's bone it must be!
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"Yeah, we're getting a good bonus for each goblin ear. We'll clean them up good, I tells ya...we just need to know where they are and what to watch out for in this swamp. We already found the mosquitoes," Mukluk mentions while itching his arm.
"Right you are. Let's get on our way. Thems goblin ears are for the taking," Mukluk says. "We ready to go?"
As Mukluk hands Jean the earring, a blank stare in the dwarf's direction comes across his face as he cocks it slightly off to the side. Those observing Jean notice a slight twinge each time Mukluk says "ear"
During Jean's watch, he waits until Mukluk begins his usual snoring. While he watches him sleep he takes an 18" length of twine and ties a small 2" loop with a slip knot in one end, the other he ties around the magical earring.
He creeps over to the sleeping dwarf, (Stealth ) who is curled in a fetal position, takes and hooks one of Mukluk's thick fingers through the loop (Dexterity ). Then he takes and looks at the earring in the dim firelight, watches the flames flicker off the sharp point...
Jean whispers "I'll give him a piercing he'll never forget...then we'll see if he shows more sensitivity about a person's ears..."
Taking the earring and placing it around the dwarf's meaty lobe...he snaps it shut with a flick of his fingers....
"Eeeyowwww!" The dwarf screams as a drop of blood forms around the golden piece. In shock he tries to get up, by putting his to the ground to push himself upright and lifts his head....tearing the golden circle from his ear and flinging 3 drops across Jean's leering, smiling visage...."Iiiyeeee!!!!" Mukluk screams again in a high pitch.
"Still think it was funny, giving me that?" Jean queries...
Noticing Corvus's observing gaze, Jean smiles politely at her, nods to Mukluk "Thank you..." as he slips the earring into a pouch at his belt.
"Thank you good Warden, I do believe we have the business of the day to attend to and we shall not keep you any longer. We are very appreciative and glad we could have helped you as well."
"Indeed, Warden, thanks for all you have done. And glad to see you doing well now. It might be good to consider moving to Sandpoint though. If we hadn't come by seeking your aid, who knows how long it may have went before someone found you. I'm sure the people would help you get set up there, especially with the help you've given us. But once again, thank you."
Treygan checks his sword to make sure it's secure, tucks away the potion and turns to the others. "Mukluk is right, we should be heading out. The goblins well might deal with themselves, but I'd rather not rely on it. Shall we be off?"
With instructions from the real Walthus well in hand, you feel confident in your ability to locate the goblin encampment. Taking the Old Fish Trail for some time, you take Walthus' information into account about the local wildlife - especially the mosquitoes. Soon, you waltz through the swamplands flailing your arms about you heads like madmen. It does, for what's it worth, actually seem to work. It does not, however, prevent other creatures from happening across your path and several times you find yourselves either fighting off or hiding in wait of the local fauna.
Hours after leaving Walthus' hut, the tree line thins and you find yourself face-to-face of a large encampment enclosed on all side save for one by large wooden walls, likely the reason for the thinning of trees. The one missing wall is actually collapsed in and there lies a large gate (well, large for a goblin) at the north side entrance. You do not, however, see any sign of the goblins. The camp is silent as the grave.
As you approach the area of the goblin camp, you find a fresh footprint in the mud, slowly filling with water. The foot has three toes and does not appear to resemble anything you've seen before.
Both of you are whining to feel hot and you've noticed yourself sweating more than usual. In addition, no matter how much you drink, your mouth has begun telling you that it's still thirsty and that it's deathly dry. You think you may be coming down with something.
Perception
Drawing his rapier with his right and carrying a dagger ready to throw in his left Jean says....
"I will sneak ahead and check things out. If I get into trouble I'm sure you will know....Mukluk I hope you're quick with that stick of yours."
Stealth
Keeping low to the ground, Jean will follow the broken wall to the left.
Mukluk claps his tongue against his cheek, trying to get his mouth less dry.
"I need more to drink, clearly," Mukluk mutters while taking a long slag of water from his 'skin. "Now, what we got here?" Mukluk asks while looking around.
Perception
Though seeing nothing, Mukluk stays put, letting the Elf pad ahead into certain doom and danger.
Finding the footprint, Jean will direct the others attention to it before proceeding further into the encampment.
"Guys...anyone know what may have had that?"
Corvus notices the footprint when Jean points it out. "Not goblin," she says to Jean. "But as to what it belongs to, I have no idea."
"And Jean, don't forget goblins are sneaky. They're great at hiding in places you'd never expect - under stacks of firewood, rain barrels, under logs, under chicken coops, in ovens...yes even ovens."
"Dont worry Corvus, I'll be the whisper in the wind....the shadow in the night...the drop in the ocean..." as Jean resumes his exploration.
Stealth Jean stumbles over a root, crashing to the ground.
Toshiro pulls at his shirt collar and wipes at his brow.
"Is it hot to anyone else?"
Mukluk gives a look to Toshiro and his unsightly sweating.
"Yeah, it's hot, ain't it? And I'm still thirsty."
"Stay cautious, Jean. We'll watch as best as we can here. And don't take any risks if you can help it."
"Hot, no its not hot at all. But the two of you do look a little pale. Mind if I take a look at you while Jean scouts ahead?" Assuming consent, György puts a hand to the foreheads of Toshiro and Mukluk and looks into their eyes and ears.
Despite the emptiness of the village, you get the adventurer's gut feeling as if you're not alone. Jean, in taking as much care to be as quiet as possible still a manages to trip over an upturned root and kicks a few broken rocks around during his infiltration of the encampment. Gyorgy, despite having little in the way of doctoral knowledge, you're able to identify well enough given Walthus' earlier input that the men are suffering from a fever likely induced by the mosquito bites suffered, vexing given Toshiro's experienced techniques at staving the bugs off.
The world around you does not react to your invasion, however, and the jungle sounds continue to go on around you. The coast looks clear for the most part.
While the coast is indeed clear into the encampment, you note that your guy feeling is right on the money. From within the raised huts of the village, you see several goblin paid eyes peeking out from behind curtains. You aren't quite sure why the goblins have allowed you in their camp without a fight, so their cowering inside their hits vexes you as well.
Totally out of character here...
Nervously Jean says "Hey there little guys....we're not here to harm you...we're just here to help Sandpoint. Leave them alone and all is good. We're ok, right?" as he slowly backs back towards the party.
A flicker of movement from the village catches György's eye as he examines Toshiro and Mukluk. He turns from the two men in time to see the eyes just as Jean speaks. "Hang on Jean. We've got trouble here with Toshiro and Mukluk. Those goblins don't look like they're going to come charging out anytime soon and these two have managed to catch some sort of fever. I'm not sure we should press on with the two of them sick."
Corvus wonders who Jean is talking to as he backs out of the village. And at Gyorgy's words, she spins and looks at Toshiro and Mulkuk - who are looking sweaty, considering it's not that warm.
Mukluk waves his arms in front of his face, trying to brush back Gyorgy and all his ministrations.
"Bah! I feel fine. Ain't nothing wrong with me! Just allergies, is all. You'll see. No need to wait on my account," Mukluk states, giving all the stiff upper lip (that you can't really see under his beard).
"Now, what's going on in here?"
Perception
"Oooh...there be goblins there. I see their eyes," Mukluk says, pointing out the hiding goblins. "This is interesting. They should either be fleeing or attacking me. They hate them dwarves. Something ain't right." Mukluk scratches his beard, a-thinkin'.
Mukluk turns to Jean and hopes his efforts at diplomacy yield results.
Something ain't right. Ain't right at all.