Early this morning His Mighty Girthness, Chief Rendwattle Gutwad, announced that tonight there would be a great feast in order to drive out any lingering bad luck from Scribbleface's poor decision to do something as horrible as to try to write.
But possibly even more exciting is that you all have been secretly invited to meet at Chief Gutwad's Moot House.
Why has he invited you? Does he think that YOU write too? Or maybe it's an important mission for the four of you that no other gob in the tribe could pull off.
Here's your chance to become part of the annals of Licktoad history (not written, of course).
The Meeting
Lying at the center of the village, the chief’s Moot House is a veritable museum of Licktoad heroics — crammed with trophies such as stolen weapons, shiny bits of treasure, and the brine-pickled bodies of dozens of brutally slaughtered small furry animals (mostly dogs). His Mighty Girthness rules Licktoad Village from atop a great Teeter Chair, which is 6 feet high and allows him to more properly look down on his subjects.
By tradition, Chief Gutwad does not speak directly to his subjects; instead, he employs an advisor named Slorb through whom he whispers instructions. Chief Gutwad has convinced his Licktoads that the words that come out of his mouth are so mighty that they might frighten away all the words in the heads of lesser gobs.
So your adventure begins with the four of you standing before the entrance of the Moot House, awaiting invitation from Slorb to enter. These particular goblins have grown up in the village together and know each other well - some might know a little bit too much about their companions.
Looking at his companions, Drubbus thinks about the sins of the forsaken one. Sitting uncomfortably, he wrings his hands together. Do you think that any of our words were stolen from our heads? he asks out loud. How can we get our words back?
Poog flicks his eyes left and right, looking at each of the others in the semi-circle, but says nothing.
"Not my words!" Medge exclaims. She scratches her toad, Bandana, as she talks. "Nobody takes my words. I never even saw Scribbleface's stupid words." She eyes the other goblins. "That must be why the chief wants me, he knows I have all the words"
As you all talk among yourselves, an overdressed, pompous-looking goblin you know as Slorb opens the door of the Moot House.
He shifts in what appears to be a frilly purple shirt with holes cut throughout. He looks past your group and out into the village, as if looking for eavesdroppers, but all the Licktoads are busy preparing for the big bonfire.
In a high-pitched, nasal voice, he says:
“Come in, come in, His Mighty Girthness, Chief Rendwattle Gutwad, demands gobs sit before him!”
Slorb leads the group into the great hall, which is actually about the size of small bedroom. As you walk in you see the mighty Gutwad sitting precariously atop the Teeter Chair and a long rope hanging from the ceiling.
Slorb directs you to sit in the dirt in front of the chief. “Ah, a great honor!” he mumbles.
You wait for Slorb to relay Gutwad’s orders, but to your surprise His Mighty Girthness speaks to you directly in a deep, booming voice:
“You all be heroes. Each of you. You are best Licktoads but for me. And maybe but for Slorb. That you aren’t fleeing in terror from mighty sound of my voice is all the proof you should need. Yet soon, all Licktoad goblins will know your might, for I have picked you for a dangerous mission.
“You know about fireworks and map we found in Scribbleface’s hut. Fireworks were fun. But map is more fun. It shows a route to a place near the coast where Scribbleface found fireworks. And it says there are more fireworks there!
“I want them for Licktoads. You all go get them tomorrow. Tonight we have big bonfire to burn bad luck away from you, and we play many games. Much fun.
“Tomorrow you fetch me fireworks. If you meet men, you make them dead. If you meet dogs, you make them dead. If you meet horses, you make them dead. If you meet Lotslegs Eat Goblin Babies Many, you maybe should run. And if you not find fireworks, you not come back or we feed you to Squealy Nord!”
Before you can dare contemplate what the chief has said, Gutwad pulls on the nearby rope and disappears behind a purple curtain. You hear grunts and a clang of what you can only assume is the chief falling to the floor.
Moments later Slorb appears from behind the curtain and hands Rita BigBad a map to the fireworks cache.
“Dis is map to boom box. You find and bring back or we feed you to Squealy Nord!” he says with a cackle.
You are all out front of the Moot House once again and have a few hours before the big bonfire begins. You can see goblins toiling about and carrying branches, sticks and unburnt timbers from the ruins of Scribbleface’s hut to build the bonfire.
Drubbus looks at Rita and says, Me big and brave!. Then he laughs mischeviously and dances in place. Let's leave tonight and get booms for party!
"Tonight, we brave!" Poog offered his vote earnestly. "Bigger fire gobs make for us when we done!"
Medge nods "I'm not scared! We bring back fireworks for party and show everyone we are bravest goblins in licktoad!"
"Let me see!"Medge stares at the map
Rita and Medge take a look at Scribbleface's map.
The map is relatively simple, showing little more than the Licktoad village, the old shipwreck on the coast that supposedly contains the fireworks, and the creek that runs between the two locations. By following the creek, you should be able to easily reach the old wreck. Unfortunately, the old wreck is also located in the part of the swamp that all Licktoads know to be the territory of Vorka the cannibal.
Vorka is a terror that every Licktoad knows well. As legend tells it, the old gob is a ravenous cannibal who was once the wife of a Licktoad chieftain. She murdered and ate that chieftain, as well as several other goblins, before she was driven out of town many years ago.
Since then, the story says that she’s lived alone somewhere along the coast to the west of Licktoad village, and while she’s never returned, most goblins who go missing in that part of the swamp are assumed to have been eaten by the cannibal.
Poog comes from behind a nearby tree and joins the other gobs who are hunched over a tattered map.
"Map, huh. Let me see."
Let's leave before dark. I want booms! Then, thinking a bit more, Drubbus asks the others, how we get fireworks back here? Drubbus also looks at the map as best he can, and wonders about any dangers that he is aware of besides Vorka.
As Poog and Drubbus hopelessly stare at Scribbleface’s map, you all begin to notice that you’ve drawn the attention of other Licktoads - many of which are giving you the stinkeye with a twinge of jealousy.
It soon becomes apparent that within a few moments, word has gotten around that Gutwad has tasked you all with an important mission.
While Rita is walking out of the village and looking back to see who is following her, she doesn’t notice a big goblin step in front of her until she walks right into his bulgy stomach.
It’s none other than Bottoms Rotsmell, the most vile and fattest goblin among the Licktoad. He picks at his belly button then pokes Rita in the chest.
“Dey say yous hero of Licktoads,” Rotsmell says. “Me no think yous hero. Me think yous coward.”
He points to the rest of the group.
“And you too small like bug to be hero,” he says as he points to Medge. “And you too dumb,” he says to Poog. “And you too...too,” Rotsmell trails off as he apparently forgot what he was going to say to Drubbus.
A large crowd of goblins begin to gather around you and start nodding and talking among themselves.
“We says you prove yous heroes,” yells a small mustard-colored goblin you all know as Toadbite.
Rotsmell comes back to reality and has this look on his face as if he just came up with the greatest idea.
“Ya! If you heroes, we say one of yous dance with Squealy Nord! Unless yous cowards?”
Rotsmell’s dare sparks excitement among the bystanding goblins. They begin chanting: “Dance with Squealy Nord! Dance with Squealy Nord! Dance with Squealy Nord!”
He pokes Rita in the chest again, pieces of grime falling off his fingertips.
“Who's bravest gob to ride Squealy Nord?”
Poog, slightly taken aback by being called dumb by the big oaf blinks a few times, looks around, then back at Bottoms Rotsmell and says, "Why don't you ride Squealy Nord? Scared you are. Smells like rotten coward, mmhmm." This half-thought burst of a comment somehow gave Poog full courage. "I brave. You see." He steps forward, accepting the challenge.
*gulp*
Medge bares her teeth in a snarl "Who you calling 'small like bug'? You look like big dumb puff-fish! Medge is bravest gob in Licktoad!" Medge steps forward next to Poog and puffs out her chest. "I ride the Squealy Nord!"
Squealy Nord, Squealy Nord, Squealy Nord
The Licktoad goblins chant as you walk toward Squealy Nord's pit in the middle of the village.
Gossip among the Licktoad Tribe travels like wildfire and by the time you reach the pit, most of the village is piling around to watch. To your surprise, you see a group of four struggling goblins carrying a Teeter Chair, with no other but Chief Gutwad himself on top of it. Slorb in his frilly shirt follows close behind.
Squealy Nord, Squealy Nord, Squealy Nord
As the four goblins place Chief Gutwad and his Teeter Chair in good view of the pit, the tribe falls into a quiet chant.
Squealy Nord, Squealy Nord, Squealy Nord
It's near impossible to put into words a description of the monstrous boar known as Squealy Nord. So I can only offer you this:
Since Poog volunteered first, Rotsmell nudges him toward the pit where Squealy Nord is tied up with a piece of rope. As Poog descends into the pit, the boar snorts at him and yanks on the rope.
Needless to say, Squealy Nord does not like it one bit when Poog climbs onto his back, but the Licktoads cheer with excitement.
One of the goblins untie the rope holding Squealy Nord and lets him loose.
Poog stares for a moment, looking at the pinkish - almost cute - creature before him. He walks up to it and straddles it. Given the gobs small stature, mounting the beast is somewhat of a challenge. His feet barely touch the ground. With no harness, Poog looks around for some sort of hold. Finding nothing he grabs the next two obvious things: Squealy Nord's pink ears.
Squealy Nord lets out a shriek and takes off, running in what appears to be a circle in the mud.
"WaaahhhOOOOOoooooo," Poog shouts as the spectacle continues. Squealy Nord makes for another circle, mud being slopped and churned all around them. "Not so bad, you see Bottoms," he yelled.
As the pink, fleshy creature came 'round the group, mud sloshed into Poog's eyes. He released Squealy Nord's ears to wipe the mud from his eyes, but realized at that instant what a mistake he made. Poog was launched from his mount, landing face-first into a sloppy pile of mud. He heard the mud-muffled sounds of hysterical laughter, hoots, and hollers as lay there, embarrassed.
He stood up, wiped the mud from his face, and made his way towards his companions. They too were pointing and laughing.
Drubbus walks up to Rita with a blanket and reed belt. Take this, wrap up pig so you sit on blanket, tie blanket and you to pig using belt. You'll hold on easy. Maybe also take this jerky and feed to Squaly Nord to make friends.
Poog sees the makeshift saddle Drubbus offered Rita, and threw his arms in the air. "Why I not think of that," he said. "Rita have better luck than me," he hoped.
|
Rita pushes past Its my turn to show i am the strongest gob in the villiage she grabs the materials, thanking drubuss for his idea.
It takes her 2 attempts to get the saddle on the squealing pig, she takes time to double check that the makeshift saddle is on tight.
Watch and learn Rot
the squealing pig attempts to throw her off with a tight turn and buck, but rita effortlessly holds onto the make shift reigns
again she expertly reigns in the squealing pig
With one last tug of the makeshift reigns the pigs energy seems to have ran out and she expertly dismounts the pig.
Drubbus shreiks with delight. Me smart and brave!
Drubbus thinks some more, and wonders if he should still take his turn on Squeally Nord since the animal is obviously tired. After some thought, he walks up to the beast, gets on, uses the makeshift saddle, and waits to see if anything happens....
Medge waits on the sidelines to take her turn. She pokes Rotsmell in the stomach "See! We biggest, baddest Gobs in Licktoad!" She puffs out her chest as she brags.
The crowd cheers as Rita jumps off a tired Squealy Nord and Rotsmell grunts with a sour look on his face.
Rotsmell tries to face the crowd and says, "Sure, Rita maybe not weakling, but dere be better gobs than deez udders." He says as he points to the rest of the party.
"Me thinks dey should all prove dey heroes." The other goblins begin to nod and shout in agreement.
You see Slorb climb on top of a goblin's back so that Chief Gutwad can whisper something into his ear. Afterwards, Slorb slinks down onto the ground and says:
"His Mighty Girthness says these Licktoads have proven they is brave. Chief Gutwad says he pick best gobs for mission to bring back big boom. They no need any more dares and if gobs don't agree with His Mightiness, den he will gut that Licktoad and stick his head on stick."
In what seems like an impossible maneuver, Rotsmell shrinks and falls into the crowd.
"Now go and prepare for the big bonfire," Slorb says with a wave of the hand.
Deflated, the goblins return to their normal duties. Chief Gutwad is carried back to his Moot House and sends Slorb back with two goblins carrying a small wooden chest.
"His Girthness says you did well to show yous brave. He says that you get gifts. But he says you better come back with big boom box or he stick your heads on sticks."
Slorb orders one of the goblins holding the chest to open it up and pass out the following items.
- Poog: Dragon Brew Gourd (an elixir of fire breath)
- Drubbus: Ring That Lets You Climb Real Good (ring of climbing)
- Medge: Gutwad's Personal Very Useful Robe That is Useful.
- Rita: Gorge of Gluttons (+1 horse bane dogslicer)
"Chief says these items is his and you better return with em," Slorb says.
Medge puts on her new robe immediately "We'll be back with big boom box fast! We are best gobs in Licktoad!
As the tribe continues working to build the big bonfire, they watch you set off into the Brinestump Marsh.
The marsh is a place of great bounty, with lots of places to hide and lots of delicious things to eat. Some of those things are kind of poisonous, though, so take care. One of the best things about the marsh is that the humans don’t normally come into it. They’re afraid of the monsters. Which are a concern, but if you know about them before they find out about you, running is always an option. Among the dangers that you can expect to face in the portion of Brinestump Marsh that you’ll be heading through are wild dogs, giant bugs, giant snakes, and giant frogs. Oh, and Lotslegs Eat Goblin Babies Many. And maybe Vorka.
With Scribbleface's map guiding you, you follow the creek through the marsh. The bog is tedious and slows down your journey. It's nearly night time before you begin to wonder why you haven't reached the X on the map yet.
While Poog is arguing with Drubbus about why he didn't make him a saddle for his dance with Squealy Nord, Rita and Medge see some movements in the tree above them.
Rita yells out "Lotslegs" as a giant hairy black spider drops down from the trees.
ROUND 1
Order: Poog, Drubbus, Medge, Lotslegs, Rita
Poog eyes the giant spider, but remains brave. He knows he must stand "tall" now and hopefully make up for the embarrassment with Squealy Nord. He moves cautiously, keeping his distance...
... and casts Fire Bolt.
Poog's eyes rollover as he calls on the powers of the demigod Zarongel. A bright orange flame engulfs his hands and he skillfully pushes the bolt of fire at Lotslegs.
Lotslegs reels onto its back four legs to shield her face as the fire burns her lower torso. She cries in pain.
Next up: Drubbus, Medge, Lotslegs, Rita
Drubbus cries out loud and swings his hand axe at the creature, trying to take advantage of the spider being on only four legs and distracted by the fire.
Drubbus moves to I8, and shoots an arrow using his bow at the spider...
(used same roll for attack....here's damage)
Drubbus moves closer to the giant spider and unleashes an arrow from his shortbow. The arrow strikes deep into Lotsleg's abdomen.
Medge whirls the whip straight into one of the spider's eight eyes. She reels back in pain...
and moves up to Medge.
Lotsleg lurches toward Medge trying to bite her with her mandibles but misses.
While Lotslegs is trying to bite Medge, Rita comes in swiftly, jumps into the air with a hiyaaa and plants the pointy-end of her dogslicer into the head of the spider.
Lotslegs crumbles to the floor as her legs begin to curl under her, presumably dead.
While you all gather around the lifeless spider you notice that the trees aren't webbed, which must mean that Lotslegs was living somewhere else.
Medge points to the group's footprints "It came that way!"
"We brave!" yelled Poog. "But maybe more Lotslegs."
Poog looks into the thick forest, which only appears to get darker, then points in a possible direction of the lair.
Poog and Rita pick up on trail back to Lotslegs' lair, which wasn't hard to find since the giant spider left a trail of broken twigs and crushed marsh plants.
After walking about 300 yards to the west of the creek you were following, you come up to what appears to be Lotslegs' lair. The lair consist of a deadfall of several old trees. Scattered amid the trees are dozens of bodies, some of which are goblins, but a few of which are humans.
As Poog spends an inordinate amount of time looking at a common tree stump, the rest of the group search through the bodies to find the following items:
- 24 gold pieces
- a small light crossbow with 11 bolts
- a single pearl
- 2 vials of red liquid, 1 vial of yellow liquid, 1 vial of orange liquid
- a wax-paper-sealed package containing six pieces of licorice-flavored taffy