Chuffy is clawed by one of the panicked eagles, its talon slashing his side.
With surprising fortitude, the would-be chieftains (except Chuffy) continue in the slop without pain. Unfortunately, the eagles are proving similarly difficult to cook. One of the eagles squawks in pain as it is pressed against the uninsulated rock wall of the "pie."
"Oww! That's hot! Birdie hurt too..."
Chuffy takes a swipe at the eagle that just clawed him...
...chops it in half, and then bursts from the pie.
"Five and five makes..." There is a slight pause while toes are consulted. "Ten points for Chuffy!"
Reta slices at the remaining Eagle, but doesn't do enough damage to make it a permanent part of the pie.
Escape artist
A little goblin with an abacus nudges Mummy Sprattleharsh, and whispers something in her ear. "And five more points for Chuffy!" she yells.
Moggy struggles, twists, and turns, but at this rate is likely to still be bound long after the pie is cooked and eaten.
Poog tries to further demonstrate the power of his god by giving up shield of faith for another inflict light.
He fails miserably to grab his target bird with the deathy touch hand.
Poog's faith in Zarongel must have wavered. Maybe he was thinking of putting out the fire burning around him, heating the pie. For whatever reason, Poog misses the bird (that I'm sure he's been wanting to give to Reta).
Reta slices at the bird, nearly ripping off its wing. It's near death, and although it's squawking, it hasn't yet croaked.
"Let Moggy out, dammit! It am hot in pie!"
Escape Artist
Second holy bird touchie!
Poog squelches the eagle's life with his magic and climbs out of the pool, both birds held over his head.
See great power with Zarongel!
"KILL!"
"Okay Moggy!"
Chuffy reaches back into the pie, and pulls Mogmurch out.
Poog give the final eagle the unholy finger. It's lifeless body sinks into the churn of the pie. He grabs bird carcasses and holds them over his head in triumph as he leaves the pie. "Five points for the bird; five more for second out!" yells Mummy Sprattleharsh.
Reta, death in her eyes looks around for something to kill. Poog and Chuffy have robbed her of her kill. Fuming angrily, she too climbs out.
"Three points for Reta!"
Mogmurch struggles. And struggles. He stands, then falls again, curdled milk and bird organs getting in his eye. Following a mini tantrum and much gnashing of teeth on Moggy's part, Chuffy helps pull him out (although leaving him tied), to the jeers of the watching village.
Mummy Sprattleharsh calls the Birdcruncher goblins close. "Chuffy has shown great greatness! With mostest points, Chuffy make good chief. All hail Chief Chuffy Lickwound!" There is much cheering. Mummy Sprattleharsh lets it continue for a moment before silencing everyone with a glare.
"These other three showed great bravery too. They make good sub-chieftans. There is more cheering.
Mummy Sprattleharsh brings out the Crunchy Crown, a crown made primarily from bird bones and wire. She places it on Chuffy's head with great ceremony, then whispers in his hear, "Wear it now, but maybe you leave it here in case you die tomorrow."
The Birdcruncher goblins throng, and try to impress. Some of the subjects prostrate, some bow, and some genuflect. Others hug their new leaders, leaving your cheeks moist with slobber and runny noses. Goblin women bring gifts of food. Goblin after goblin comes forward to try to impress the new leaders—by juggling live stoats, by head-butting stumps, and in one case, setting himself on fire.
As chieftains (apparently under the command of Mummy Sprattleharsh), you're given access to the "Treasury", a large and filthy chest.
In addition to a bunch of gold, trophies, jars of pickles, shiny rocks, dented armor fragments, and bird parts in various stages of decay, you find:
* four potions of cure moderate wounds,
* a potion of fire resistance,
* a wand of lesser restoration (9 charges),
* a +1 flaming dogslicer,
* a Small cloak of elvenkind,
* a bead of force,
* a necklace of fireballs (type I),
* and 5 ounces of sovereign glue.
Moggy stood there with his hands tied behind him, dropping pieces of pie off himself. Moggy was almost in tears at the pain, the frustration; and the embarrassment. "Got pie in eye! Shut up," he yells at the tribe.
The goblins divide the treasure with a minimum of argument.
You sleep the sleep of champions in more comfortable quarters than you've enjoyed for many a night.
The Birdcrunchers wake you early, clearly expecting you to head out and handle the threat of the ogre, Pa Munchmeat.
Wise Mummy Sprattleharsh has a few words of advice before you set off—she warns you that the fire-breathing pigs breathe fire, and that Pa Munchmeat hits hard. (That's wise women for you. She neglects to mention that water is wet and the sky is blue, but perhaps you figure that out on your own.)
"He also casts spooky plant spells and has a mean daughter with a pet weasel. It be bigger than a horse, and it's not the only foul creature on his farm. They all be mean." Mummy Sprattleharsh provides a crude map of the area that shows the way to Pa Munchmeat’s farm before shooing you on their way. She makes sure the crown stays with the Birdcrunchers so they can give it to a new chief next week, after you've all been killed.
"ME SCOUT!"
It's nearly an hour into your hike to the farm, Chuffy and Poog spot an armored boar in a huckleberry patch.
It's clear the ugly boar notices you. It turns on you, and seems to swallow something attached to its collar.
Poog will follow as close as he can to wherever Chuffy moves and draw his javelin in the process.
Reta covers Chuffy with her bow from her sneaky place.
Moggy pulls a vial of acid preparing to throw it at the hot when it closes within 10'.
RTA
Damage
... if only the other two would move away....
Chuffy slinks forward.
Chuffy and Poog slink forward, watched the whole time by the board.
Whatever the armored boar drank doesn't seem to yet have an effect. It charges forward, ending up next to Poog.
Chuffy moves around, and readies for a flank from Reta.
Poog takes a five foot step back and unleashes Zarongel's holy fire on the boar.
Die by fire piggy.
Reta take her shot .
"POOG! YOU RIDE PIG! RIDE PIG LIKE SQUEALY NORD! YOU CAN DO! THIS PIG JUST BIGGER, AND MEANER, AND BREATH FIRE! THIS PIG FOR YOU!"
Moggy moves and hides, but the armored board doesn't come close enough to him that he feels comfortable throwing his bomb.
Chuffy moves in, ready to strike when help arrives on the other side, but it never comes.
Poog calls for aid from Zarongel, and brings (un)holy fire to bear on the boar. The pig squeals in anger.
Reta skewers the crisped pig with a hurtful arrow.
Moggy moves to L3 and tosses that bomb he was preparing earlier.
RTA
Damage
Miss direction
Moggy's bomb lands short, burning the boar with splash damage.
The armored boar squeals, and burps fire at Poog!
Chuffy sulks, and decides to move away.
"IT BREATHES FIRE! DRAGON-PIG!!" Reta yells as the beast chars Poog.
"RETA BIGBAD, DRAGON-PIG SLAYER!!"
No way Reta!
Poog takes the fire blast full in the face and shrieks in pain and anger.
Okay Dragon-Pig you want fire? I do fire!
Poog steps back and casts burning hands back at the boar.
Chuffy withdraws to prepare a killing blow. Reta fires her bane arrow, wounding the armored pig, but not critically.
Piggy, despite his bulk and armor somehow manages to dodge a portion of Poog's flame. Maybe Poog's aim was off.
Moggy delays, not waste anymore of his alchemical goodies if a simple arrow could take the pig down next round.
The boar lowers its tusks and advances on Poog, who deftly dodges.