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He looks at Starlene for a moment and measures her words.
"What you say makes sense..."
There is a bit of a moment of introspection as he actually seems to take something on board. In the end, the party sways Lander not to go on a further hunt. The remainder of the trek back to Silverhall is uneventful, and at Silverhall, Dame Sarrona Lebeda awaits.
"My son! You people have brought him back alive!"
She seems quite thrilled...
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Starlene is surprised, and both thankful and reassured, that Lander actually listened to her. So much so that she wishes to speak well of him to his mother.
Greetings again Dame Lebeda, we are so very glad to be of service to you and escort your son back to his estate. He was actually most helpful in assisting us getting back here after we picked him up, indeed helping fight off an attack by wild animals, no mean feat for someone who has only just set foot on the path of a warrior.
she pauses for breath and to consider her next words
I believe Lander could one day make a fine warrior, or more importantly, a leader of men. He has learned to listen, to learn from those with more experience than he, and that is the most profound lesson anyone can be taught. I strongly believe if he studies with the right instructor, here in your estate perhaps rather than out in the town or wilderness, that the skills and patience he is taught will be invaluable to both him and his house...
Starlene smiles and bows to Lander
Now Dame Lebeda, there is an associated matter we must attend to quickly
Starlene shows her the letter from camp as well as a dagger with the smith's mark on it, swiftly informing her that the camp was awash with similar weapons, surely more than they could afford and to the exclusion of other weapons, clearly indicating a connection. In addition from the letter's tone it is clear who it is addressed to and what foul play was intended. Starlene recommends apprehension of the smith at once to prevent his fleeing!
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Aye, Lander comported himself well, such that the blessings of the Accidental God were conferred upon us. Under the proper tutelage, he will grow into a proper lord. I suggest someone with a strong sense of discipline.
As to this letter, it appears there are some in area who do not have your family's best interests in mind. It is probably best to have the local authorities deal with this matter, rather than have us outsiders stirring up trouble. We would be happy to convey what we know to the local sherrif.
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Lander eventually admits that perhaps he got in over his head. His experiences with the party have convinced him that excursions into the wilderness are best left to the professionals. Although he still wishes to continue his tutelage in swordplay, he agrees to take a formal tutor in court, study a less contentious style, and resume his duties.
After some deliberation, it becomes clear that Lander was hoodwinked by Marek who he thought of as a friend, and to avoid the stink of scandal Marek finds himself the subject of an arrest over 'unpaid taxes' and confined to the dungeons until he is forgotten about - or at leaset long enough to finally face trial for treason when times are less volatile...
Dame Sarrona rewards the Society with the Horn of Aroden.
Having such a prize is a great boon to Lady Morilla’s Army of Exploration and attracts to its banner an array of Taldan and Rostlander patriots as well as many faithful followers of Iomedae.
Pathfinder scholars and Morilla’sown agents quickly set to work studying the horn andattempting to restore its magic. If successful, they will have recovered a powerful weapon against the armies of the Worldwound.
Epitaph:
The next full moon comes and with it a deep seated apprehension, however the night passes fully, and no new lycanthrope emerges...
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"We be Lick toads! We make raid!
Put the longshanks to the blade!
Burn them up from feet to head,
Make them hurt, then make them dead!Cut the parents into ham,
Smush the babies into jam,
All the rest in pot get stewed,
We be Lick toads - you be food!"
*** This is the Gameplay thread for WBG Alpha group, kick off is no later than April 12 (Australian time!) or as soon as all have Dotted in***
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You are goblins of the Licktoad tribe, who live deep in Brinestump Marsh, south of the hated man-town called Sandpoint. Once, other goblins tried to burn Sandpoint down, and they would have been legends if they had succeeded. But they didn’t bring enough fire, and got themselves killed as a result.
Yesterday, your tribe discovered that one of your own had been using forbidden arts and was engaged in one of the greatest of taboos -writing things down. In fact, rumour holds that what he was writing was a history of your tribe! There’s no swifter way to bring about bad luck than stealing words out of your mind by writing them down, and so your tribe had no choice. You branded the goblin’s face with letters to punish him, which is why everyone calls him Scribbleface now, and then you ran him out of town, took all of his stuff, and burned down his hut.
That’s where things got interesting, because before you all burned down his hut, Chief Gutwad found a weird box within the building. Inside was a map and a lot of fireworks-fireworks that immediately came to use in burning the hut down. Then, this morning, Gutwad announced that tonight there would be a feast in order to drive out any lingering bad luck from Scribbleface’s poor decisions. But perhaps even more exciting, all of you have been secretly invited to meet at Chief Gutwad’s Moot House. Why would the chief want to speak to you? It can only mean that he’s got an important mission for you all... one that the other goblins of the tribe couldn’t pull off. This could be your chance to go down in Licktoad history!
The chief ’s Moot House lies at the centre of the village. It 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 Chief Rendwattle Gutwad rules Licktoad Village from atop the great Teeter Chair, which is 6 feet high. By tradition, Chief Gutwad does not speak directly to his subjects. Instead, he employs an advisor through whom he whispers instructions, for Chief Gutwad claims 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 goblins. Only his duly appointed advisor, an overdressed, pompous goblin named Slorb, can handle the might of the chief’s words without fainting from fear.
Presently you are all milling around aimlessly outside the Moot House waiting to be called inside. Other Goblins are peering at you trying to determine whether you are about to get whacked into paste or whether something else 'interesting' is about to happen.
Scary Scary! Why does chief Gutwad wants to speaks with us?
A skull mask covers Mogmurch's face, which he has customarily worn since he had found it. Pacing back and forth, the goblin seems worried as to why he and other goblins were being summoned.
Me hopes is isn't becauses I took some firesticks to play with later....
"Me find good husband! Very good husband! But husband be tougher than Reta. Chuffy be husband?" seems to ask the female goblin, drooling while she looks at Chuffy.
She wears a bridal veil she found somehow in the woods.
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Slorb sticks his head out of the door of the Moot House and beckons you inside. As you enter, he points to a few pelts and furs on the floor, and his fancy gesture seems to be a sign to sit.
The Moot House has only a single large room. At the far side is the Teeter Chair, and sitting precariously atop it is Chief Gutwald. The Chief is a small, but fat goblin. He barely fits in the chair and it looks like he and the whole fragile chair could collapse at any moment. For now, however, the chair holds. Slorb hurries over to the chair and climbs onto a stand beside.
"His Mighty Girthness Chief Rendwattle Gutwad has invited you here," he begins in his nasally voice, but Chief Gutwad holds up a hand to silence him.
"NO!" the Chief says in a deep, booming voice. "I speak to them."
Slorb looks surprised (almost as surprised as you) and about to say something, but then he lowers his head sheepishly. Your hands reflexively reach for your heads to avoid the thoughts and other words being blasted out by the magic power voice of the Chief!
“You all be heroes," the Chief says, still in his booming voice, loud enough for even Foofelah to hear. "Each of you." He pauses for a moment and looks at Foofelah. "Well, you say you are. I not so sure, but you here anyway. You are all 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."
Chief Gutwad pauses for a moment and looks at your expressions. Then he continues. “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!"
He pauses again to look at your reactions, then continues, “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!”
Squealy Nord is really just a hyperactive piglet.
Lotslegs Eat Goblin Babies Many: There are plenty of giant bugs in the swamp, but of late, the giant spider known as Lotslegs Eat Goblin Babies Many (known more often simply as “Lotslegs,”) is the most notorious. The giant spider lives somewhere in the marsh between the Licktoad village and the coast.
Hearing about a bonfire, Mogmurch's ears perk up, and he starts to drool a bit. Seemingly in a trance, until Squealy Nord's name is mentioned, the goblin starts to cower slightly.
"Mogmurch scared of Squealy Nord. He eat many things, and goblins too! Me rather not play with Squealy Nord, and play with fire instead!"
Remembering something of what seemed important to the green alchemist, Mogmurch starts to sing a little tune while starting to play with things in his boot, most likely searching around for a snack....
Things go boom when Mogmurch throws,
Much more fun than using bows.
Sometimes where the boom boom blows,
Is not my fault—that’s how it goes.
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"In Licktoad tribe, one not play with Squealy Nord, Squealy Nord play with YOU!" The Chief laughs.
"Soon you get to throw many boom, much entertainment for all Goblins - tonight there will be the big bonfire and you will play games for fun, but don't get smooshed to paste or I have to have this talking again tomorrow with replacement Goblin!"
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For the morning and most of the afternoon, the goblins work hard to build a bonfire out branches, sticks, and the remains of Scribbleface’s hut. As night falls, a group of four struggling goblins carry the Teeter Chair (with Chief Gutwad sitting atop it) out to the site of the bonfire. The chief is holding a huge firework that he lights and points at the giant pile of wood. A moment later, a ball of flame and showers of sparks bursts from the tube with a thunderous boom and sets the bonfire alight. The goblins cheer as the flames catch on and the bonfire roars into the night sky.
This signals the start of an all-night party that features lots of good things to eat (snails, fish, and snakes). The chief brings out a barrel of fermenting cider apples early on and most goblins get drunk very quickly.
"Me love apples! Only silly goblins get bad sick, and me no silly!"
Mogmurch swoons a bit, then shakes is head, steadying himself.
"These am weak!"
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There is much excitement building in the village around the campfire, the words 'Squealy' and 'Nord' bandied around, the idea starts gaining momentum and soon enough half the village is standing by a 20' diameter pit that is 10' deep. Tethered to a pole in the middle is the porcine namesake himself "WHO IS GOBLINS ENOUGH TO DANCE HIS BACK!" goes the cry, and suddenly all eyes are on you!
Reta seems to wake up. "I! I! I be goblin hero that ride Squealy Nord!" She says, drooling.
Reta can't hold herself and shouts with a big grin "If I make it, I find husband tonight!"
She gets on the pig and tries to steady herself on the big beast.
Mogmurch's watches the two other goblins and has enough inspiration from his apples, that he steps in with Squealy Nord.
"Me no scared of riding dance! Mogmurch try too!
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Ref
There is much cheering as Reta is led to the pit and mounts up on the big mud covered pig. The couple of Goblins holding the tether whilst she gets up there give a nod and then run away screaming as the pig is loosed... Reta does a great job of hanging on for around a second or two before being flung into the mud, without injury.
Chuffy and Mogmurch manage to both go the distance, to the great delight of the audience.
"CHAMPIUNZ! LEGEND GOBLINS!" the crowd goes wild.
Two bottles are brought forward as reward, one to Chuffy and one to Mogmurch “Dragon Brew Gourd” - (an elixir of fire breath).
"NOOOOOOOOOOO! Is not fair! You cheaty cheats! I be remembers that!" squeals Reta, mid-sobbing.
"You big crybaby! Me hero! Me bestest hero Gutwad wants!"
Mogmurch proudly boasts in front of Reta, rubbing in his victory.
"What next to be bestest hero?"
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The night thus continues until another cheer goes up from the crowd and a wicker basket is held aloft "Who can eat a bag of Bull Slugs real quick!?" goes the challenge to the excited Goblins - and with that the basket is opened and some of the contents held for all to see - Bull slugs are black, wriggling slugs the size of sausages. Even among the goblins, they’re considered particularly foul-tasting and, because of the large amounts of slime they exude, difficult to chew.
"One minute to eat a full bag of sluggies!" cries the slug holder, who pulls some soggy leaf napkins from his pocket.
"I eat more than you!"
Mogmurch pushes other contenders out of the way as he tries to prove that he's the best.
"Reta is tough! Reta shows dem what a goblin heroz be like!"
"I - buuuuuurp - did it! What about a contest to know who be burp louder?"
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Chuffy keeps on with his slug eating grin and downs his bag, as does Mogmurch. Reta finally gets her slugs in, but not with quite the same relish
There is a hue and a cry of cheering as the award is brought forward and the Chiefs favourite weapon is loaned to the group - the mighty 'Gorge of Gluttons'! If you lose it on the trip though, heads will roll.
"Now time for NEW GAME!" is the cry that gets the Goblins interested "Hide or get Clubbed!" - the Goblins go berserk! "You takes the dare, you run into the marsh with no weapons and find a good hidey spot - but you get found you get whacked!"
Woooosh. Reta vanishes.
ME AM BE SNEAKS TOO!
Mogmurch runs into the shrubbery!
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RETA
Damage 0
MOGMURCH
Damage 0
CHUFFY
Damage 0
Chuffy is invisible. Apparently. Much astonishment!
Reta is invisible too. Goblinses get real suspicious that Chuffy and Reta may be hiding in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G
That Mogmurch isn't found either just adds more speculation to the tree, just many Goblins now wondering who K-I-S-S-I-N-G who.
"Magic!" cries the Chief, and for your efforts, the goblin group is loaned the mystical Ring That Lets You Climb Real Good
Not satisfied with the level of blood and violence, the Goblins move onto the finale...!
"WE DAREZ YOU TO PLAY WITH RUSTY EARBITER!"
The Rusty Earbiter: The infamous Rusty Earbiter is a hollow coil of rusty wires, barrel hoops, bent swords, and thorny branches and vines that's kept behind the Moot House when not in use. So named for the fact that it's claimed a number of goblin ears in the past (indeed, three partially severed goblin ears can be seen tangled in its sharp internal coils), the Rusty Earbiter is both an object of fascination and fear for the Licktoads. A half-dozen eager goblins roll the 20-foot coil out from behind the Moot House with the typical number of slashed fingers and stabbed legs such a task normally brings.
"Why you try?! I bestest hero of Licktoads, 'cept chief!"
Running after Chuffy, the skullcapped goblin dives into Rusty Earbiter without fear.
Reta's smile quickly fades as she knew this is the trial she's not the best at. "I... be tryin!"