Terwin releases a blast of colors that flies in the face of the creature, but when the colors fade, the creature seems unaffected. It reaches out to grap at Jia's throat, but she is able to dodge out of the way. After missing, the creature shifts out of the doorway into the room.
"Oh," Cyrus says, becoming more animated when the creature reveals itself. He has difficulty seeing due to his position but his excitement is a clear contrast from his earlier disposition. "I didn't even suspect it at all! Fascinating, must be excellent at deception."
Is there a window on/near the wall Cyrus is at, and if so, would it be possible for him to climb through it, possibly in the next round if he uses this round to go to the window and smash it in?
Cyrus smashes through the window next to him into the halfling's house. He climbs through the window, and seems to have found himself in a pantry—bags of flour and corn seem to be the most prevalent. There is a door just next to him to the west.
"Seven hells, of course it can't be that easy!" Orren moves to F11. "What is this creature?!" He casts command (Will DC15), telling to to drop prone.
"I detected no deception either. Most unfortunate."
"So where's Proudfoot? We gotta ask this guy some questions!"
Not having a shot, Orlando drops his crossbow, draws his sword and sweeps his cloak into his left hand. Then, adopting a defensive stance, he moves up to make contact with the creature.
Orren commands the creature to lie down on the ground, but it just looks and him and moans, which can only be taken as a laugh.
Staying where it is, the creature tries to attack Jia through the doorframe. Only having a narrow window to attack, however, it misses as Jia dodges out of the way.
Slow to react due to her shock at the discovery of this inhuman creature, Jia watches in slow motion as it claws at her twice. In her head, she hears the voice of Huan Lu, Move foolish girl! No student of mine will be taken so easily.
Slipping into her Crane Style, Jia Li steps forward into the house to give her companions more room and punches at the false beast.
Cyrus opens the door with no hurry.
Not seeing any better course of action at the moment, and not wishing to rush into the building before his studier comrades, Orren let's his quarterstaff fly forward to strike the strange beast.
The staff quickly returns to his hand afterwards.
Round 2_____
Acrobatically move to (D,8)
Attack creature, using the swept basket hilt to do nonlethal damage.
for a possible nonlethal crush damage.
for a possible extra nonlethal crush damage.
Terwin casts shocking grasp and seeing little he can do that will not get in the way of his more martial companions elects to try a wild throw with his dagger. The blade comes close to hitting, but is easily dodged by the creature.
Moving swiftly past the creature, Navarro uses his hilt to strike out at it. His attack connects, bruising the creature badly.
Jia, Orren, and Terwin are all unable to hit their tough-skinned foe.
Chance quickly moves through his companions to find the one spot left to engage the enemy, drawing his blade as he moves and then slashes at the aggressive creature.
As Chance moves into the room and misses his swing, the creature takes the opportunity and lunges out at the ranger. It slams its fist into Chance, and grabs him. When it tries to readjust its grip, however, Chance is able to squirm away.
Seeing that there's not enough room to maneuver if he wished to aid combat against the creature, he moves to a corner and opens yet another door.
With the creature surrounded, Orren decides to search for the halfling, if he ask lives. He casts shield on himself before moving to G9 He tries to weave around the creature's blows.
But, he stumbles!
Jia tries to punch it in its faceless face.
Round 3_____
Attack creature, using the swept basket hilt to do nonlethal damage.
for a possible nonlethal crush damage.
Terwin casts shocking grasp, his palm crackling with lightening and moves into the room behind Chance, "Hit it and then step back so I can step in and zap it!"
Orren stumbles, but the doorframe keeps the creature from striking at him as he moves.
Chance takes another swing with his falchion before stepping back to make room for Terwin. His aim is true, but the blow is relatively weak. The creature seems to be struggling now, however.
In desperation, it lunges out at Jia, but it's arms flail wildly and miss the monk.
Terwin swings his crackling hand at the creature, but it is too quick for him and dodges aside.
Jia brings her fist in a up to meet the stalker with a fierce uppercut.
With a decisive blow, Jia takes down the creature, which falls to the floor in a heap. When the noise of combat dies down, a voice from upstairs calls out.
"Who's there? Is it gone?"
Orren waits to see if anyone will require assistance
edit: nevermind!
"Master Proudfoot?" Orren calls up the stairs. "We've taken care of this... creature here. Are you hurt?"
After Proudfoot's response he'll give a quick introduction. "We've been sent from Sandpoint to deal with the recent goblin attacks. Our hope is that you might be able to answer some questions. Any aid would be greatly appreciated!"
"Well that makes this entire situation a little less...invasive."
The aging halfling comes down the stairs slowly, sobbing with joy into his hands. He looks around at the crowd in his kitchen, and also notices the felled creature.
"Oh gods, how can I ever repay you? Come now, sit around the table and let me make you some tea anyway. I am more than willing to help your journey in any way that I can—I'll never be able to repay you for your help in getting me out of this dreadful mess."
"Thank you very much," he says, making a quick bow. "What exactly happened here anyway?" Orren follows the halfling into the kitchen. Once seated, he replies, "Oh, I've forgotten my manners, my name is Oreen Idleveil, and this is..." He quickly introduces the group to Proudfoot as he makes tea.
"So, you were kidnapped right?" Inquired Navarro.
"What was it looking for in the way of ransom?"
"Ah, forgive me everyone but should we really be so trusting just yet? Many creatures hunt in pairs, or packs, and while I doubt that is the case here prudence does dictate caution. Could you tell us the name of Sandpoint's Sheriff please Master Proudfoot?" Terwin asks, his hand extended carefully still crackling with electric energy.
While her erstwhile allies are harassing potential halfings, Jia Li is dragging the faceless stalker out of the house where she will make quite certain it is dead (and learn new and interesting facts about its anatomy.)
Cyrus appears from his exploration and acts like he had nothing to do with the newfound smashed in window in the house, no sir. Which is to say he ignores it completely and tries to see if this halfling is another one of those creatures.
Deciding that he probably isn't, Cyrus loses interest and goes out after Jia to learn new things!
Terwin's point is valid, if lacking in manners.
"Ahh, nothing to feel bad about—the sheriff's name is Hemlock," the halfling says matter-of-factly. "An old friend of mine, Belor. A good man."
"This whole situation has been dreadful. Just yesterday, I was tending the snakes it my garden—I do love snakes; they saved my life, and have before—when that creature came upon me and attacked. I wounded it with venom, but it found a way to pin me. It almost killed me, draining my blood out slowly, but I was just able to get away and flee to my safe room. When I heard the sounds of combat downstairs, I hoped for the best."
Terwin nods, "Well that is a relief. Do you have any idea what it was, or its purpose?"
"I've never seen one before, but many strange things live in the swamps here, so I'm not entirely surprised when I see something strange like this."
"And could you tell us about the local goblin situation?"
Orren nods. "A wise choice to have precautions ready, in such a dangerous place." He pauses to take a sip of the offered tea "Have you noticed any recent changes in activity in the area? Sandpoint has seen an uptick in goblin attacks as of late."
The halfling looks puzzled.
"That's rather odd—I've actually notices quite a bit less goblin activity than normal. I haven't seen a goblin in a few weeks, and that's definitely surprising.
Orren looks a bit puzzled by that revelation. "Curious indeed. I'd appreciate if you could detail your 'normal' interactions with the local goblins, please. And have you noticed any else out of the ordinary?"
The halfling thinks a moment, and then continues.
"Living in this marsh, I see many things, including goblins. They usually leave me alone, and I leave them alone. They live southeast of here, in the middle portion of the marsh, but they have been known to send scouting parties around the entirety of Brinestump; that's when I see them. But like I said, I haven't seen any in a while."
"How long have you been walking the marsh? I began seeing the prints of humans—dare I say even adventurer's? Their boots were more than just a commoner's boots—walking these marshes for more than a week. A group of them—perhaps they are your prints? If not, then two groups of humans traveling around Brinestump is unusual indeed."
"We only started within the day, though there were some prints on our trail as well."
"The goblins did mention longshanks already, something odd is clearly going on here... Could we prevail upon your hospitality for the night Master Proudfoot? It seems our course is to head south east, but a good nights sleep will stand us in good stead," Terwin says, dismissing his spell.
"Of course. I don't have much room, but you're all welcome to find a spot to sleep. Thank you again, and please let me know if I can help with anything else."
"We thank you, it has been a long journey here. If I could ask one more question of you before we retire: Do you know how we might locate the goblins' village?"
Chance listens intently, noting as much as he can from what the halfling says. He does not like being in the wilderness this much, but he will adjust.
"Thank you, Master Proudfoot, you are very kind," he says to the halfling at the offer of housing.
Once the time for talking is done, he will sit himself next to the front door, sword at his side and bow in his lap, sleeping beside the door to keep an ear close to it in case of someone entering the house uninvited.