"Hey we could use the old fish trail? I mean it had to be abandoned for some reason... Could be because of goblin activity." Ayame said as she really started thinking on their task at hand.
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"Okay... I do not, like swamps." Ayame stated as she did her best to avoid anything that even remotely look liquidy. "Ganna need a bath after this..."
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Raiyume gives a slight chuckle at Ayame's remarks. "I think we're all going to need a bath...but at least on the bright side, the mud will help disguise some of our more...distinguished party members." Raiyume holds back the urge to throw a ball of mud at Dav. "And sure, if you feel that this old fish trail would be more suited towards the task at hand, I am definitely all for it. The sooner we get in and out, the better."
Raiyume keeps her eyes out for natural dangers within the swamp.
Dav does not hesitate to step into themud. His clothes could be cleabed, but he smiles as he steps in anyway. The dirt and grime doesn't detract from his apperance at all.
Now, let us to talk some sense into these goblins. Stop this without bloodshed. If we can of course. He says. I can speak their language, although I am a bit rusty. Conveying a message of peace will be fun. They seem to lack that word. The best I can say is friends and no killing. Try not to look like you want to kill them. I don't think that will help
"So lie? Because I do want to kill them. They threaten our settlements, kill our people and almost burned our town to the ground. I very much want to see these evil creatures dead. When your words fail I'll be here to help you give them the justice they deserve!"
Dav looked to the man in monks robes. You are wrong. Have you ever tried talking, or are you content to live life as a monster? Nothing that takes life without offering it a chance to see love and light is not justice. If you continue to think like this I advice you dig enough graves for your enemies and one for yourself. It will be a lonely funeral for a monster.
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Upon leaving the Lost Coast Road, descending from the Ashen Moors down into the marshlands, you find footing to be more difficult, even along the trails, where mud and puddles reach as high as ankle deep. Leaving the trails is much more arduous. At best, the mud is knee deep, and often is waist or chest deep and/or requires navigating thick underbrush, roots, and other obstacles. Leaving the "land" to the numerous waterways throughout the marsh requires either finding a boat of some kind or swimming.
A light fog limits visibility even in gaps the thick mass of plantlife does, although it doesn't dampen the sound of constant splashes, animal calls, and movements of birds and other creatures moving above you in the treetops. Sounds and movement always seem to be at the edge of your vision, with creatures quickly retreating into the mists or foliage. Mosquitos bring the dual annoyance of their constant buzzing and more than a few bites as you make your way along your journey.
As the group travels, Gozzamer makes tiny stops along the way, swatting and tasting mosquitos, picking blades of grass and smelling them, feeling moss covered bark, with Kobo ever by his side.
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Making your way along the Old Fish Trail, going is slow. At times, the trail seems to disappear where it's been washed out or overgrown, but Raiyume's ability to find signs of the trail keep anyone from getting lost for any great lengths of time. A couple hundred yards deep into the swamp, through the fog, Raiyume runs into strands of what seems like webs crossing the trail. At first, the thin strands are almost impossible to see through the thick fog, but after hitting the first few, it's apparent the webs are becoming more abundant.
While Raiyume clears some of the webs spanning the trail, she strains to see from the fog and is surprised to walk right into a much stronger stickier sheet of webbing. A spider the side of a human immediately scrambles down the web to attack it's prey, but she manages to fend of the giant arachnid while trying to struggle free.
vs flat footed.
Initiative (bold may post)
Dav
Giant Spider
Raiyume (Entangled)
Ayame
Ji-hwan
Sarhashil
Gozzamer
Battle Conditions:
Max visibility = 30' (6 squares)
Concealment (20%) on all ranged attacks over 15'
Every 3rd square counts as difficult terrain while following the trail.
Leaving the trail is 4 movement per square.
Spider is in the square directly above Raiyume, putting it within reach from the ground.
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The hairy spider locks it's two large eyes and six smaller eyes on Raiyume, opening and closing it's mandible claws as it attempts another strike at the woman's head.
vs flat footed/entangled.
Initiative (bold may post)
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Giant Spider
Dav
Raiyume (Entangled)
Ayame
Ji-hwan
Sarhashil
Gozzamer
Battle Conditions:
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Max visibility = 30' (6 squares)
Concealment (20%) on all ranged attacks over 15'
Every 3rd square counts as difficult terrain while following the trail.
Leaving the trail is 4 movement per square.
Spider is in the square directly above Raiyume, putting it within reach from the ground.
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Earlier - "Ew." Raiyume does not look enthused about having spiderwebs in her hair, and then when after the spider takes a bite at her the first time (since she missed it's descent), she looks up and says "guys, guys guys guys....I think we have a problem!"
First, Raiyume will try to break free from the webbing with an escape artist. If that is successful, she will take a 5 foot step back, hoping to provide a flank with whoever comes up to try to save her. Whether or not the escape artist is successful she will draw her katana last. "Guys, over here!" she shouts, knowing that the visibility is difficult, and she can't even see Gozzamer.
Seeing the spider above his ally shocked Dav, delaying him. He began to charge at it, pulling his greatsword for a upstroke, hoping to destroy the beast. As he swings he unleashes a loud roar, hoping to get the spiders attention.
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Dav gets a solid hit with his greatsword on the spider, cleaving through one of it's mandibles and at least two of it's eyes. The force of it shakes the web violently and gets the attention of the spider. Raiyume takes advantage of the distraction and the webs movement to pull herself free, stepping away and pulling her weapon. The spider looks to be severely injured, but it seems to try to focus it's other eyes on Dav as it's other mandible works overtime as the arachnid tries to adjust to it's diminished condition.
Initiative (bold may post)
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Giant Spider (10 dmg, wounded)
Dav
Raiyume
Ayame
Ji-hwan
Sarhashil
Gozzamer
Battle Conditions:
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Max visibility = 30' (6 squares)
Concealment (20%) on all ranged attacks over 15'
Every 3rd square counts as difficult terrain while following the trail.
Leaving the trail is 4 movement per square.
Spider is in the square directly above Raiyume, putting it within reach from the ground.
"I'm coming!"
Gozzamer tries to advance to help his new friends, but the swamp hampers his best efforts. With visibility being so low, the gnome can only just now see something attacking the front of the group.
"Kobo, go help!"
The black wolf runs ahead, having a better time of navigating the sodden land.
"Spiders... why is it always Spiders?" Ayame asked as she pulled a arrow from its quiver and took aim with her short bow, not wanting to get close to this eight legged thing in the slightest.
"Did I mention I really don't like spiders...?" The young Kaijitsu muttered.
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Initiative (bold may post)
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Giant Spider (10 dmg, wounded)
Dav
Raiyume
Ayame
Ji-hwan
Sarhashil
Gozzamer
Battle Conditions:
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Max visibility = 30' (6 squares)
Concealment (20%) on all ranged attacks over 15'
Every 3rd square counts as difficult terrain while following the trail.
Leaving the trail is 4 movement per square.
Spider is in the square directly above Raiyume, putting it within reach from the ground.
Ji-hwan was about to reply to the Half-Orc before the beast attacked. He gritted his teeth and moved up after the man, beside the little Ninja. Pulling a tonfa from the sash at his waist, spinning it up and in to rest against his forearm, he raised his shield high before jabbing out at the spider.
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Ayame's shot goes wide right by a large margin as the spider fixes is gaze on Dav and begins positioning itself to attack. Ji-hwan is able to slip up to the spider taking advantage of the blind spot that resulted from the Dav's blow moments earlier. He smashes it in the head with the sound of cracking exoskeleton, sending the spider falling from the web to the ground. The legs and mandible move for several more seconds before going limp.
Looking at the web, making sure there is no more spiders readying an attack, Raiyume can barely make out a cocoon of some kind hidden by the fog and the willow branches. It's about 20 feet in the air, hanging from one of the tree branches.
"I did say that I hate spiders right?" Ayame asked as she walked around trying to find where her arrow went.
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Raiyume skillfully scales the tree, cutting down the cocoon. The halfing-sized sack drops to the ground below with a thud after a slice of the web in the right place.
After opening the sack, a goblin is found inside. It is obviously dead and a search of it's body finds small leather armor covered in sticky webbing, a dagger tucked into the goblin's belt, and small bag with 13 copper coins.
"Ehh!" The gnome looked at the dead goblin mwith a mixture of sympathy and disgust. "What a way to go."
Using his dagger, Gozzamer cut a hand-sized strip of webbing from the carcass, and began to pull it apart to look at the lattice.
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The goblin shows signs of poisoning and large bite (presumably spider) bites. You believe he's been dead for no more than a day, and that it's broken bones are postmortem from the fall from the tree.
The webs across the trail are dense enough, it takes almost ten minutes of coordinated effort to clear the trail and get beyond the obstacle.
Once you get moving again (no hurry, you can discuss what happened, investigate the goblin, etc) you can hear occasional splashes to the right (north), indicating that significant water and some kind of creature(s) aren't far off in the fog, even though it's beyond sight.
"Okay... Yeah that is disgusting." Ayame said as she rejoined the group. "Poor little bugger." She sighed, must have been a terrible death.
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"Well, at least that spider won't be capturing any more wayward prey. Lets keep our eyes on the prize, guys." Raiyume quickly glances around the area, knowing that the mist hides dangers from her eyes, and teases her ears.
Raiyume puts away her bow and keeps her katana out, figuring that with mist this deep she'd be better off closing in for combat, as opposed to getting a shot off first.
Looking at the goblin's ears, Gozzamer poses a philosophical question.
Would it be considered 'cheating' if someone took these goblin ears for the bounty?"
Sarhashil had been too slow to really even focus on the battle that had happened so quickly. He was however happy that no one got hurt in the process. After all the mucking about thus far in the swamp, he noticed that his charge had been walking rather deeply in the nasty.
He walked up behind here and prodded her gently with a finger before pointing upward indicating he would be willing to put her on his shoulders. "Up?" he offered.
"Oh. Thank you Sarhashil-san." Ayame said with a smile. "But I think it would only be fair if I walk."
"Also, I don't think we should take this ones ears. It wouldn't be right. Poor thing died to this spider after all." Ayame pointed out.
Sarhashil nods slightly and blinks a bit as listens to her. "Killed spider that killed him...our kill in turn." he offered.
Ayame held up a finger as she began to say something, then stopped for a moment and shrugged. "This, I cannot deny." She grinned to Sarhashil.
Listening to the advice of others, the gnome takes his dagger and removes the ears of the goblin.
Dav glared at the gnome as he cut the ears off. He then turned to Sol. As I was saying before we were so rudely interrupted by the spider, you may want to grab a shovel.
He slid his massive blade back into its sheath. He looked at the group once more, reconsidering his decision too wait for them instead of just running off on his own. Before we go on, who is going to try to fight the goblins before I have a chance to talk?
Sarhashil stands there and stares at Dav for a few moments before his tongue licks his lips and he looks at the the two ladies and gnomes slowly each in turn. "I defend these...My clan isn't at war at the moment...I don't attack on sight" he got out with an elongated and semi strained pause between each sentence.
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"I'll let you talk first, big guy...I just don't intend on being struck first." Raiyume sighs, knowing that this conversation was coming, just not enjoying it. "I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Sure, there's a chance that this can be solved just by talking. What happens if they *do* attack on sight, then? Are we not supposed to defend ourselves? I guess what i'm asking is...at what point are we no longer negotiating? I mean, what if we walk into their village and their stringing people up and skinning them alive? What if they captured people at that village and are in the process of making half goblins? We can both toss out what if's all day and night until we're blue in the face, but if you want my sword in it's scabbard, I'd like to know the point at which yours leaves it's own."
Dav gives Raiyume an appreciative look. You are right. Odds are this will be difficult if not improbable. I am not Shelyn. I can't make their hearts see the wrongs they have done in the past. But I can try. And that is what I will do. As for when my sword leaves my scabbard. That one isn't difficult. If they choose hate over love and refuse to listen they will have forced my hand, and you can collect my share of ears while I dig them proper graves.
As he says the last part he takes a look at the dead goblin. Every creature deserves that much.
Sarhashil tilts his head as the two exchange rather complicated ideology to him. He points his long fingers at the Goblin and then at the spider. "Nature...has proven it's strength. Nature has claimed them...It is best to leave them to nature or nature will strike to feed itself." he said trying to get his thoughts into words to spread to the others.
"You jest yes?" Ayame asked Raiyume. "One does not cook bugs." She said with a shiver.
Sarhashil stared blankly for a little while before shrugging. He looked at the spider and leaned over and grabbed a hold of one of the legs and ripped it right off and looked at it before giving it a sniff.
Sarhashil nods after a moment and carefully extracts the other leg pieces. He then looks at the others. "Pretend it is crab. We cook with some tubers over low heat and coals...break joints and pull meat out. Should be tasty." he said nodding his head a bit as he looked at them.
He paused for a while and then looked out into swamp "Hope find croc....maybe sleeping croc. It better food and fill us for more than one meal." he said nodding.
"Before we go on, who is going to try to fight the goblins before I have a chance to talk?"
Looking up at the large half-orc , the gnome is trying to deternmine humor in his words.
"My earliest memory is of being a very young gnome, crying in the middle of a goblin camp, which is most likely were my parents died, whom I only vaguely remember.""I don't consider myself a hateful person, but goblins are hateful. They are more likely to kill you, just so they can claim your gear". Taking a step forward the paladin, Gozzamer continues, "Do you really think Golarion will be lessened by the death of such evil creatures?"
Davlamin looks down at the gnome. Do you think Golarion would be lessened by your death? It is easy too judge goblins when you grow up not knowing what they have to face. It is easy to judge anything. But all things have a choice between hate and love. Some just don't know it yet. But you aren't any better than they are of you think that you should slaughter them instead of trying to talk. All you are doing is giving other goblins reasons to kill, which will lead to your death. And then your friends will want to avenge you. It's an endless cycle. I must fix my statement to the monk robes there. If you go out for vengeance be sure you dig a grave for everyone in the world.
"Can a chicken rationalize his existence with a fox? Does an earthworm feel sympathy for a hungry bird? Goblins see my kind as either entertainment or food. As I have stated, I'm not a hateful person, but I won't lose much sleep over the death of creatures who only want to see me suffer."
Kobo comes up and nuzzles Gozzamer's hand, so the gnome pets his wolf friend.