Tora no Senaka - The Back of the Tiger (Inactive)

Game Master Dreaming Warforged

The splashing water is obscuring the goblin. Raith keeps the head in sight and does two twisting punches.

Crane: AC 19/CMD 21
Flurry: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 (1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4)
Flurry: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12 (1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5)

Izumi feels Garand's blessing flow over him, striking with his longsword first, and his shield afterwards, raining blows on the chief.

Longsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 (1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6)
Spiked Shield: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 (1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4)
Shield Critical Confirm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 (1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6)

Izumi exults as blows finally hit the creature.

The joined efforts of Raith and Izumi put Chief Gutwad in an awkward position, where Izumi's blade finally finds deep purchase.

The leader of the Licktoad Goblins gurgles as it sinks slowly in the waters of Brinestump Marsh, in an expanding pool of blood, amid the long blades of grass that have fallen around it.

You are wet and exhausted...

Good job!

Izumi exhales deeply, finally feeling his wounds. The adrenaline of battle suddenly leaving almost causes Izumi to slip and fall into the bog. Izumi closes his eyes a moment and finds his centre, deep breaths. Empty your mind, his father would tell him.

Still bleeding, but now more stable, Izumi attempts to fish the chief's body from the water, including his longbow. He may have been a coward, but he died honourably in battle, and Izumi intended to see his body buried with his weapons, like a warrior.

Pavel wipes the sweat from his brow, sheathing his sword.
"Good juh'job, guys.", he says. His hand moves out to pat the bear-spirit, but he stops, thinking better of it.
"Luh'let's get to dry luh'land and turn out his p'pockets. Buh'bet Davril won't muh'mind havin' two goblin chiefs to duh'decorate the stable."

"Damn. That's more work than a day breaking stone.", Raith rests his hands on his thighs, "Anyone ever says fighting is lazy work I'll think them a fool. I feel like we been going at it from dawn to dusk. I need some food and drink.", he looks at Izumi, "You get his blade? Probably dropped it in the muck.".

"Garand managed to save one so we can question it. If you want to cut down the one that was strung up, I think that we should be reasonably safe doing so now, just keep your eyes open for any stragglers."

Sorin begins the slow and grisly task of collecting the ears and searching the bodies in the various rooms where they were left. As he moves among the dead, depositing the grisly trophies in a bag that he found in one of the rooms, he keeps his eyes open for anything of value or interest in the rooms or on the bodies.

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

A strange silence surrounds you. The din of battle has been replaced by your slowing panting and the sloshing of waters.

Slowly you carry the body back up the trapdoor to the Licktoad Hall and collect whatever loot you can find.

Inside the “treasure room”, you find a single beautiful red chest. This chest is obviously a work of art, once the mud and filth that encrust its lacquered sides and velvet interior are cleaned off. Its delicate etchings of cranes and frogs playing along a beach identify it as being of Minkai manufacture. Inside the chest lies the remaining treasure of the Licktoad tribe: six masterwork shuriken, 329 sp and 112 gp in loose coins and a long hairpin with a red pearl at one end.

Chief Gutwad carried two skyrocket fireworks, two healing potions, a shortbow (long for him) of great quality with four arrows remaining. His chainshirt armor is of fine craftsmanship, but sized for a halfling.

Outside, Garand is working on the surviving goblin, bringing it back slowly to consciousness.

You finally bring down the corpse of the tortured goblin from the mast in front of the hall. Pinned on him are some papers with writings on them. It seems the goblin had committed the vile act of writing; one of the worst crimes for goblins. Stuck in his mouth is a gold-and-ivory fan depicting a gecko walking amid cherry blossoms. The fan is very precious and is also of Minkai make. A crude map has been painted on the reverse side...

Knowledge (local or geography)
Loot detail in the game profile. Let me know if you put an item on your sheet.

Knowledge (Local) 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

I'm taking the 6 MW shuriken.

Sorin examines the map scrawled on the back of the fan.

Knowledge: Geo 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"I don't think that we should sell this until we determine what this map leads to."

"I believe that this fan correlates with the swamp that we are currently in. If you look at these marks...here...and here, I am certain that they indicate the village as well as some of the coastline. The maps appear to lead to two sites of interest. I would suggest that we see if we can determine if ether of these two sites is where the fireworks came from. I would like to be certain that we have gathered them all so the next goblin tribe that live here, as I am certain there will be, does not have a cache of weapons to cause problems with."

Sorin continues to examine the map, looking for any further clues to the surrounding swamp, especially the lair of a dangerous creature that might have taken Izumi's katana.

Can I do more study on the map to see if it has any more info? I am hoping that we can find information that takes us to the critter's lair. Or alternatively gives us any info on the remainder of the swamp.

Knowledge (geography) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Garand voices another incantation in a sing-song voice, and examines the area for the glow of magic.

detect magic and Perception check to see if we missed anything. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

"These flasks contain magic." he says, pointing at the two potion vials that the Chief carried. "I have no more healing for the day, so we should either rest here before seeking out whatever creatures menaced these goblins, or return to the town for healing before pressing on."

Pavel scratches the back of his head through the sodden tangle of his hair.
"Yuh'yeah, that sounds s's'smart. Wuh'we can check on the huh'horses and plan our nuh'next move.... we oughtta s'suspend the chief there so nuh'nothin' eats 'im before we can shuh'show Hemlock we put 'im down. Guh'gotta be worth extra, right?"

Izumi looks around the group, taking an assesment: "Magic or no, those potions won't get us too far if we have to split them between five people, and I'm sure your friend would like some healing as well Garand." Izumi pauses to consider, wincing as he aggravates a cut by moving. "I've no wish to see the chief's body treated like a prize. He fought like a warrior and died with honour, and should be treated with the same respect we would afford our own dead."

The only thing Izumi has his eye on from the loot is the bow, but he's definitely not on the top of the list for the bow hah.

Raith nods, "Tramping around the swamp half-ready is a sure way to end up being buried in the swamp.".

Raith smiles, "Extra for the chief's head eh, Pavel. I think we can probably talk the chief up to Old Hemlock. Get a few more coins for our trouble.".

"I believe the bounty for the chief was 300gp, though I can't be certain." Izumi has no problem with trying to get a bigger bounty, as the chief was a skiled fighter, and so says nothing on it.

Raith grunts, "I've no respect for goblins. Chief would have had his people killing our dogs, women, and children for their dinner pots. Glad to see the little rats dead. You want to make as though the chief deserves "honor", you go right ahead. Don't expect me to treat him any differently than I would treat a dead rat."

Pavel looks at Izumi like he's grown a second head.
"Y'yeah, what Raith said. J'just a goblin in bigger br'britches with a nuh'nicer bow. Had to c'corner him like a rat, even. You wuh'want honor, man, let's fuh'find your sword once wuh'we're all rested. And once Hemlock puh'pays us, hell, you can buh'bury 'im wherever your want. Stuh'stuff 'im and put 'im on the muh'mayor's porch, even."

"How we treat the dead is part of what makes us different from them." is all Izumi says before moving away, pretending to be examining something in the Hall. Unsure if he's angry or confused about his companions' lack of understanding. After a couple moments, Izumi returned, his mind more clear. To each his own.

The day is pretty advanced as the group settles. Pavel is certain they could reach the road before dark, if they don't get lost, if they don't face some swamp monster and if they have no trouble climbing the cliff back...

Garand points to the bound goblin, wondering whether the group still wants to interrogate it here or bring it back with them.

"So we are spending the night, here in the village, correct? We could pull down one of these houses to make a large campfire. I am certain that will scare off most of the creatures of the swamp. Then in the morning we can determine our way forward."

Izumi shrugs "If that's the desicion of the group. It's not the first time I've had to rest in such squalor. It may be too late to return through the morass." Izumi begins removing his armour, going slowly to not open his wounds.

Raith looks over at Pavel after Izumi wanders off, "That one was always strange. You would think we told him we were going to make a little pot of goblin stew or something. We aren't going to eat the damn goblin, but we aren't going to show no ambushing, dog killing, human eating goblin any damn respect either. I say it's why we kill and who we kill that separates us from them. You get respect when you're dead, if you were respectable while you were living is what I say."

Raith squats gives the ground a good hard stare while he thinks, then says, "Sorin, so you think we should stay here for the night? We got every goblin ear we could take at this village. I think that big goblin we killed was Chief Gutwad. These fire sticks must be the secret weapon Old Hemlock was told about. Do you feel as though we have some reason to stay in the village? I can see something strange did happen here, and maybe we should be concerned. But is staying in the middle of the village with a fire going waiting to see if whatever killed these goblins comes back the best way to go about figuring this riddle out? I don't know. I think we need to get what information we can out of the goblin and move to safer ground or fortify one of these goblin houses and hole up in it. These goblins were afraid of something. Maybe we should be too.".

Pavel looks concerned.
"Wuh'we're not gonna luh'leave the horses, right? Thuh'they're back waiting for us outside the muh'marsh. Muh'must be getting hungry by now..."

He nudges the captured goblin with his foot.
"Hey! Wuh'wake up, ugly! Got suh'somethin' to ask ya!"

"Raith, I am concerned that we will not make it out of the swamp before dark. But I will defer to Pavel. If he believes that he can safely steer us out of the swamp, even after twilight, then I retract my reservations."

Sorin, ever practical, looks critically at the chief's body.

"I do not believe we will be able to abide by Izumi's wishes. I do not think that we will be able to move out of the swamp with any speed if we are carrying a rotting corpse. Raith, we should remove the head. Then it will fit in the bag of ears."

The waking goblin, seeing the state of his fellows and chief, quickly spills his guts:

Izumi will stand by, watching the interrogation, ensuring his allies do not act dishonourably. After they have finished, Izumi will ask Raith to ask the goblin if he would like to commit the honourable Sepukku.

Assuming Sepukku exists in Golarion, Izumi would see the chief as the "daimyo" of the Licktoads.

Raith tells Sorin, "The head should be good enough for Hemlock."

Raith translates, "Something about they didn't know. They found some treasure in a deep cave. They gave all the treasure back after they were attacked by skeletons with red eyes and swords. I guess the skeletons killed a bunch of the little rats before they gave it back. That corpse we found outside must have been one of the skeletons.".

Raith asks the goblin:

After the goblin answers our questions, Raith looks at Izumi and gives him an "Are you serious?" look and does as he asks,

"Curious. The artifacts we have found, and the clothes and weapons of the skeletons would correlate with something that I have been working on for a long time. I would never have thought to find a possible connection, here in the swamp, so close to Sandpoint."

Sorin barks a short unpleasant laugh, as if he is angry and disgusted with some subtle irony that only he is privy to.

"It seems that we have more explorations to accomplish in this swamp beyond looking for Izumi's sword. We should find out the source of these skeletons and destroy them. I am certain that Hemlock would agree now that our primary task is complete. So what say you? Return the ears and head, then return here, or remain the night and continue our explorations in the morning? I will confess, with this new information, I am eager to discover the source of these skeletons."

Raith frowns and looks sideways at Sorin, "I didn't come out here to fight the dead. If you think these dead folk might be a threat to Sandpoint, we should look into it.", Raith pauses and continues, "I know nothing about fighting the dead, I damn well hope you know what you're doing. Or we're going to end up deader than they are."

"Wu'walking dead, huh? Let's make 'em duh'deader. Raith, can y'you ask the goblin if thuh'there's a fast way out of the muh'marsh? Don't feel ruh'right, leavin' the horses tuh fuh'fend for themselves if we guh'got the option."

Pavel scratches absently behind his ear.
"W'What's 'supper-ku'? Seems like all you guh'guys know this stuff 'cept me. If it's whuh'what it sounds like, I could go for some."

Raith tells Sorin, "The head should be good enough for Hemlock."

Raith translates, "Something about they didn't know. They found some treasure in a deep cave. They gave all the treasure back after they were attacked by skeletons with red eyes and swords. I guess the skeletons killed a bunch of the little rats before they gave it back. That corpse we found outside must have been one of the skeletons.".

Raith asks the goblin:
** spoiler omitted **

After the goblin answers our questions, Raith looks at Izumi and gives him an "Are you serious?" look and does as he asks,

** spoiler omitted **

At Raith's first question, the goblin bows his head down, seemingly ashamed somewhat:

At the second question, the goblins eyes go wide and he becomes restless, testing its binds.

While the village can't easily be fortified to stand an assault, it certainly offers shelter from wild life. Your search also revealed food, though not of the best quality, to say the least...

Sandpoint is not that far, there is still a slim chance that you make it out of the marsh before dark.

Decision time! If you rest here, you gain back 2 hp for the night.

"Taking a day to return to Sandpoint before coming back to face the undead may be a wiser path." Garand says. "My healing may suffice to bring Izumi and bear-spirit to full health, but we will have no healing for the battle itself."

After a nights rest, Pavel will be at 7 of 12, Raith at 9 of 11, Sorin 7 of 7, Izumi 3 of 12, Garand at 9 of 9 and Bear-spirit at 6 of 14 hit points.

Spending an entire day here, if Garand can make a long-term Heal check, would add +2 hp to everyone, but the horses might get eaten by something before we get back to them...

Raith says to Izumi, "The little rat don't seem to want to kill himself. You might have to do the job for him.".

Raith says to the group, "You all know this business better than I do, but as I see it we're not in the greatest shape. Could be tough defending ourselves if something attacks us during the night."

I'm fine staying in the swamp in a goblin house. We should try to track the skeletons and locate the cave before the trail gets too old. Every day that passes makes it harder for Pavel to track. Horses should be alright for a day I imagine.

"Garand, you said that those vials contained healing draughts? That may suffice to bring us into fighting condition. I suggest we stay here for the night. Our horses should be fine."

Turning to Pavel, Izumi explains: "Sepukku is a way to redeem one's honour in the face of a shameful defeat. It involves killing one's self by cutting open the stomach. It's considered an honourable death among the warriors of Minkai."

Izumi glares at Raith. "Very well, I suppose I am the only one with the stomach for such things." Izumi draws his sword and aims to cleanly cut the goblin's head from it's shoulders. The pang of guilt lingers, but Izumi remebers that it could've chose an honourable death.

Izumi's vote is for staying in the marsh, if it comes to that.

Dammit Izumi, you are too fast! I had such a great post worked up: pathos, honor, betryal, redemption...in 2 paragraphs!

"Fine. Garand thinks that it is not wise to remain and Pavel is worried about the horses spending the night at the edge of the swamp. I will add my decision to the pile and I believe we have a quorum. Izumi, I will most certainly return with you to deal with the undead and find your sword, but for now, the prudent course set by our wilderness experts is that we head back to Sandpoint immediately."

Sorin checks to ensure that the treasures, trophies and the fan have been packed up, swings his backpack on his shoulders and motions to Pavel.

"Pavel, if you don't mind, would you please lead us out of here?"

Raith meets Izumi's stare with a hard one of his own, "You were the one wanting to treat these little rats with honor. I'm respecting your request. I'll gladly break its neck if you would prefer. I have no pity for a goblin."

Once he sees Izumi's going to finish the goblin, he moves away from it.

"Going back is fine by me. A warm meal and a dry bed is preferable to staying in a goblin house.", says Raith.

Izumi is going to lay claim to the bow if Garand doesn't want it? Sorry Sorin!

"Breaking it's neck isn't a very clean death. No need for more suffering in the world, even that of a goblin."

"Very well, I defer to those with more expertise." Izumi begins to back up the loot and equipment. Realizing it would be impractical, as Sorin says, to carry the chief back through the marsh, Izumi grimaces. A hard decision. Izumi arranges the body and removes the creature's head with his sword. He balks at it, but it is practical.

With that, he is set.

Pavel looks more confused than ever before responding to Izumi.
"Thuh'that sounds puh'painful. Isn't it kuh'kind of a bad precedent to stuh'start expecting every goblin you meet to be fuh'familiar with your suicide customs?"
He thinks about it for a second, frowning.
"So... the chief- who ran away and we had to cuh'corner- deserved to be interred with "uh'honor" while this guy- who fuh'fought but we knocked him out and took him pruh'prisoner- we can just huh'hack to pieces and throw in the marsh, while he's unarmed? Suh'seems like your code just fuh'favors whoever's a big shot, to hell with the ruh'rank and file."

He shrugs.
"Whuh'whatever. To each his own. Let's guh'get out of here."
Back to town it is.

Raith helps Izumi secure the loot.

We all start back to the horses. Hopefully we make it.

The companions set forth, packing everything on their shoulders, except perhaps for the bag of head and ears, dangling on a hip.

The trees and the silence are oppressive, and for a while, all of you wonder whether you've made the right gamble; this is no place to walk at night...

The skies darken, a sure sign that the sun is about to set when you get to the cliff. A short climb later, you reach the edge of the road, with your horses still where you left them.

As you turn to look at the view over the marsh, the sun sets behind the sea and the sky lights up, if only for an instant, with a sharp shade of green...

Three young boys are lying on the grass nearby: "They're back! Wow! Wa happ'd ta ya all?!"

You all start to head back, learning that the boys had been sent to get your horses but had arrived too late and decided to make it a day in the field, a somewhat unwise decision.

Raith can't believe these boys are here. "What fool sent you boys out here? Goblins are known to be in the area. Now don't come out again. Damn."

Before leaving the marsh:

"The chief could've easily escaped us. We might have never found him, all he had to do was slip away while we were searching in the mire. But he chose to fight. That is something to be honoured, Pavel, goblin or no. He may have been a murderer in life, but he met his end with honour."

On the return trip to Sandpoint:

"Well, we have finished our task, but I do not think we have found everything we can in that marsh by far. A quick rest, maybe some wine would do me just fine. It will be another long day tomorrow." Izumi is speaking to whomever will listen, but most likely Sorin.

Sorin climbs into the saddle, looking for all the world like he is climbing a mountain. Reaching the summit, it is plain to any true rider that there would be little difference between Sorin and a sack of potatoes in the saddle...other than the sack wouldn't do anything that might confuse the horse.

On the return ride Sorin considers Izumi's words.

"That is a fine idea Izumi. A warm meal, a glass of wine and an early night, so we can get back out here and explore further. As for the lads, we shouldn't be too harsh on them. I think that they can help us tomorrow."

Sorin turns in the saddle to briefly regard the boys in the sunset's dying crimson rays.

"We should have one or more of the boys ride out with us tomorrow. Then take the horses back to town when we leave. They can ride out at sunset each day afterwards until we return...and pay the whole group, say, five coppers a day?"

The boys explain that they know the country very well and that their father had sent them to look after you and the horses and report any trouble, not fight, though they have a crossbow with them and each has a sword.

Sorin, as he looks at the jade-like sunset, is reminded of a note he read years ago...

The return to Sandpoint is done under the cover of darkness. The oldest boy says: "So what happened? Did you see any goblins? Did'ya see the Brinest'mp Monster?!? ... Dad said ya c'ld spend the night at Ameiko... We'll go tell the Shuriff of yar return!"

With that, they part, scuttling away in the darkness of the streets...

After the map is transfered and the fan gets cleaned: each one's share = 278 gp, 3 sp and 2 cp, including the ears. If you want that money to spend, you have to stay another day in town.

Pavel nods at Sorin's idea.
"If their puh'pa's okay with it."

With the horses returned, the big ranger will have a drink and some food at the Rusty Dragon before turning in.
Nothing I want to buy just yet, so I don't need to take the day for shopping.

Raith heads on over to The Rusty Dragon with Pavel to see his favorite lady.

I don't want to hold anything up, but if I can grab a few cure light wounds potions, I'd like to do it.