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Seeing that his ad-hoc rhyme stylings are really demoralizing the Gripplings... Smoog lets loose with another...
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"If you bite off their heads
and you bite off their tails
and throw their skins away,
how on earth can anybody live
on a thousand worms a day?"
His fiery blade pierces the frog person's rubbery hide!
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Pork flies out of the cage with a chirp, his small form covered in MUD as he shifts from the form of a tiny to something more suitable for the occasion...
Now that Pork is free from that tiny coop, I need to remember to pick it up later. That might be useful in my next contraption.
Thunk, your weapon makes absolutely no sound as it crashes through the Grippli that are surrounding you. It's quite disconcerting to see the Grippli's entire arm go flying completely soundlessly as your bone-club tears apart flesh and bone in its wild swing. It only starts making sound again when it slaps to the wet ground. Even the Grippli you injured, who clutches at his stump and screams bloody murder, is not making any sound. Your gloves feel warm.
You pay the silently-screaming Grippli no mind. Smoog needs help! Who cares if your opponent got a frog in his throat? Not your problem. Stomping your feet in emphasis, you scream near-incoherently at Smoog's contraption as it spouts steam out of the sides, threatening to come apart under the intensity of Smoog's attack. Somehow, you shouting at it causes the blue-scaled kobold holding it to feel empowered, not intimidated by this crazy machinery that's going nuts in his claws. Gripping it more confidently, epic music starts playing out of a hitherto-undiscovered speaker from the underside of the steam cannon as it blasts the Grippli tribe from within the very smokescreen it helped create. Smoog's crazy rhymes mix with the music to echo the glory of Gorlaug the Corruptor's most insane concert nights.
The fog-cloud is cleared away by now - along with half of the Grippli ambush, as they scattered and fled the scalding steam. They're regrouping, but slowly...the other half was flanking you on the other side, waiting for their opportunity - and it is upon them now that they can see you again. A half-dozen Grippli nets come flying through the air at you, their weights giving them deadly aerodynamics. Flung is ready for them; when the net flies through the air in his direction, his spear spins overhead in a quick, experienced slash. The net falls on either side of him, in two pieces. Sees-Death, you aren't sure whether you might get hit by a net, but you know you have a clear shot on the Grippli wearing the biggest headdress. What do you do?
Grick is not so lucky. Blindly charging through a fog-covered bog isn't the smartest move a kobold could make, and the moment he emerged from the fog cloud alone, he was netted. You have two Grippli advancing on you with long, thin, poisonous spears, and you're netted on the ground.
Pork, you're right next to Grick when he gets ensnared. Mud rises from the swamplands around you and when it falls away, your scales have grown tougher, your draconic mouth more extended and powerful, and you have become quadripedal. A koboldodile (koboldigator?) you have become, and you have access to the following 3 Monster Moves:
Death Roll: Used to break spines when you have your prey firmly in your mouth, ideally by the neck.
Ambush Unwary Target
Devour Whole
Nearby, Hegh strains to escape the trap that the Grippli baited him into by sprouting wings of the dragon. However, he is channeling the power of a dead dragon, so dead wings are what he has sprouted. They cannot grant you flight. They're more like the Queen of Blades' claws, giving you a reach weapon, but no powers of flight. They also will not last very long. What do you do?
Pork waddles in front of Grick, his jaws open wide. He does not attack, instead getting inbetween and snaping at the spear wielding Froggies if they get to near in his attempt to defend Grick.
These gloves seem to have silenced my victim and the attack...fascinating.
Thunk's thump no thump! Thunk says.
Thunk swings at another frog, this time trying to shatter his leg.
As Hegh struggles vainly with the quicksand, he sees Shieldbearer standing helplessly at the side of the pit, unsure of what to do.
"Shieldbearer, protect the All-Eater's servant!"
Shieldbearer rushes to Thunk's side, swinging his shield around in an effort to distract Thunk's enemies.
Flung sneers at the Grippli which vainly tried to ensnare him with their feeble nets.
He then catches sight of the grunge head (Grippli with the largest headdress) and remembers that Grippli grunges are very sensitive and protective of their heads (some weird kind of frog-honor is involved, Flung surmises). Hoping to distract the head and some of the others from his fellow kobalds, Flung begins to taunt the frogs:
"Is that all you got, you pus-filled bag of dung! I've eaten frog legs that have more kick than your filthy grunge!" Flung yells. Then Flung really gets going. "If you were any self-respecting frog, you would meet me in the open for fair combat. Although, I don't suppose it would be fair for the likes of you" he sneers. "Are you frog enough? Or do we have to dispose of your puny tadpoles first?!"
Sees takes her talon-full of stones in a practiced hand. Knocking down stalactites in the removal caves was not only her favorite pastime, but an integral part of her job after the piercer infestation of ought-four. Resisting the temptation to simply, knock off the creature's fanciful hat, Sees takes aim at her Grippligangar.
Her eyes burn with determination as a few of the bullets hit the Grippli in a strike that would have taken the wind out of her in the least. "The heart of the mountain is bleeding, pond scum! Surrender now and flee this place, for by morning the skies will burn and the swamps will boil away! Your feeble pleasures here will mean nothing when the earth's bile overtakes the mire! Cease this foolishness if you have plans to see your loved ones before you burn! Lest we few Harbingers of Gorlaug's Last Will scour you from the mire ourselves!" As she maintains her position behind and between her comrades, Sees is poised to choose between another claw-full of stones and Gorlaug's horn.
Smoog rallies with Croco-Pork and together will work to free Grick. While the big-green-mouth-of-teeth holds the advancing pair of Grippli at bay, Smoog slices at the net surrounding Grick.
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Concentrating on the chunk of shard of fire in his hand, Fssst calls to the flames, pouring it into the water at the feet of the flanking Grippli, hoping to renew our steamy cover.
Flung's distraction allowed Sees to strike a direct hit on the leader of the grunge of Grippli. The enchanted rock strikes direct between the eyes and explodes with magical force, knocking the leader off his frog-mount and sending him careening backward into the swamp-water behind.
All of you can hear him sputtering as he struggles to right himself in the saddle. Smoog struggles to free Grick from the net, but it's cunningly locked in on itself in Grippli fashion now that it's been thrown. Pork snaps and bites at the spears of the Grippli, keeping them nervously at bay. Thunk is snarling, bringing his club o' bone back for another swing, when Sees-Death's cunning words cut through the conflict with sharp, authoritative clarity. There's a reason the bard thinks that her words can close wounds; she's a very powerful speaker. "Dragon-tongued," she used to be called by some.
you hear the spluttering Grippli leader shout. Immediately, the tribe backs off. While this is happening, the Immolator conceals the battlefield with steam slightly, making everything seem indistinct and smoky. The earth rumbles once again as far-off Moontower Mountain continues to shake and issue forth magma.
There's a tense pause in the combat. The steam continues to spread as Fsst pours his fire into the waters of the swamplands, creating mist all around you. What do you all do?
Smoog continues cutting the net-bonding that still holds Grick but otherwise ceases hostile gestures or curse-rhymes for now; waiting to hear further from the Grippli-in-Chief...
A few seconds pass, tensely. You saw furiously at the rope net binding the junior Shaman, eventually freeing him as Pork hisses warningly at the nearest spear-wielding Grippli. The frog-man blinks his second pair of eyelids over his wide, bright-red eyes.
The mists have obscured the main body of the Grippli tribe from your sight, kobolds, but you can hear them muttering to each other.
Hegh cries out in pain as he slams the tips of the bony claws emerging from his back into solid ground near him. He pulls as hard as he can, hoping to draw himself out of the quicksand trap.
You throw down thump things!
Pork waddles back to Grick and Smoog, shifting back into his Kobold form as he does so.
Best regroup with the others while this mist covers us...
He grunts as he grips his spear warily..
Thru whispers and gestures, Smoog urges Pork and Grick to slide towards Hegh to reform our Kobold integrity.
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Nicely done Hegh. With your shieldbearer grasping your forearms and aiding you, you yank yourself out of the quicksand trap and rejoin your allies. The blue-scaled one named Smoog appears to be gesturing and whispering at the others. Thunk shouts a command to them, but there's no immediate reply.
Hegh makes his way to Flung, eyeing the mist warily.
He whispers, "You fight wisely brother, I shall stand by your side."
Hegh takes up a position next to Flung, humbled by his failure.
Next time thump frog, not thump self. Thunk says to Hegh
Impetuous of this Dragon shifter. He must learn there is a time and place to charge off, and a time to let them come to you.
Hegh looks to Thunk as he speaks, and then looks to the frog men that fell before Hegh's breath and sword. He tilts his head as if listening to the wind for a moment.
"Gorlaug judges that you speak truly brother."
To call the murmers to order, Sees brings the horn of Gorlaug to her lips and lets out a low, sustained note. With the sounds of combat lifted, the voice of Sees-Death reaches the crowd herptiles. "Cousins, Gorlaug has fallen. The mountain weeps now, and will soon blacken the skies with its sorrow. We are headed to Bastion to hunt the murderous adventurers who did this. With the devastation to come, I would advise that you return to your spawning pools and make preparations for an exodus. Any of you who feel a kinship to our cause are welcome to follow, we could use a well-wetted eye to navigate in these swamplands, but we all must make haste. We have little to gain and everything to lose by fighting among ourselves.
Sees lifts the acorn angreal, "I have a token of healing, and any one of you who follows has my protection and patronage, and a share of spoils as we flee in search of recompense. Histories aside, the long-walkers have taken our home, and we mean to take their lives."
...that your pay is generous, take +1
...what you’re setting out to do, take +1
...that they’ll get a share of whatever you find, take +1
If you have a useful reputation around these parts take an additional +1.
On a 7–9 you’ll have to settle for someone close or turn them away.
Smoog is rightly impressed by Sees-Death's oratory skills. She has the crowd turning to her side. Hoping to help tip the scales firmly to the kobold cause, Smoog begins a low chant that rises as others join in...
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"Death to the long legs, Death to the Long Legs, DEATH to the Long legs!"
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If not, then Thunk will thump!
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Sees' face freezes in a grin, and her hand shoots out to Thunk's shoulder. Thunk can feel a tremor in the grip. Then, she whispers to him through grit teeth. "I will leave tasks of brawn to your capable claws if you'd just stand aside on this and any issue of diplomacy."
Clearing her throat, she addresses the Grippli, "Please excuse my companion, he's... not from around here."
so Thunk no thump? he whispers back
Ah no good cop, bad cop. Just good cop. Interesting...
Fssst's face leans out of the steam for a bare moment...
Thunk no thump.
Hegh whispers to Thump, "Rest your club thumpbrother, our time will come."
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Being trapped in the net gave Grick time to reevaluate his decisions which led him to being caught by the stupid frog people and he starts muttering under his breath...I must remember I'm a shaman not a fighter...I must remember I'm a shaman not a fighter...I must remember I'm a shaman not a fighter...I must remember I'm a shaman not a fighter...I must remember I'm a shaman not a fighter...
Smoog sneezes.
During the lull while the diplomats square off, Hegh turns to Smoog. "You are sick! Gorlaug's blood shall heal you!"
Before you can react, Hegh draws his sword across his chest, showering you with blood.
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Thunk squeezes Heghs stomach causing blood to spray more like a squeezed water bottle
aid
I was never a doctor, but if a little blood is good a lot should be better
Thunk no thump. Thunk help!
Thunk squeezes Heghs stomach causing blood to spray more like a squeezed water bottle
2d6+1 aid
I was never a doctor, but if a little blood is good a lot should be better
Thunk no thump. Thunk help!
Smoog's body uncontrollably transforms with Hardened Scales.
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"Thanks, I feel better I guess.... oh wait uh...
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"Oww....
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achoo."
You hear a whispered discourse between the members of the Grippli tribe. A discussion that is interrupted when Moontower Mountain rumbles and belches more fire high into the sky. The concussive force of the eruption creates a mighty wind that rips across the marshlands. Trees are bent near-sideways in the gale, and the smoke that Fsst has created blows away, exposing both sides to each other again.
But the Grippli do not have their weapons raised any more. All eyes are on the Mountain. Fear is naked on their faces and plain to see in their hearts. Their leader, wearing the tall headdress, steps forward and speaks. There is a large welt on his forehead from Sees-Death's missile.
"Gorlaug, curse his cruel heart, has still been a fixture of these lands. You say he is dead? His death has caused these violent eruptions? The lava will spread over all of this beautiful marsh?"
The leader of the grunge steps forward. "We will have no home when all is said and done." He strips his headdress from his head with shortened fingers, tossing it to the ground. "We must spread to the far winds, searching for new lands to make our home. I will take you by our secret ways to escape the eruptions that are to come. My name is Mik-Mik. I will guide you."
Without a further word, the rest of the Grippli disperse, each off to seek his or her own fortune. In the monstrous world, a new set of "adventurers" have been created from the death of these Marshlands that were home to so many.
As the kobolds regroup and assess their wounds, Smoog approached Hegh...
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”So, that thing where you spray your blood on people thinking you are helping?
Let’s wait and see if they actually need your help and are not just randomly sneezing, O.K.?”
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Then Smoog slaps Hegh on the back with a loud chuckle…
”Pretty cool though, the scales popping out of me like that and all!”
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Smoog then remembers the little cage and retrieves it still smiling to himself…
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A tisket, a tasket, a little birdy basket… Can I use this later, to catch an alligator?
Pork looks at Mk-Mik warily. before turning bback to the others
Well, what do you think? Should we trust him?
Sees picks up the grippli arm Thunk forcibly detatched. "This darling dear is no stranger to the wrath of a God. If anything he is glad to guide us to a target that is a bit further from home. He was taken in after an attempt to redistribute wealth to the less favored of Gorlaug's minions. A noble intent, if misguided.“ Sees flashes Mik-Mik a sympathetic smile. "He has made great personal sacrifice for his people. He serves no threat to us if we serve no threat to his people."
Thunk want shines! Thunk looks for treasure
Pig, you want Thunk keep safe? He asks Pork
Pork raises an eyebrow and snorts at Thunk
If Thunk see's Pig in trouble, then yes. If Thunk finds tasty eats, let pig know!
He takes another sip out of his wineskin, looking to see if the tribe leaves behind anything edible.