With the last of the kolbolds dead Poke Poke starts collecting up the goods. Picking up the the shinier dagge, Poke Poke compares it to his own. He notices the craftmanship seems to be nicer and more balanced that the ones Grumpy made. Poke Poke clips the sheath for it on to his belt without a second thought.
Poke Poke looks at the papers, puts on in his mouth and quickly spits it out and tosses the other ones away with it.
"YUK! Those makes no sense."
Poke Poke dumps all the coin into one of the sacks and walks over to the ranger. "Hey Stinky, you carry. We devide later"
Calain holds his hands out helplessly.
He was carrying nothing other than the dagger at his waist and was in his breeches.
Trade for what?
"Weve got a buncha dead kobolds over here! And maybe some daggers and stuff. What or who are ya talking with, Calain?"
Calain as you look down at your waist you do notice several fat leeches that have attached themselves to your juicy warm flesh.
Bushy hair covers the head and face of a rugged humanoid with thick, powerful legs and a round waist that significantly overshadows a slight upper torso and seemingly atrophied arms. This creature is wearing a hodgepodge of animal hides and he is holding a club in his hand and javelin on his back.
The simple answer to Calain's question, "Fuud." He motions with his free hand to his mouth.
Dr. Tes tries to figure out who Calain is talking to over there.
Morabo typically master thrown and hurled weapons, javelins and slings in particular, along with light and one-handed weapons. Though they are not an inherently militaristic or warrior culture, morabo never back down from a fight, regardless of the odds against them. Fidelity, courage, and conviction run through their blood. Indeed, they refer to death in battle as “the final, sinking step to the nether world.” In their world, it is an honorable demise remembered forever around the twisting, black smoke of the ever burning peat fires.
At their cores, morabo are gruff individualists who take nothing for granted. In their unforgiving world, one momentary lapse in judgment or concentration can have fatal consequences. While most people would move on and abandon their desolate bogs for proverbially greener, tamer pastures, the morabo feel an otherworldly connection to the land.
They treat strangers with great caution, and if provoked they can unleash a tremendous amount of rage, but they also give others a fighting chance to gain their trust and win their friendship. Wetlands dwellers quip that “an encounter with a morabo can earn one a friend for life or a partner in death.”
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Calain as you look down at your waist you do notice several fat leeches that have attached themselves to your juicy warm flesh.
** spoiler omitted **
I think we can manage some food for you.... Calain calls over his shoulder, What can we offer the boats owner in Food? He is willing to trade.
Calain was beginning to feel a little at ease and started picking at the leeches about his waist
and then into his breeches to remove the ones getting precariously close to his.....
"If he wants dead kobolds, we have a bunch of them. Otherwise, some rations maybe? We can spare a bit of non-lizard-person food I suppose."
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"We have a dog." Poke Poke says looking over at Jerry the wolf
I have some rations
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" Lizards guud...yum." He rubs his tummy. He points towards Poke poke Gobo? Give paddles too if yous let me eat gobo." His gapping mouth smirks. "Show you way too if we gets to cook 'em and eat him first...No tricks. Squishy eyes juicy." A little bit of drool begins to run from the other of his mouth.
"Maybe Poke Poke gut and eat you. You no see Poke Poke coming."
Poke Poke small... Ask him where big food?
"Well, were kinda using this goblin for now. Hes quite the singer and very handy with those little knives of his. Perhaps the kobolds and a couple of days of rations will suffice?"
Bradan lugs as many kobolds as he can into a pile, then takes out a couple days worth of rations to add.
We use goblin to check for danger. Dangle in water to check for crocs
"Morabo! The reptiles are yours, and we have more to give. The goblin is an individual who deserves respect. This goblin has mastered both blade and word. Let us all show respect to each other."
The Morabo looks at Dr. Tes, and the others, speaking from the across the swamp and frowns in diappointment. The creature is hesistant but he signals to the tree, this gesture results in two more Morabo dropping down to the ground. It's more of an agile leap than a drop.
The lead morabo who has been communicating with you begins to pull the canoe into the water. He motions for one of his tribe to get in the canoe and together they begin to paddle towards the shoreline where the main party is located and the food offerings.
They leave Calain, and one of the Morabo, behind on the hummock. "Stay...we be back." Clearly suggesting that they were going check out the food before giving the canoe over to Calain.
Very well. Yes we will wait. Beorn is willing to extend some trust to the Morabo.
The two Marobo's arrive to the shoreline. they half handely tug the canoe a foot onto shore. They aren't overly concerned with it floating away.
'Me Mullit, he's Krab...lets look at the lizard folk." he sniffs the air. "Small very little meat," He picks and pokes at few of the kobolds. "You sure no gobo,,,we cook and eat him....then we show you how to go. Gobo is always a guud meat...juicy eats and tender hearts."
Maybe if he tried to kill us, but Poke Poke hasn't and won't attack you.
Bron turns to poke poke and tells him,
Druuc'd ogaac dec akuur akhalec daal dekhuur lhoreklelakhec, okhaageraan A ghuul kaar daal or o.
Anyways, just checking no one needs healing?
He says in a more cheery voice.
Poke Poke with draws his daggers and the creature mention of eating him, but hearing the humans words starts to back away rounding a tree out of the view of the swamp things.
One of the Marobo stands guard near the canoe, his eyes are constantly moving, and he sniffs the air. His upper lips twitches as his nostrils flare.
The creature that has been doing all the talking thus far walks around the pile of dead kobolds. He jabs his javelin into each one as if he is testing the freshness or simply assuring they are dead. "Other fuud yous said. Don't see nuthin but dead lizards." His bushy eyebrows raise as he makes this point. "Me canoe is better than jus'dead mudcrawlers." You can see his canoe is a patchwork of wood and stretched skins and it only big enough for 3 medium sized creatures.
"Me Mullit, he's Krab."
Bradan unslings his pack and removes a pair of ration packs, handing them over to the two creatures.
"Here is the travel food we promised."
To the others:
"This is a good start, but this one vessel won't be enough for all of us. Maybe someone gifted with their words can convince our new friends to tell us where some drier land might be?"
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"First off, to my own companions, remember I specifically have dibs. Krab and Mullit we offer you the amazing treat of rations, food you don't even have to hunt! Civilization has its downsides, but this isn't one of them. I also have some very special mushrooms we could perhaps enjoy together. Brother humanoids, trade-friends, do you have any advice for those such ourselves without your gifts get through this area?"
The Marobo looks at the rations and listens to Dr. Tes. His attitude seems to be indifferent towards you. He picks up one of the rations and bites down on some of the food. He grinds his teeth and swallows the dried meat.
He nods approvingly. "We take fuud and lizards meat over there." he motions to where Calain is located, "then we give 'im can'nut."
he scratches his bushy hair, "We swim or use can'nut or walk. Avoid soft sand...not guud."
"We swim or use can'nut or walk. Avoid soft sand...not guud."
What's the fastest, easiest, safest way to dry land from here?
Beorn nods. Mullet and Crab. He hands over two days rations.
Did any humans or other two legged people come through here? One wa s awoman.
What's the fastest, easiest, safest way to dry land from here?"We swim or use can'nut or walk. Avoid soft sand...not guud."
Mullit points to the canoe. "Fastest and easiest way.' I takes another bite of the dried meat, Walk is twisty take 2 days if you not git lost." He motions to the path you are on.
Beorn nods. Mullet and Crab. He hands over two days rations.
Did any humans or other two legged people come through here? One wa s awoman.
He snatches the fuud offering. He nods. "Yes." He points to the path you are on, "They go that way."
The Marobos load up the canoe with the bodies. "Take path for that breaks left...less travelled but faster way to catch group.
Let's cut them off and kill'em... Then he turns to the accidental guides, Thank you.
Calain waited patiently while the negotiations, which were apparently going well, concluded. He couldn't make out the words being spoken at this distance however, neither side was moving in a defensive or threatening manner and conversation appeared open.
He noticed the allies had handed over the kobold bodies and some of their trail rations (looks like they'd have to do some foraging later) but perhaps that meant the trade for the boat would occur.
He waited on his side of the swamp with his guard. he didn't attempt to make conversation, not out of fear, but he simply didn't feel like it.
The adventure had not started well and he was keen to catch up to their quarry.
The two Marobos push and pull the canoe loaded with dead kobolds back into the swamp. They walk the canoe out and then guide it as they swim back towards Calain's location. They make quick work at the crossing, clearly they are accustomed to swamp swimming. Once back at the hummock they emerge from the water and begin to unload their feast.
"Take Kan'nut. Beware of soft ground and swamp monsters."
Dr. Tes gets in and motions for Mr. Poke to climb on. "We thank you Morabos! I hope we become brothers!
Poke poke hops aboard the boat, but clear doesn't share Dr. Tes opinion of the creatures
My thanks for your help. Beorn boards the boat.
"Well, that went surprisingly well. Now we've got a boat, let's keep our eyes open for another, or some dry land, eh?"
Bradan retrieves any of his missed arrows he can, then stows his bow and takes up his torch & hatchet stance once more.
(high is good)
(high is good)
(high is good)
"Stupid bloody swamp...gonna swallow up all my damned arrows in this muck."
Better it tek' yer arrows, than tek yew. Count yer blessings. Cognizant of sinking much like a stone...
The canoe with Beorn, Dr. Tes and Poke Poke is pretty full. You can squeeze either Geri or one character that is thin. Alternatively, there is plenty of room for gear.
When the Marobos finish unpacking their feast they mention to Calain. "The heeevy one in the metal will sink in muck. Needs lighter stuff on." He is referencing Bron's armor and this is not the place for heavy gear.
Sooo...We gonna draw straws or what? Aggrah asks wishing she knew the Misfortune Hex her grandma used to deploy on those trying to cheat her in cards...thinking of some VERY specific targets for that hex
relenting a bit trying to be logical I guess we can't have the armored guys sinking to the bottom of the swamp She says really not looking forward to more swimming
I am wearing leather, but I never really took swimming lessons.
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"So we're just ignoring common dibs laws? Mr. Poke, does the law have an opinion?"
"So we're just ignoring common dibs laws? Mr. Poke, does the law have an opinion?"