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You are goblins of the Licktoad tribe, who live deep in Brinestump
Marsh, south of the hated man-town called Sandpoint. Once, other goblins tried to burn Sandpoint down, and they would
have been legends if they had succeeded. But they didn’t bring
enough fire, and got themselves killed as a result.
Yesterday, your tribe discovered that one of your own had
been using forbidden arts and was engaged in one of the
greatest of taboos—writing things down. In fact, rumor holds
that what he was writing was a history of your tribe! There’s no
swifter way to bring about bad luck than stealing words out of
your mind by writing them down, and so your tribe had no
choice. You branded the goblin’s face with letters to punish
him, which is why everyone calls him Scribbleface now, and
then you ran him out of town, took all of his stuff, and burned
down his hut.
That’s where things got interesting, because before you all
burned down his hut, Chief Gutwad found a weird box within
the building. Inside was a map and a lot of fireworks—fireworks
that immediately came to use in burning the hut down. Then,
this morning, Gutwad announced that tonight there would
be a feast in order to drive out any lingering bad luck from
Scribbleface’s poor decisions. But perhaps even more exciting,
all of you have been secretly invited to meet at Chief Gutwad’s
Moot House. Why would the chief want to speak to you? It can only mean that he’s got an important mission for you all... one that the other goblins of the tribe couldn’t pull off. This could be your chance to go down in Licktoad history!
Chuffy was super excited to attend big dinner thrown by the mighty Chief Gutwad. He was also super excited that there might be more of those awesome fireworks that the tribe used to burn out awful Scribbleface.
Chuffy might even be Chief one day, he thought to himself as he nervously fiddled with his dog paw necklace.
Reta straitens out her torn dress as she prepares for the big dinner. bout to show these other gobos whats what
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For perhaps the first time in years, the alchemist's hut had been quiet all day. There had been no explosions, no maniacal laughter and no high-piched screams from a scarred and iritated female. The dangerous experiments of Mogmurch the Mad had been left unattended while the alchemist was busy trying to look as presentable as possible for his official meeting with the Very Great Chief Gutwad. For the occasion, he had spent more than four hours arguing with his mate to pick out his best clothing among his collection of patched up rags and skull hats, before settling down for a torn-up robe (there were holes in it, but it had very beautiful streaks of red that brought out his eyes) and the skull of a bulldog (it was too small for his head and he had to break some of it to fit, but he still thought it look impressive). While he admired himself in the shard of a broken mirror, adjusting his helmet as well as he could so that it wouldn't fall, Rempty was at work, trying to sew up the worn-out cloth with a needle and some thread.
Today was a good day for Mogmurch. Goblins rarely asked to him, and especially not in an enclosed and easily flammable area. Mogmurch's skill with explosives was respected as a great asset to the Licktoad Tribe, but he was feared for their dangerosity and the little control he showed over his own creations. As the sole detentor of the orally transmitted bomb formula, he would be tolerated as long as he was useful, for lack of a greater alchemist. Though a few young goblins had pleaded to become Mogmurch's apprentices, there had been none so smart to pass his tests and be entrusted with his deadly knowledge. At ten years old, he enjoyed a rathher comfortable and secure position, and being summoned to the help of Chief Gutwad could only add to his reputation. Ir would decidely be a good day.
Smugly, Mogmurch puffed up his chest at his own reflection in the mirror and attempting to drape himself in his coloured rags, unknowingly tearing a new hole in his cloth. Ignoring Rempty's cries of protest and lament, he impatiently pushes her away.
"Big Chief is waitin' for Mogmurch now!" he says, severely quieting her down. [b]"You come now, or you stay here. Ain't got time for screamin'!"[b]
Without even checking if Rempty is following, he heads out, with his clothes hanging loosely on his body like an oversized shirt on a scarecrow.
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Poog marches across the goblin camp, head held high. Those brave enough to come near and ask why he was invited he simply grinned and said.."Because I am Poog! That is the only reason needed. Now go away, stupid."
He opens the Chief's tent and, once inside, looks around at each of the others...Why are such as these here with Me?
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Standing in front of Moot House, the chief's residence, you hear a high pitched nasal voice call out:"Come, come! Great chief see you now!"
Stolen weapons, shiny bits of treasure and the brine-pickled bodies of dozens of brutally slaughtered small furry animals that surround you as you enter the house fill you with a sense of awe.
Slorb's voice brings you back to the present. "STOP! Sit, sit. Hear the words of His Mighty Girthness Rendwattle Gutwad!" Before you on the great Teeter Chair sits the a corpulent goblin. It is the great chief Gutward himself, chief of the Licktoad village. As you sit on the ground you look to Slorb, waiting for him to speak the words of the chief as is custom.
"You all be heroes. Each of you." a deep booming voice startles you as you look to the Teeter Chair. "You are best Licktoads but for me. And maybe but for Slorb. That you aren’t fleeing in terror from mighty sound of my voice is all the proof you should need. Yet soon, all Licktoad goblins will know your might, for I have picked you for a dangerous mission. It is the great chief himself talking! Ignoring your shock he continues, "You know about fireworks and map we found in Scribbleface’s hut. Fireworks were fun. But map is more fun. It shows a route to a place near the coast where Scribbleface found fireworks. And it says there are more fireworks there! “I want them for Licktoads. You all go get them tomorrow. Tonight we have big bonfire to burn bad luck away from you, and we play many games. Much fun. Tomorrow you fetch me fireworks. If you meet men, you make them dead. If you meet dogs, you make them dead. If you meet horses, you make them dead. If you meet Lotslegs Eat Goblin Babies Many, you maybe should run. And if you not find fireworks, you not come back or we feed you to Squealy Nord!”
He gestures to Slorb who hands you a map to the fireworks cache before he dismisses you.
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"Fire," Mogmurch cackles on his way out. "Mogmurch can help with fire, yes. Got great powder, very high flames. Burn the bad luck away..."
He eyes each of the goblins- his new teammates. He was usually picky in his choice of allies, but the Great Chief was right. They'd need to be a group to fetch the fireworks, and they looked capable enough. Scribbleface's treasure will be theirs.
"Where is cache? Is it far? Let's look at map!"
Chuffy cackled with glee. More fireworks?!
”Chuffy am in to help. Chuffy find all the fireworks and bring them back!”
If Chuffy am have to use some fireworks on the way, that happens, he thought with a huge grin over his face, showing off his jagged teeth.
"No worry big Chief. Reta will lead dis group and bring back fireworks" Reta says puffing up her chest and nodding with enthusiasm.
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The village is a hive of activity all afternoon as they build a bonfire out of branches, sticks and unburnt timbers from Scribbleface's hut. As night falls a group of four struggling goblins carry the Teeter Chair bearing Chief Gutwad out to the bonfire, and the chief lights the fire with a Desnan candle to signal the start of the festivities. There's good food(a selection of snails, fish and snakes), dares and the chief even brought out a barrel of fermented cider apples!
As the evening progresses, word of your quest spreads and your fellow goblins start daring you to show off your heroics. Each dare will give out one relatively significant prize, provided by the chief himself, should you participate and win.
The dares:
Dance with Squealy Nord
Eat a bag of bull slugs real quick
Hide or Get clubbed
The Rusty Earbiter
Hide or Get Clubbed sounded right up Chuffy’s alley, so he quickly volunteers for that dare.
Reta will try to dance with Squaely Nord
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Bull slugs are black, wriggling slugs the size of sausages. Even among the goblins, they’re considered particularly foul-tasting and, because of the large amounts of slime they exude, difficult to chew. A covered wicker basket containing the slug bag is brought before you along with a napkin made out of a soggy leaf.
You have 1 minute to finish the five slugs in the bag. Eating one requires a DC 15 Fortitude save to eat the slugs carefully to avoid the slime bladder. DC 10 Fortitude if you don’t bother to spit out the slug’s mildly poisonous slime bladder. Eating a slug is a full-round action (because of the squirming), and a if he fails a save he can attempt to swallow the same slug on the following round.
Squeally Nord is a "fearsome boar" who lives in a muddy pit in the middle of the village next to the goblin baby cages. The pit is circular, nearly 20 feet in diameter, and just over 10 feet deep. Squealy Nord is tethered, then released into the pit from a narrow corral with the mounted goblin clinging onto his back and generally screaming a lot.
Stay on Squeally Nord for 18 seconds by making three DC15 Riding checks. If you fail the Riding check roll a DC10 Reflex save.
Rush into the marsh without any weapons or armor and find a good hiding spot. Make a stealth roll. The other villagers will attempt to find you. If you are found you will get clubbed.
The infamous Rusty Earbiter is a hollow coil of rusty wires, barrel hoops, bent swords, and thorny branches and vines that's kept behind the Moot House when not in use. So named for the fact that it's claimed a number of goblin ears in the past (at any one time, 2 partially severed goblin ears can be found tangled in its sharp internal coils), the Rusty Earbiter is both an object of fascination and fear for the Licktoads.
Make a series of DC15 Escape Artist checks to crawl through the three sections of the Rusty Earbiter. Each Escape Artist check takes 1 full round to attempt, and each one must be repeated until a
successful check is made before moving on to the next one.
Chuffy cackles as he hears the rules to the dare. ”Dis be easy for Sneaky Chuffy,” he brags as he runs off to the marsh. He looks for a super hidey spot.
Stealth
Reta climbs on top of squealy nord and gives a nod.
Reta screams in excitement as she goes round and round the pit. She digs her heels into the flanks of the pig as he tries the best to buck her off.
She stays on until the signal horn is blown giving her the sign that she has won. Reta jumps off and runs to safety. "Ha. Beat you big pig. Reta da best."
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Poog decides to ride Squeally Nord as well. "I will tie myself, thank you." Poog says, dismissing the other goblins. Once out of visual range he makes pretend like he is checking the rope under the belly as he casts Speak with Animals.
"Well now, Squeally Nord. We both know that you are better than me, but if you let me ride you and put on a good show, I will see to it that you get something special next feeding. How does that sound?"
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Reta:
The villagers scream in excitement as Reta manages to hold on and last 18 seconds on Squeally Nord. She is given a Dragon Brew Gourd(Elixir of Fire Breath) for her show of tenacity.
Poog:
Wild screaming greets Poog as he tried his best to hold on to Squeally Nord but the piglet's wild buckling throws him off after 6 seconds. Laying on the ground he tries to avoid the hooves of the from bashing him.
Chuffy:
After waiting for two minutes the cackling of the goblin villagers fill the march as they start looking for Chuffy. Behind trees, under rocks, inside wolves they search.
sneaky goblins get close to Chuffy's hiding place.
Chuffy raises both hands in exaltation at his success. He slides the ring on his hand. ”Ring am look pretty nice, dont it?!”
Feeling cocky, he decides to attempt the rusty ear biter challenge!
Escape artist
Escape artist
Escape artist
Chuffy zoomed through the course!
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Chuffy leaves everyone slack jawed at the speed he went through the Rusty Earbitter. He walks up to the dare overseer and takes the Chief’s Personal Very Useful Robe That Is Useful from his numb hands.
At the start of the dare Mogmurch immediately starts shoving the slugs into his mouth one after the other stopping to burp and barely getting the last slug down. He has just enough time to receive the Chief's mighty Gorge of Gluttons before he starts feeling sick from the slugs.
The other goblins start yelling happily as they see Mogmurch start throwing up.
Mogmurch is Sickened for 24 hours!
Chuffy, feeling quite full of himself pulls the robe on, and pops his collar looking like a cool 1980’s goblin dude. He shoots a wink at Reta.
He happily drinks and carousels the night before the adventure really begins.
Reta acts as if she is vomiting in response to the wink. She does join the others eventually int he merriment after shoving her down the front of dress for "safe" keeping.
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In spite of his pride at winning the game, Mogmurch's uncontrollable vomiting is kind of a downer. Leaning on Rempty for support, he returns to his hut, where he spends the rest of his night sick.
It isn't his most dignified moment, but once he finds the fireworks... Then all the Licktoad tribe will respect him!
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"Wakey, akey, eye! Big Chief be having words before you go bye!"
Shouts one of the chief's guards as he barges into your home and wakes you with several pokes and prods of a big stick. Even for a goblin his song is awful. You wave him away and assemble before what passes as the entrance to the village. Mogmurch still a little green from the slugs.
Chief Gutwad looks down at you from his chair as he gives you some last minute instructions. "Go find fireworks, get fireworks, bring fireworks back to me. I give you these to help you in journey." he says as Slorb apporaches and hands you two Desnan candles, four paper candles and a skyrocket.
When lit, this footlong wooden tube launches a flaming pyrotechnic “candle” every round for 4 rounds. The projectiles deal 1 point of nonlethal damage and 1 point of fire damage if they hit; on a critical hit, the target is also blinded for 1 round. The projectiles shed light as candles for 1 round and have a range increment of 5 feet. Attacking with a Desnan Candle is a ranged touch attack and always has a –4 nonproficiency penalty.
This finger-sized explosive detonates noisily 1 round after lighting. Anyone in the same square as a paper candle when it explodes must make a DC 15 Fortitude save or be dazzled for 1d4 rounds.
When lit, this footlong wooden tube begins to shake and emit a handful of white sparks, shedding light as a torch. One round later it takes flight, moving at a speed of 90 feet for 1d6 rounds before loudly exploding in a burst of light and sound, dealing 2d6 points of fire damage in a 10-foot-radius burst (Reflex DC 15 halves). Anyone who takes damage from the explosion is either blinded or deafened (50% chance of either) for 1 round.
Chuffy grabs a Desnan Candle, cackling with glee at having a firework of his very own!
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And with that you set off to Brinestump marsh in search of treasure. Rempty waves a piece of dirty cloth while crying as she watches Mogmurch leave, hoping her favorite snack comes back.
Brinestump Marsh isn't very far, it barely takes you an hour to slog through a mile long swamp along the creek's southern bank before reaching the Marsh. The journey is no trouble for brave and powerful goblins such as your selves though you feel a slight chill go down your spine as you enter the Marsh proper.
Chuffy sneaks his way along on they enter the marsh. Once there, he breaks away from the group slightly, not wanting to be caught by whatever would inevitably eat the other goblins.
Stealth
Reta walks through the marsh on guard.
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The feeling of being followed stays with you as you move through the marsh. Mogmurch, Reta and Poog move noisily through the foliage.
The lack of any noise clue Reta and Mogmurch in that something is wrong and put them on edge. They start hearing barely the soft chittering coming from somewhere. Poog is clueless as he follows Reta to any signs of danger.
Perception
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The chittering increases in volume and Reta looks over her shoulder just in time for her, Mogmurch and Chuffy to see something drop from above right on top of Poog!
A glob of web shoots toward the unaware Poog but overshoots and misses the cleric. A giant spider drops from the treetops and hisses at you!
The giant spider known as Lotslegs has dwelt in central Brinestump for years, but only recently has she grown large enough to become a legitimate threat to the Licktoad goblins. The spider often lurks along creeks and other well-traveled routes, and her growing taste for goblins has evolved beyond eating goblin young. The spider herself is a web-spinning spider that ‘lurks in the treetops, climbing down to attack unwary goblins who pass under her ambush.
Combat begins!
The Spider lunges at Poog attempting to bite the cleric.
It misses!
Initiative turn:
Spider
Reta
Poog
Chuffy
Mogmursh
Reta will move forward drawing her dogslicer as she goes. "Let gobo go."
Once adjacent to the spider, she will attack.
Chuffy tries to use big ole mean Reta as a distraction, and slice the spider after moving 5’ closer to it!
Attack with flank
Damage plus
sneak attack
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In her haste Reta's attack goes wide and misses the spider entirely though drawing the spider's attention to her allowing Chuffy to sneak up behind it. The rogue's weapon biting deeply and drawing blood.
Mogmurch's aim is almost true but a sudden bout of sickness makes throws it off missing the spider.
Chuffy lets out a squeak as the bomb almost hits him.
Round 2
Giant Spider -11hp
Reta
Poog
Chuffy
Mogmursh
Enraged at Chuffy's attack the spider turns around and lunges at him, poison dripping down its' fangs.