A short walk through a forest takes you to the Fogfen swamp.
The sound of frogs and mosquitos mixes with water sloshing against muddy shores, all muffled by the ever-present mists that linger in the aptly named Fogfen. As the mists clear, a shadow looms from the cloying swamp vapors — a sprawling ruin of stone and wood squats atop an island in the soggy marsh. The upper floors have largely collapsed, leaving only the stone walls of the ground floor intact. Above these ruins towers an out-of-place monument — a colossal lighthouse whose painted walls and iron-cased crown have resisted the corrosive effects of the surrounding swamp.
Before leaving Otari, Henry excused himself to get geared up. When he returned, he was wearing a shiny set of Chain Mail that looked like it had hardly seen any battle at all. In fact, his shield and weaponry were the same. Regardless, Henry looked excited, yet vigilant. Upon entering the Fogfen, Henry pulled out his shield and bastard sword, keeping them drawn.
"Ya gotta be really careful out here. I've spent a lot of time in the swamp, and there's a lot of things that just don't like you. Then strange things, like glowing lights, huge things with claws and teeth, small horrible things with tentacles, hidden in the fog."
Henry seemed relieved when they made it through the mist unmolested, but also slightly disappointed that no one had seen anything out in the fog like had had explained. Regardless, he was still excited.
Tindertwig--and Dirtbag--walk casually amongst the swampy waters, muddy shores, and foggy vapors. The two actually seem at home in the swamp. They are even seen stopping on occasion to pick up a nicely naturally smooth stone, showing it to the other, then pocketing it for later.
The two are quiet though, as they traverse the swampy terrain. Neither actually seem to make much noise at all, during the trip to the sprawling ruin of stone and wood squats atop an island in the soggy marsh.
Dirtbag definitely seems to be enjoying the various waterways during the trek.
Once the colossal lighthouse whose painted walls and iron-cased crown have resisted the corrosive effects of the surrounding swamp comes into view; both the goblin and the crocodile grin.
Eddred has left his fine white coat back in the inn, wearing instead a clean but stained leather jerkin and a bandolier of tiny salves, reagents and bombs. He follows Tindertwig and Henry, staying solidly in the middle of the pack. Nonetheless he keenly examines their route, the surrounding terrain and potential hazards as they come.
The dwarf has rearranged the contents of her pack. She now wears a bandolier like the one the alchemist carries, with bandages and various salves, over a plain but serviceable leather jerkin. She carries a shortsword in hand, but leaves her dagger sheathed for the moment.
In response to Henry's caution about the terrain, Hilde grunts. "I'd rather deal with the city. At least the monsters will talk to you there." Nevertheless, she marches along, slowly but steadily. "Any ideas how to get over there? I don't think Dirtbag can carry us."
Peering up and up and up at the towering Lighthouse, Tindertwig slaps Dirtbag on his scaly hide.
Wees bees finallys do'n its!
The passive crocodile just nods solemnly.
Tindertwig turns to the others gathered around; also looking at the colossal lighthouse.
Wees bees want'n ta explore it; but wees need'd sum teammates! Now, wees gits dem!
The goblin does seem excited to get in there.....
The road ends at the obvious entrance to the structure, what remains of a small guardhouse. The double doors have rotted off their hinges and you can see a scene of decay inside. The lighthouse itself is surrounded by water and the only buildings on this side is the guardhouse and a building slightly to the right that must have served some defensive purpose, judging by the number of arrow slits in it. Between them lies a shallow pond.
"Let's get a look inside that guardhouse." Hilde takes the lead, looking around for problematic devices or creatures.
"This place is definitely dangerous enough ya need a team, Tindertwig. Was good that you waited." Henry said in response to the goblin. Once Hilde takes the lead towards the guardhouse, the man walked with her, staying vigilant.
As you enter the guardhouse a scene of decay meets you. Swaths of mildew and mold cover the damp surfaces of this watchtower, appearing as green and black smears on the dull stone walls. The doorframes in the walls to the north and south rotted long ago, while a few collapsed chairs lie on the floor amid small heaps of foul-smelling gray lumps. Thick sheets of dusty cobwebs hang from above, obscuring any view of the ceiling. On the other side of the room the only obvious exit is an ancient grey wooden drawbridge that crosses the water into some sort of courtyard.
All of you are able to make out a pair of small blue humanoids hiding (badly) among the cobwebs. A high-pitched voice addresses you:
Guard House, Shallow Pond, or Other Building?
Tindertwig and Dirtbag stop at the end of the road. They both look at the Guard House. They both look at the Shallow Pond. They both look at the Other Building.
Dere seems ta be tree options.
The startled goblin turns to gauge the desires of his companions, but he watches two of them already entering the Guard House.
Wees should....goes ta da Guard House den.
Dirtbag shrugs at the goblin. They both follow Hilde and Henry.
Guard House
Standing in the doorway, peering about the place, Tindertwig begins to excitedly point at everything still standing.
Oh, dat bees un nice chair! Oh, dat bees un bootiful coloring on da walls! Mees wondering who bees da interior decorator?
As if on cue, the strange voices pipe up from amongst the artfully placed webbing!
Does youses speaks un real languages?
"They are encouraging you to eat the 'magic pixie mud' on the floor here," says Eddred. "Somehow I do not trust them," he says sarcastically.
"Okay, okay. Eddred can understand them. Alright," Henry muttered under his breath. He stared at the strange creatures. His gaze turned to the "magic pixie mud" and he shook his head. "I... don't think that's mud." Turning back towards the strange blue creatures, Henry waited for more information.
Hilde shakes her head grimly. "No, it isn't." Then she glares up at the trio.
"So can Hilde, apparently," says Eddred with a grin.
"These are gremlins, and particularly bad liars."
The gremlins shriek in fear and anger.
Guard House
Round 1
Tindertwig looks suspiciously at the magic pixie mud on the floor. The goblin looks at Dirtbag; who shrug, sniffing it.
Mees no tinks so.
The goblin then smiles as he sees Eddred getting drunk and tossing up some greenish bile at the liars!
Yous shoulds sees un doctor!
Tindertwig then Hunt Prey on a different Gremlin than the one targeted by Eddred.
He then takes out a javelin; throwing it with all his goblin might at the...(hehe) Mite!
Dirtbag just stands by the goblin with a bored expression on his crocodile face.
Stupid arms are too short!
The acid hits the closest gremlin squarely in the face, sending it into a panic.
Henry still wasn't quite sure what these things were, but it seemed like they were bad news based on everyone's reactions. Releasing his bastard sword and letting it clatter to the ground, Henry pulled a javelin from his back and threw it at the blue creature closest to him .
However, in his excitement, he fumbles it. Expecting a counterattack, Henry raised his shield.
Hilde is a little startled when things heat up so quickly.
Tindertwig hurls a javelin that strikes the second gremlin, sending it tumbling to the floor, dead, with the javelin still sticking out of it. A third, hitherto unnoticed gremlin scurries away and disappears through a hole in the roof. The goblin with the burnt face tries to follow but is overcome by its injuries and tumbles to the floor with a dull thud.
There are no visible enemies left alive, but we'll stay in initiative in case you want to try to pursue it or something like that.
You are all up.
Henry will pick up his bastard sword and javelin and rush out to see where this creature had scurried out to. Perhaps there was an easy way to the roof from out here. He left through the door they had entered from to get a look.
Unable to reach the hole in the roof, Hilde pauses to search the bodies.
Tindertwig and Henry rush outside and spot the gremlin standing at the northeastern corner of the roof. It is holding a large white chunk, that looks like part of a giant maggot. You also notice that a half-decayed body of a three-foot-tall scaly humanoid lies on the pool’s northern bank, half-buried in mud and leaves.
The gremlins each carry a shortsword and a cluster of darts, but nothing of particular value.
Eddred can still take his actions, and then the gremlin goes again.
Eddred darts forward, tosses a bomb and retreats again, preferably behind cover.
Eddred joins Tindertwig and Henry outside and throws a bomb at the gremlin, but misses. The gremlin lets out an angry shriek as it is splashed for 1 point of damage and hurls the maggot carcass it has been holding into the shore of the pond. Then it grabs a vine that seems to connect the guardhouse with the opening to the right and starts to climb at an astonishing speed.
Meanwhile something stirs in the pond, and first a pair of eyes, then a set of huge fangs become visible. The creature rising looks more than anything with a frog trying to look like a sabretooth tiger. The creature moves to the edge of the pond and with a flick of its enormous tongue gobbles up the maggot meat.
You are all up.
Tindertwig gives the gremlin some unfriendly sign language, before he throws the javelin that the gremlin's friend was nice enough to hold onto for the goblin.
The goblin frowns.
He then looks at the Frog Beast; changing his Hunt Prey to it.
Be un frog wit sum big teeths!.
Dirtbag nods in the affirmative.
The knowledgable goblin shrugs.
Hilde snatches up darts , then Strides out after the rest of the party.
Henry will drop his bastard sword again attempt to throw his javelin at the gremlin that's trying to escape.
Turning his attention towards the strange sabertooth frog creature, Henry picked his sword back up and Raised His Shield.
Eddard wonders how the water and slime will affect his bomb, and chooses to switch to his crossbow.
Hilde grabs a bunch of 10 darts from the dead gremlins, while Henry throws a javelin at the furiously climbing gremlin, which hits but doesn't really slow it down. the blue creature doesn't stand a chance against Eddard's crossbow though, and falls into the water with a splash.
The fanged frog-monster turns its attention to you. It spits out a ball of disgusting slime at Dirtbag, who barely manages to scamper out of the way, then scuttles up and gores Tindertwig for 6 points of damage.
You are all up again.
Eddred hurls a bomb at the creature (which does no damage to those surrounding it) at follows up with a shot from his crossbow.
Tindertwig watches in horror, as the Frog with Big Teeth comes out of the water and takes a bite out of him!
Ouch! Dat hurts! Stupids Frog!
Tindertwig orders Dirtbag to Flank and Bite the Frog!
Wees bees hav'ns sum froglegs! Mees hears it tastes likes chicken!
Tindertwig then takes out his dogslicer to carve up dinner!
Dirtbag actually complies with the reasonable request of his companion.
"On my way." With a minimum of flash, the dwarf stows the rest of her looted darts, draws her shortsword, and moves to set up a flank. "Any idea what this is? They don't have them in Absalom."
Henry moves to flank with Hilde as Dirtbag flanks with Tindertwig and will strike with his bastard sword.
Finally, Henry continues to keep his shield raised.
Eddard leads with a bomb and a bolt that both connect, and the monster suddenly finds itself surrounded by what was supposed to be its dinner. As Dirtbag slides into position and the monster is temporarily distracted Tindertwig gets a wicked glint in his eyes and makes a vicious jab for his prey's stomach, drawing blood and slime. Henry follows up with a heavy blow with his sword.
The severely wounded beast bellows in pain and vomits a ball of slime at Tindertwig before turning tail and running to the pond and leaping as far as it can into it.
Henry goes first, then all of you again, assuming the monster survives.
Tindertwig begins jumping up and down in frustration. The goblin screams and yells at the Frog Beast, running away.
Wheres youeses goings! Mees bees wat'n breakfast!
Dirtbag laughs at Tindertwig and his slimer problems!
"No, I don't think so." Hilde strides to the edge of the water, drawing a dart and flinging it at the fleeing fanged frog.
Deciding to conserve reagents, [u]Eddred[/u] loads and fires his crossbow.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Henrys blow is actually a critical hit, so the monster collapses into a disgusting heap, its skull cleft in half. The carcass oozes gore and foul-smelling smile so you are careful to back off a few steps before celebrating, giving Tindertwig time to de-slime.
As you can hopefully see on the map, there is really only one way into the structure unless you want to get creative.
Tindertwig (absently flinging slime off his dogslicer) whoops and hollars!
Wees bees da bestest ov heroes!Nows wees cans eats!
The Ranger--and his crocodile--begin to drag the Frog Beast fully out of the water to begin skinning, filleting, storing for later!
"Good hit! Are any of you hurt?" The dwarf scans the area, searching for any signs of traps or hidden observers whose attention may have been drawn by the sounds of combat.