Zheng Peng and the other guards are grateful for the release. They all bear numerous injuries from the torments they have suffered. They are haggard and exhausted. "We are in no condition to fight those monsters right now," Zheng Peng says. "We need to rest and heal. But one of those keys unlocks the armory. Please, take whatever you need from there to help liberate the town."
Zheng Peng describes how one human-looking figure—a man with sharp teeth who wore a hooded cloak and whose neck seemed capable of rotating more than it should—organized the attack on the barracks along with several jinkins. He’s unaware of where the man and his gremlins headed next.
"Let them?" Kasem asks Nadoya, angry. "I'm not her parent and she is an adult. She wanted you to think they were killed by the monsters... and that I would not let to happen. I'm a father as well and I know there is nothing, absolutely nothing, worse than having our child go before us." He gets really close to Nadoya. "Nothing. Just the thought of it makes me sick."
He could say more, but instead he composes himself, letting the woman realise for herself how she destroyed her family.
After they are away from the guards, Kasem tells the others. "Their tale is hard to believe... we've seen these monsters are not shy of bloodshed, yet they just locked them in the cells? If they could lock them, they could have killed them as well."
"I don't want to tarnish their honor, but I suspect they might have locked themselves."
The Alchemist's blue serpentine eyes laugh at Lek's logic. He does seem to be interested in the four lesser frost vials and the a cold iron buckler.
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Hooli also can't help but be a little suspicious -- she knows some spirits can change shapes (just like kitsune!), though these guards don't seem to be taking advantage of their sudden release. But maybe they have a longer plan.
In the armory, she considers the cold iron dagger. If they're going to be facing more fey, it might be useful, even though she usually prefers her claws.
Tai wrinkles his nose at the accusation of cowardice. "They bear their wounds to the fore. Do you think they all came after surrender?"
The guards don't seem to be hiding anything from you. Perhaps the monsters really did beat them up!
As you head out the back of the barracks, you see a large bamboo cage that usually serves as a holding cell for those who commit petty crimes. Four villagers have been thrown in here, and they beg for release when they spot you. One of the keys on the ring you recovered unlocks the cage. They are grateful for the rescue, telling you that the gremlins who put them there told them to "repent" or risk being sent to the Cerulean Teahouse, where their boss has set up shop.
In the training yard behind the barracks, a trail of bloody prints extends from the stables out through the northern gates. The smell of offal and rotten meat wafts from the stables. Looking inside, you see a dozen dead horses. Most died with their eyes wide open, sharing the pain of their last moments. The corpses have been eviscerated.
Kwan Tai seems pretty unbothered by horse-murder, but "Whatever did this will butcher other things too. I see some tracks, but I do not have that gift."
The Alchemist peers down at the ground.
That may be some type of fertilizer.
"Tracks? Which tracks?" Kasem asks, bothered by the horrible smell.
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Hooli looks around, but there doesn't seem to be any sign of what killed the poor horses, or the gremlins. They must have run off somewhere.
She hesitates.
"Should we go to the teahouse now, or see if there's anyone else we can free first?" Her voice quavers a little -- she knows someone needs to deal with this Gurglegut, but she's not sure why it should be her. She's not a soldier, just a kitsune who likes makes people (mostly herself!) laugh! She grips the cold iron dagger a little tighter.
The Nagaji hisses.
Yesss! Why are we staring at manure on the ground anywayssss! To the Tea House.
You begin to make your way to the Cerulean Teahouse. You haven't made it very far through the district, though, when you hear the clamor of hundreds of pieces of cookware clattering together, combined with off-key humming and singing. From around the corner comes a fluttering, blood-stained butcher's apron with the semblance of a face, leading a swarm of animated cleavers, meat tenderizers, kettles, pans, chopsticks, and more on a clattering procession.
When they notice you, the strange creature orders a stop to the parade and shouts a stern "Who goes there?"
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Hooli stops in her tracks at this strange apparition. "That's great!" she whispers, even though she fears it's going to be anything but. Maybe when this is all over, she'll figure out how to do something like that.
"We're evil spirits! Sent to terrorize the town by Gurglegut!" she calls back, casting a quick quelling glance to her companions, who she doesn't really trust to play along.
The butcher's apron flaps about as it peers at each of you. "Hmm. Well, some of you do look rather scary." It points part of its body at Lek. "What about him? He doesn't look like an evil spirit!"
The Nagaji stares at the weird sheet-billowing in the wind apparition with his scary face.....
Kasem plays along, trying to look lost and scared.
"Hmm... Hmm..." the creature says, floating all around Lek. Its "eyes" narrow." "No. I think you are trying to trick me! Such impertinence! I will not abide it.” They flutter back behind the animated cookware, then they thrust a tendril in your direction. ”Attack, cutlery! Teach them some manners!”
"What could your plan possibly have been?!" Tai grouses, stomping forward to lay waste to the cutlery from outside their reach.
"Your narrative was flawed from the beginning!" He explains, defending himself.
Li Jie shrugs.
I wasss not too certain of our probability of sssucesss, but whatever workssss.
The Alchemist grins as the Nagaji slithering to the far side of the Mean Tighty Whitey and Strikes!
Kwan Tai attacks the swarm of cookware, shattering several pieces, though the animated objects' hardness blunt the blow somewhat. Hooli fails to hit the apron with her darts, as does Li Jie as the nagaji moves in to melee range.
"Impertinent!" the apron declares as it attacks Li Jie, grabbing the alchemist and wrapping itself around him as it constricts!
Meanwhile, the cookware swarms around Kwan Tai, cleavers slicing at the hobgoblin while meat tenderizers and pans bash him and chopsticks poke at him!
Li Jie feels quite snuggled and comfortable inside his new bedroll. The Nagaji hisses at it to stay still!
The Alchemist Commands Blue to mix up a Elixir of Life, while pouring a Juggernaut Mutagen
The Alchemist bites!
And!
Tai wards off the swarming cutlery with broad looping arcs of his longhammer, driving the evil utensils back as he withdraws to temporary safety.
"Regretting your decision already?" Lek asks the evil apron while he hides behind a tree.
Lek's taunts leave the strange apron creature greatly demoralized! Lie Jie bites the monster grappling him, then Hooli moves in and slices it with her dagger! The slashing attack proves quite effective, exploiting the monster's weakness! It howls in pain!
Kwan Tai manages to destroy one of the swarms of cookware before moving away.
The apron monster tries to squeeze the life out of Lie Jie while the swarm of cookware moves to defend it, battering Hooli!
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HP 17/17
AC 18
Fort +4, Ref +9, Will +6
Hero points: 1
Seasonal Boon: summer []; fall []; winter []; spring []
Effects:
Hooli dodges around the worst of the pots and pans, barely noticing them . "Just like growing up!" she declares as she slices at the apron crushing Li Jie.
She slashes with her dagger and claws at the apron, tugging at it to help Li Jie.
Tai surges forward at the cutlery once more, driving it back off of Hooli with strikes that whistle past her nose!
Li Jie hisses as the Nagaji 's breath is squeezed out of him!
The Alchemist Commands Blue to feed him the Elixir of Life!
The Alchemist bites!
And!
While keeping his boasting oratory, Lek grabs a rock and throws at the apron. "Begone ghost!"
Kwan Tai manages to shatter the second silverware swarm with his hammer, but the apron creature twists and writhes over Li Jie, avoiding all of your blows! It continues to constrict around the nagaji!
Scowling, Tai shifts the grip on his polearm, assuming that a flapping sheet will not be easily crushed. Thrusting with the spike of his polearm he tries to tear the ill spirit from Li Jie's back!
Li Jie hisses as the Nagaji 's breath is squeezed out of him!
That Quicksilver Mutagen is looking real f@!@ing good now!
With only the apron monster remaining, and noticing how Li Jie was struggling, Kasem moves from behind his cover, dagger in hand...
...it shows, however, that his skills are certainly not in the realm of combat.
Kwan Tai's bludgeoning weapon doesn't hurt the apron creature much, but Hooli's claws shred it apart! With a mournful wail, the creature releases Li Jie as it flutters to the street. The evil spirit infusing the garment departs, leaving it nothing but a tattered and bloodstained garment. Tucked into one of its pockets is a +1 silver dagger in a silk-wrapped leather sheath (the sheath is worth 10 gp).
You feel stronger from your recent experiences...
"Li Jie Qiang, do you require rest or aid, or can you tough it out? Honest assessment. Better to halt now than slow us down and weaken us at the wrong moment."
The still grinning Nagaji turns to Kwan Tai.
I may require a bit of retirement to tend to my injuries and renew my Alchemical supplies. Yesss.
You retreat from downtown Willowshore to rest and recover from the grueling day. Zheng Peng and his guards have cordoned off the center of town to ensure no monsters make their way out. Fortunately, it is a quiet night, and you rest without incident. The next morning, you prepare to end the monster infestation once and for all.
The Cerulean Teahouse, abandoned by its aristocratic owner after the fall of Lung Wa, is located just north of downtown. You cautiously approach the structure and slide open the doors to the common room.
The once finely lacquered wooden walls of this room bear evidence of violence, covered now with gouges and scrapes. The front counter of the teahouse is a mess of broken pots, bottles, and cups. A table has been turned on its side, along with whatever dishes were on it at the time. Another table still stands in the southeast corner, this one strangely well placed and set, as if expecting guests. Steps lead up two feet to an upraised wooden platform running along the northern wall, where several sliding doors stand closed save for the northwest corner, in which two unlit stoves sit in an alcove near a smaller wooden door.
Stairs lead up to an upstairs balcony to the northeast. An enormous toad the size of a horse squats near the stairs, eyes closed. It appears to be asleep...
Waking up early to brew some Alchemical items, Li Jie waves at those passing by smiling.
He does imbibe an Antitoxin Elixir prior to heading back out....
Back out on the trail, the Alchemist's blue serpentine eyes stare at the snoring giant frog with much gratitude for his being an Alchemist.
The Nagaji just shrugs at Hooli.
At least she knows what she's talking about when skulking... Following after Hooli, Tai does his best to step where she has stepped, and merely hopes that his own stocky armored frame will still not make too much noise...
"I haven't seen a toad that size in these woods. Are they found around Willowshore?"
You do your best to sneak by the toad, but Kwan Tai is less than stealthy, even following Hooli's lead. The huge amphibian opens its eyes and lets out a burbling croak as it prepares to attack!
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HP 26/26
AC 19
Fort +5, Ref +10, Will +7
Hero points: 2
Seasonal Boon: summer []; fall []; winter []; spring []
Effects:
"I told you to be quiet, not louder than an angry oni!" Hooli scolds as she casts a quick spell, the blade of her dagger shattering for a moment to stab out at the toad before returning to its normal shape.
She moves to the side, so she can be behind the toad if it approaches to attack.
Lek sighs as the toad awakes. "Where was this when we've fought those huge bugs?" He attempts a joke as he draws his dagger and throws it.
Hooli recalls that giant toads eagerly eat almost any creature smaller than themselves. They're known to eat giant rats, then take over the rats' burrows as homes. Giant toads have large poison glands behind their eyes that enable them to coat their skin with poison. This leads to them having very few natural predators, and populations can quickly explode if left unchecked.
Lek impales the toad with his dagger, then Hooli punctures it with a barrage of needle darts.
Unfortunately, this serves to draw the toad's ire. It hops towards the kitsune, lashing out with its long, sticky tongue. The tongue strikes Hooli, pulling her into the toad's waiting maw, where it quickly swallows the rogue whole!
A gruff voice calls out from behind the doors on the platform. "Settle down, Warty! I'll get you some food in a bit!"
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HP 20/26
AC 19
Fort +5, Ref +10, Will +7
Hero points: 2
Seasonal Boon: summer []; fall []; winter []; spring []
Effects:
Hooli almost wants to laugh -- she never thought she'd be swallowed whole by a toad! -- but she quickly realizes this is no joke as she barely wriggles her way back out and shakily slashes at the awful monster.
"Do I look like a fly to you?"