Congrats Mary, have a great time!
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Popping in with the ever expressive Kili Klippenshell, a gnome dual-cursed (Haunted and Tongues) Oracle of Time who made it just past the halfling shack in a dead campaign.
"I fear I may not be able to help with that. I may be able to trick guards by making sounds that aren't reall there. And, if I am close, I may be able to swing open an unlocked door or move a stone or branch to distract someone. But archery and fire spells are not my strength."
"That makes sense though given how valuable goblins find fireworks, we should consider the chief's house as well. It would be grand to take out his house and the fireworks all at once."
"Or maybe a flood?" says Kili picking up on the theme on unconventional ways to deal with the goblins.
"Ceru, what did you and your father do with the creature? Did it escape or did you somehow get it back in its jar so to speak?"
"My aren't we a cheery bunch today? Thaddeus, have you had the misfortune of facing the living dead before? I have not myself, but agree that they sound like an atrocious mockery of all that is right in the world."
"Oh, that's pretty terrible Parsifal. I have to thank the gods that for me, the worst has been a goblin in the Sanos. Which thankfully, Shalelu saved me from. I have to admit that I'm a little apprehensive about facing them again, but I'm glad that this time, it is me hunting them instead of the other way around."
I'm happy to keep up on the roleplay if you guys want to pick it up. I keep checking in about once a day. I hope Patcher is ok too. He hasn't been back in the other game that I'm in with him either. I'm willing to wait as long as he needs.
Kili prepares to go back, but while joining the group, she spies a frog near the side of the clearing. She carefully crouches down next to it, reaches into the air, and draws something to her mouth while whispering under her breath.
The next time she opens her mouth, you hear little chirps and croaks come out of her mouth. Speak Frog?: "Hey little one. Have you seen anything around with two legs like me instead of four legs like you other than my friends here?"
I definitely agree. If a break would help, please take one. We're here for you anytime you want to continue.
Kili smiles along with Ceru, "I suppose you're right about the possibility of a log, but the star sounds like fun."
"So Warden, you've been here before. Besides the fact that the ship is burned down, is there anything else that has changed?" While waiting for his answer, Kili begins looking about for any small animals that she might be able to speak to.
"Oh, do any of you know if Ameiko had a ship" says Kili softly, but brightly.
"Hmmm, what was that." she says, fascinated by a particularly large mosquito that just flew by.
"How about accept some help; now go make the goblins yelp! Speaking of yelp, what was that thing?" Kili dons the cloak and then maneuvers her way through the team. "Before we go, if any of you need a little help from my fae friends, I can give you some temporary assistance." Kili moves through the group giving each companion, including the Warden, a few kind words and a fleeting visit from a small, invisible winged something, unless you decline.
Having done so, she returns to the middle of the group, behind Thaadeus, and tries to look fierce.
"Haha, Jasper. Your brother is right. I wouldn't trade you guys for anything. It's actually quite charming. I just like teasing you all. As you've seen already, my skills lie more in helping you guys take out the baddies than trying to do it with my wee hands."
Kili shakes her head, chuckling softly, "Good Warden, welcome to the most stub...cough...determined group of men in Sandpoint. I for one will certainly not decline your marvelous gift." She accepts the cloak from the Warden and walks over to Ceru, "Ok Ceru. Me at the ship, you at the village? Then we return it to the Warden." "Thank you so much Warden. I think we're ready to go."
Kili listens to the Warden and the others. "Perhaps the Warden can tell us whether this offers magical armor or protection from magic, but I think I like the idea of having one of you that likes to tangle with things up close and personal wearing it."
Glad to hear it Patcher. I think we're all having a great time. Really enjoying how you're running this. Good luck with your travels Ceru. I hope it's just inconvenience and that everyone out that way makes it through without problems.
Kili laughs at Thaddeus, "Thaddeus, it is good to journey with one who knows himself so well. I admire your steadfastness. Let's get rolling before we lose all our light." Kili swings her satchel back over her shoulder and heads for the door.
Kili pops up. "I'm ready too. Personally, I think it's all a plan by Thaddeus to avoid getting healed. Men!" she exclaims in mock exasperation.
A big grin spreads across Kili's face, "Oh yes, a game of cards sounds wonderful. Please Warden. We'd love to hear about the marsh. Or any stories you'd like to share. Perhaps it will help us decide how to proceed tomorrow." "Oh, and speaking of bed. Thaddeus, are you ready for me to try healing you further yet?"
Kili joins the others in sampling the soup. "Thank you Warden. Your soup is very tasty." Hearing Ceru and Thaddeus talk about the fireworks, something sparks in Kili's mind. "Hey, speaking of flammables and those sick, little pyromaniacs...Is that burned out shipwreck the result of an old fire or a recent one? We heard from the mayor that the goblins recently found fireworks. Maybe that is where they've been trying them out?"
Kili sits down at the small table and watches with fascination as the Warden rips through his preparation of the meal. So pleasant to be back in a home suited to my size...though I feel sorry for my large comrades. Goodness, this Warden is quick at the stove. I wonder if all halflings are this quick or if this is a special talent of our new acquaintance. Upon hearing that the Warden is willing to accompany them, she laughs, "Check that out Thaddeus and Parsifal...we're down to seven and three quarters goblins each...I'll take all the three quarters goblins...piece of cake." When the food arrives, she takes her time looking into the bowl and smelling its contents, eager to learn what culinary specialties are practiced by halflings that live in a swamp.
Kili looks around the garden, making sure that it is only the snakes that are present and no other threats.
"I'm sorry about your snakes Warden. I can't speak for my companions, but I would love to have dinner with you. Can I help you at all? I'm sure we'd all like to hear more about the shipwreck and the goblin village."
Kili brightens sensing that this really is the Warden this time and wondering what sort of halfling keeps snakes as pets. "Oh, you keep snakes as pets? How interesting! I hope they're all right. Would you like us to go with you to see if they're okay? We can make sure there are no more of those things in your...garden. You should tell us more about the swamp while we go."
Kili watches the interaction. Still worried about whether the warden should be trusted.
"My friends here have the right of it. We came hoping to find aid from you and it appears that it is fortunate we came when we did. What was that thing anyway? Did it try to eat your brains too?"
"Okie Thaddeus. You get hit again though and I'm taking care of you whether you like it or not." Hmmm, I wonder if we have the warden this time or another of those creatures? Or perhaps he is one of those that can summon creatures to his aid and he just wasn't sure of us... Kili again reaches for the air, this time appearing to pinch something and draw it down to her. She whispers to it and then flicks her hand up into the air.
"Thaddeus, I hope you don't mind if I heal you. You're not looking too hot. This is going to feel a little weird." Kili whispers into the air, "Thaddeus needs healing, I need you to help me." Kili rubs her hands over Thaddeus's head and Thaddeus can feel the flutter of little wings, brushing over his wounds. It sort of tickles if not for the pain of the wound. His skin stitches itself back together and the wounds close.
"Gosh Thaddeus. Usually it works a whole lot better than that. Do you want me to try again? It's getting late in the day, so I can probably try to heal you again now or before we sleep rather than using one of our potions."
I'd assume it would return to its former position. That wouldn't necessarily mean Thaddeus would be there to be clung on, though, so it would likely fall - so yes, it probably would break the grapple. Great, that's kinda how I was thinking it would work too. Hadn't thought of that particular potential utility until this fight. Watch it be the only grapple we face in the whole AP :)
Sorry for the error in my first combat post. You shouldn't actually be able to understand Kili unless you know Aklo. Fortunately, it was just flavor text and not a command or suggestion. Downside of the tongues curse in PbP...I have to work harder to add color in battle. I'll do my best not to screw up again. Hopefully with a few rounds under my belt in this fight, I'll have the hang of her in combat. Btw, this particular battle also caused a question for me on Kili's remove from time ability. Would you rule that her using it would have broken the grapple or that it would have resumed once the effect passed?
Kili races up next to Parsifal, catching something out of the air as she darts to his side. When she reaches him, she takes both hands and puts them against his back. You hear her speak in a dark tongue not of this world and Parsifal feels a force giving him guidance in his next action.
The shock of the halfling's transformation makes Kili start and gasp. I thought something was up, but not anything like that. What is that thing?
Kili's hands begin rapidly moving again. She appears to be directing something in the air that only she can see...or sense. You hear her saying, "Quickly, you must aid my allies. Go now!" Moments later you each feel something tiny and fast speed around you, whispering something you can't make out, but you get a sense of confidence and that you have a better feel for where to strike the creature.
Kili stops her distracted looking around the lagoon and house and turns to the halfling at the sound of his voice.
Kili's hand darts out appearing to catch something out of the air. She brings it close to her mouth and whispers into her hands. Kili looks back toward the door. "Oh, have we woken you up? Terribly sorry if we have. If you are Mr. Proudstump, we've heard that you are the warden of Brinstump Marsh and were hoping you might be able to tell us about the marsh."
Kili looks and listens, eyes darting all around the swampy lagoon.
What a strange place to choose as your home. Within sight of the ocean, but unable to go sailing on it. House decaying with no sign of care. I wonder if the halfling built the house...
Kili peers at the locations that Parsifal has pointed out. "I don't see a reason to change our plans. Can anyone see anything going on down there besides those buildings? Otherwise, I agree that we head to see Proudstump next to see what he knows."
Kili grows serious upon hearing Shalelu's words and listens intently as the mayor arrives and speaks. "Very well then. I have no love of the goblins either. My last encounter with one was not pleasant, but I hope to be better prepared now and your words are welcome." She listens to Ceru, "I like your thought. It sounds like even recovering or destroying the fireworks would deliver a blow. I'm ready to go."
"Thank you Shalelu. That's very helpful," says Kili and then dashes off past Anen to retrieve the map case. She scoops it back up and puts the map inside, stowing it again in her satchel. While retrieving the map case, Kili listens to the suggestions, "I'm definitely in agreement with the cliff first. We should see what we can and I think several of us see well in the twilight ahead." Before preparing to head out, she turns back to Shalelu, "By chance, is there any other advice for us or anything you need from the swamp or Licktoads? We'd love to help you out with making the Hinterlands safe."
Kili excitedly pulls the satchel off her shoulder. "Oh Shalelu, I do have a map. A group of kind adventurers on their way to Roderic's Cove gave it to us." Kili rummages around in her satchel, you see odd bulges comes and go and hear her whispering forcefully..."Stop it. This is important. I need that map." After what seems like an inordinately long time to search around in her small yellow bag, you see her triumphantly pull out the map case. She opens it and pulls out the map unrolling it to show Shalelu. In her excitement, you see the map case fall toward the path, then suddenly fly off to fall nearly ten feet away beyond Anen. She wheels toward where the map case has fallen, stamps her foot, and firmly commands, "I said, stop it." She turns back to Shalelu, "I'm sorry Shalelu. You know how they are. I just wish they would listen to me all the time. What are you going to show us?"
Hearing Jasper as we start to head out, Kili replies, "It's strange, I'm not really sure. It happened when I was younger. One day, I was playing with my friends in the Sanos. I was trying to hide behind a waterfall and instead emerged into a strange land that I know think was probably the First World. It didn't happen at first, but I found when I got stressed out, all of a sudden I spoke in a language that no one else knew and I could no longer understand them. Eventually, I learned from one of the elders that it was the language of the dark fey. But, I know no more." As Thaddeus discusses the strategy of formations, Kili listens intently, "Wow, that makes complete sense. I've never heard of such a thing before as thinking how and where we walk. I have no idea if a line or this wedge thing is the best, but I think you have me in the right spot." Spotting Shalelu, she cries, "Hurray! Shalelu, it's been so long since I've seen you. I was hoping to see you in town at The Rusty Dragon, but this is even better. You don't have any idea why the goblins lick toads do you?"
Kili accepts the map from Anen, excitement nearly bursting out, "Oh, thank you Anen. I'll take great care of it." She carefully places the map in her satchel, taking care to make sure none of her sprites snatch it and fly off. As Arther and his companions ride off, she calls out to them, "Good luck in the North. And, thanks for the map!" That sounds so exciting. I hope I get to see the Churlwood and the mountains someday. Upon hearing Thaddeus's assessment of a lack of competitors, Kili looks around for herself. Upon failing to see anyone else she sighs and slumps a little. "Too bad. A race would have been such fun. But, I suppose this is serious business. I would be tempted to start a competition among ourselves, but I fear my talents lie more with helping the rest of you than killing them myself." She shoulders her satchel, ready to head out with the rest. "Oh, I suppose I should mention...if we do get ourselves into a hairy spot...I do have one little problem. You might have trouble understanding me and I might have trouble understanding you unless you happen to speak fey...um...dark fey."
Kili starts excitedly shifting from foot to foot, "Oooh, a map you say? I love them! But, why would you give it to us? Don't you need it for your own journey to Roderic's Cove? Or, is that even farther?"
Oh, water. I guess water would be a good idea. Perhaps less of an adventure, but leaving room for more fun adventures than hunting for water. Kili pops up from the table. "You got it Jasper! 30 minutes. Got some shopping to do folks. I'll race anyone that wants to come along to the Sandpoint Boutique! See you at the gate." With that she races out the door, wooden totems clicking together as she darts through the crowd and out the door. "See you soon Ameiko!"
Kili lights up at Parsifal's joke, "I love it! Maybe we should take an aleskin for the goblins. It might be much easier to dispatch them if they're all stumbling around drunk." Calling after Ameiko, she cries, "Thanks Ameiko, we'll do our best. I really can't wait to see why they're Toadlickers."
I'm good with you posting them all from the DM Patcher alias too. In most dialog its not hard to follow who is speaking. Just in more complex cutscenes like the one at the start.
Hearing all of the talk about money, Kili begins fingering the embroidery on her satchel and thinking how nice it would be to have a matching cloak. When Anen replies she looks back up, "Now there's a girl after my own heart. Ready to dive right in. And, if we're going to make a contest of this, we'd best get started. Unfortunately, I have to admit I don't know have any idea where the Licktoads are...although I do love that name...but I've never been known for my shyness." Kili begins whispering quietly to herself her hands moving quickly like they're catching something out of the air in her hand. You catch snippets of what she's saying, "...look at me...no, behave...ok, do your thing..."
Suddenly, Kili pops up from the table and starts quizzing a patron about what they know about the location of the Licktoads.
"Buttercups. Ceru, that flowery taste is buttercups. I'm sure of it." Kili takes another sip of the brew rolling it around in her mouth, thoughts tumbling for a moment, but then turning back to the discussion of the goblins and the reward. "Isn't the thrill of chasing after goblins reward enough in itself? Especially a tribe named Licktoad? I'd go just for the story of how they earned that name. Ceru, if they really have toads, I totally dare you to lick one." She spends a moment contemplating Bethana and wondering just how she manages to balance all of the pitchers, then turns and gleams wickedly at Ameiko and Sandru, "You're right to put money on us. But, how about us versus you?"
Kili has only recently arrived in Sandpoint and is staying at the Rusty Dragon Inn. She knows Shalelu well having been saved from certain death by her and seeing her several more times over the years. She does not know the other NPCs and has not yet even met Ameiko at the Rusty Dragon. I expect that she will be fascinated by Ameiko and very interested in learning more about her. She hasn't met a Tian before and would love to learn samisen. Dodging questions about her past will only make Kili want to learn more and make her intensely curious. Kili has a healthy respect for Desna, but the think that will probably cause her the most interest in Koya is the tales she'll be able to tell about Niska and her journeys. There's not much about Sandru to attract her attention initially, but if he proves to be a way to learn more about Ameiko, she'll be all over that. If you'd like her to know all four, its not a problem. She easily could have met most of them on trips through Varisia and those opinions could have already started to form.
Kili's head spins this way and that, the motion making those with weaker stomachs a bit green in the gills. She takes in all of the talk about Shalelu with wonder. "Oooh, ooh, so many of you know her. This is just so exciting. She really is quite something. There I was, deep in the Sanos. I have no idea where my friends got off to. And the goblin...now, I have to tell you, mostly ick. But, his did have the most fascinating green skin. Did you ever wish you had green skin. I might like it, but it would have to be brighter than the goblin. I mean, his was kind of cool, but...anyway. The nasty thing has big knife...and I'm talking a big knife. I mean, the thing's a goblin...no business with a big knife. Her head whirls again at the mention of a game of cards. "Cards, did you say cards. Oh, I just love games. Have you ever played Prismati? It is so much fun picking sides isn't it? I love Prismati. Doesn't that anticipation of whether you're going to get picked or not just kill you? Oh, I simply have to play cards. What did you say your name was? I'm Kili by the way. Oh, and I do have a map." She rummages around in a small satchel that she was carrying over her shoulder and pulls out a crumpled sheet of ivory parchment with a splash of blue, blobs of green and a big red line visible. "Look, its my map from Magnimar to Sandpoint. Don't you love it. I especially like this." She cries pointing to the endless sea of blue to the west of Sandpoint. "What do you think is over here? And don't you wonder what's off the top? The world is just enormous isn't it? Even though we are so small."
A tiny gnome wearing well-weathered studded leather armor and seemingly blanketed in hundreds of tiny wooden charms that click, clack and whistle around her suddenly bursts through the doors of the Rusty Dragon. Ignoring everyone else and everything going on, she erupts, "Oh my! Did you just see that lightning bolt? I think it just hit the top of Sandpoint Cathedral. I swear it was shaped just like that goblin's nose I saw in the Sanos Forest years ago." She giggles, "At least, his nose after Shalelu was done with it." She looks around the Rusty Dragon at the patrons staring at her with their mouths hanging open. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I haven't even introduced myself. You see, I'm Kili Klippenshell. Oh, and Sandpoint is soo exciting. Especially with this spectacular storm. I didn't really want to come in. I could watch lightning all night. Couldn't you? Oh, well, there's the lightning and the maps." She pauses for a minute and looks around the room taking in the sheer number of people. Her head bounces, pony-tail swinging side-to-side as she looks quickly around the room. The charms hanging from her ears seem to moan in protest to the motion as she continues, "You see. I just love maps. They're soo cool. So many things to see. Those places to go. Oh, and you know what I heard in Magnimar. Yes, I heard something about maps. Maps in Sandpoint." She pauses for a moment as her nose picks up a deliciously spicy scent coming from the kitchen. Her gnomish desire to savor a new delight for her senses wars with her terrible love of maps. The maps win. "Oh! Maps, maps, maps. And, best of all...can you guess? YES! Gnome maps. Oh, I am so excited to arrive in Sandpoint. And, tomorrow, I'm definitely going to The Way North to see Veznutt. Yes, Veznutt Parooh. Isn't that just a darling name by the way. I hear Veznutt has the best maps. The best maps in Varisia. All the way from Whistledown...my home by the way...to Korvosa...I really don't think I want to go there, I hear such terrible things about the queen...and up to..." She looks around at the patrons again. Horribly disappointed that none of them seem to share her love of maps. "Well, never mind. Of course there's more than just maps. There is Shalelu of course. I'm really hoping to see her again. I remember her telling me she often comes to Sandpoint and The Rusty Dragon. Is she here? Do any of you know her?" |