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"Well, whatever it is, let's do something. Either we lure it out, or we go find something more interesting out here. Standing around in its midden waiting for it to get hungry is just making me nervous. If Simon gets it to stick its head out the whole, I'll blast it off."
"Yeah, him too. He's all chain-and-shieldy."
"Good idea. Since Pavel wears armor and I don't, that officially makes him heavily armored...more so than me, anyway. C'mon, big guy, get in there and flush it out. I've got your back." Krebak will move up within 15 feet of the hatch, orienting himself to its "right" assuming that Pavel is approaching from its "bottom." His intent is to have an open target for an area effect while keeping Pavel out of it.
Perception:
Krebak, unsure of what we're expecting, will stop where he's at and wait to see what Pavel finds or until he can see what Nefi's become aware of.
Krebak looks around wildly. "What?! Before what comes out and nabs one of us? Huh? Where are you throwing that thing?"
Krebak will circle off to the right, keeping an eye on the area Nefi indicated, he'll close to within 30 feet, if he isn't already, and making sure he's got a clear line of sight as Pavel closes.
Perception Check:
Krebak slows to a halt and scans the remains nervously, wondering if they're the result of a predator or something more sinister. Remembering Finneous' bird, he'll keep an eye on the skies above as well, in case there is a winged beastie about. He'll also keep an eye out for any tracks or other signs of a predator on the ground. "Anyone know what killed all these things?"
"Jungles? Those are forests. Jungles have vines, and monkeys, and...other...jungley things. Anyway, closer to Oleg's makes sense. Start there, work our way outwards."
Assist roll for Survival:
"I'm all for it. We should get out of here before Potion McCrankypants mixes something wrong and his hut explodes."
I'd recommend it, if for no other reason than that House is an amazing example of curmudgeonly wit. That, and if you didn't know who Hugh Lorrie was, you'd think he was an American 99.9% of the time. I'm always impressed with actors that can adopt other accents.
Krebak notes her response and raises his eyebrows, giving an exaggerated shrug for the universal "What did I say?" gesture. Then he sits down on a rock nearby, muttering to his rat.
Krebak's happy to keep the thread alive with enraging witticisms...though I might have to watch some reruns of House to get in the proper spirit.
Keeping clear of the nobleman and showing mild interest Finneous' expertise, Krebak retorts loud enough only for the gnomes (hopefully) to hear: "Unless that stutter spreads to his writing hand. Then we'll probably have to retire him as cartographer.""
"Yes, there are. You'd be surprised how many of them cost money." Krebak gives Simon a toothy grin.
"Well, if the offer is there, why not? When you wander around in the wilderness, things will try to eat you. If one of those things happens to be a tatzlwyrm, we're probably going to kill it anyway. If some nobleman wants to fatten my purse to mount its ugly head on his wall, I'm not going to complain."
Once Lord Theodric is inside and the door shut once again, Krebak mutters: "Imagine that, a nobleman who's actually useful."
Krebak raises an eyebrow at the mention of the Tatzlwyrm, and takes a moment to recall what he knows of such creatures. Knowledge(arcana) Roll:
"Someone contracted an infection that's turning their flesh into a smelly goo. We should ask them about it, if for no other reason than to figure out where not to go."
Krebak mutters "Just show him the paper, Simon, or let's get out of here and let them see the paranoid potion maker, before they decide to run us down."
Not at all. It's probably best if Krebak opens his mouth as little as possible in potentially touchy diplomatic situations.
Krebak notes their change in formation, and mutters a few words, making an intricate gesture and waving a hand in front of him. A shimmering aura surrounds him briefly, then fades. "I'm guessing those spears will work on long pig just as well as boar. Best be ready just in case they aren't picky about what they hunt."
"Too rich for my blood. You should tell us about this quest, after we find out if these guys are here to talk or try to kill us."
Krebak squints his yellow eyes southwards, his nostrils flaring as he inhales deeply, as if trying to catch a scent on the wind. Perception:
Krebak snarls and takes a few steps away, then nuzzles his rodent and scritches him behind the ears. "S'okay, Skintail. I won't let it eat you."
"Like calling you a wizard would be an insult...better than being a creepy old guy in a crummy shack. Oh sure, I'll just wait out here. Didn't want in your smelly old hut anyway," mutters Krebak. Knowledge(arcana): "Manticores? Why would you want to see one? They'd just as soon kill you as look at you. I've seen them in books, and once on some snooty nobles coat of arms..." Krebak stops for a moment and gets a strange look on his face, before scanning the nearby undergrowth and the skies. "Um, why do you ask? Are there supposed to be manticores around here?"
Krebak snorts, then says as an aside to Nefi: "Hmph, and people call me a hedge wizard..."
Everything else can go on the horses, again if no one has issue with that. "I've got no problem with packing your gear, so long as you keep your chicken hawk from flying directly overhead. I didn't bring an umbrella."
Krebak takes the opportunity during pauses to take out pen and parchment and draw out a map of the area as we explore.
Krebak quickly and mechanically shovels spoonfuls of food into his mouth, spending no time on conversation. The only time he pauses is when a pink, twitching nose peeks out from under his collar and hood. Then he takes a small bit of ham or a piece of potato, places it between his lips, and offers it up to his rat, who snatches it from his mouth and retreats back under the wizard's robes to eat.
Krebak perks up at the mention of dinner, and immediately heads off to answer the call, coaxing his rat into the collar of his robe.
Krebak's look doesn't change until spell research is mentioned and then he watches Nefi fork over coin. "Really? Hmm...well, yeah I suppose I could do that, since it looks like everyone else thinks its a good idea."
Krebak looks askance at Simon. "Wait, I get a bagful of coin just for showing up and you want to take half of it away? 'Communal pot?' And just how do we decide who gets to dip into it? Sounds a little fishy to me."
"Sounds like a reasonable plan. Let me see that map. Hmm...well, if we don't head back to the fort every night, and don't want to waste time backtracking, we should probably head northeast first, then circle around to the south and west. I've got food and equipment, so we don't need to go soft on my account."
"The potion-maker is to the east, yes? That makes sense then. It would be good to know where the guy lives, assuming we find enough loot to afford potions any time soon."
Krebak shakes his head. "Gnomes..." He will fall in behind everyone else and simply listens, not having any pressing business at the moment.
"Yep, she's a lady, little gnome booblettes and everything."
"Name's Krebak," the half-orc supplies helpfully, with a thumb to his chest for emphasis. "I'm a wizard."
As Finneous lands, there's a squeak and a lump of brown, well-matched to the rough robe Krebak wears, moves and scurries down the half-orc's arm and up into his sleeve. "Just keep that overgrown chicken hawk in check. I don't like the way she looks at Skintail. I don't like the way she looks at me, for that matter."
Kreback tugs at one of his beard braids as he examines his copy of the charter for about the fiftieth time. "So we get to roam around, check things out, and kill bandits. What about treasure? I mean, we get to kill bandits, so looting them should be no problem. Do we get to scoop up everything else we find here? This thing is vague on the finer points." He pauses long enough to look at the fort and its workers. "Is this the place? We get a fort? Terrific! I've never lived in a fort before."
"Oh, yes. Go ahead and make fun of the half-orc for how ugly he is. That's real original. Then follow it up with threats of violence. You humans are all alike. Nothing but prejudice and disdain wherever I go. Freedom in the River Kingdoms my hairy, green butt! I suppose I should just forget about impressing you with my intelligence and give you what you expect." Krebak grabs his greataxe and hefts it over his head, pumping it up and down for emphasis. "Humans make Krebak mad! Me hack you up good. Rawwwrr!" He lowers his axe and rolls his eyes in disgust. "Never mind. I don't know why I bother trying to reason with the likes of you anyway. Yeah, go ahead and let that other guy do all the talking. I'll just stand here in the background and look menacing."
"I get the fuh'feeling Simon'll have to do all the tuh'talking." "Whaddya mean by that? I can talk. You think I'm stuh-stuh-stoopid just because I'm half orc? You trying to start something, skip-tongue?"
This is Krebak. He's short and fairly scrawny for a half-orc, not to mention ugly a sin. However, he makes up for it with brains, and he's got all the innate hardiness his orcish descent provides. He's a difficult fellow to get to know, but probably worth the grief of putting up with, given his talents. |
