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...
At first there appears to be no reaction from your calls, yet within some minutes you hear some commotion behind the front door. As it creaks open, a halfling peers out at you. His expression is one of exhaustion and he looks a little wobbly. "Uh, yes? I, uh, how can I help?"
You do spot anything unusual in the foliage nearby.
Ceru smiles at him and greets him as if he were showing up to one of her card games at the Dragon. "Would you be Mr. Proudstump, sir? We are from Sandpoint."
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."
Anen seems more at ease than she perhaps should be, trusting Shalelu's advice to seek out this fascinating halfling.
...particularly, good warden, about the Licktoads? We have heard that they have been more annoying than usual of late.
Jasper ceases his scanning of the swamp, confident there is nothing hiding in the area. He scans the halfling and looks into the house behind him.
"We are thankful to you for trusting us good sir. You have made quite the home for yourself here in the swamp."
I have no gift for kind words. I should leave this to others before I ruin the goodwill Kili has created.
"Oh, uh, yes, you woke me up, but that's ... that's fine, the marsh! Uh, I was just thinking about the marsh, dangerous place, really, especially the river. Licktoads? The goblins, oh, right, I don't know much about them but their village is to the south-east, there's an old fishing trail that leads right to their village."
He looks very fidgety and uneasy...
Thaddeus frowns at his response, "I apologize that we disturbed your rest. Thank you anyways, if you can think of anything else that can help us that would be most welcome, but we should let you get back to sleep."
Parisfal nods as Thaddeus speaks, adding, "Shalelu thought that we might be able to enlist your aid, Warden, and she is usually an excellent judge of such things. However, as my friend said, apologies for disturbing your rest."
And I think it odd that she would be wrong about this... Something seems amiss...
Ceru frowns, puzzled. "If you live so close to them, how could you not know much about them?"
With his bumbling exterior, you are fairly certain he is only nervous and not hiding anything...
Something is very wrong with this halfling, and you are very certain he is not telling the truth.
"Uh, yes, thank you very much, uh. The goblins have been very, very, uh, active lately so I've stayed in my home and kept to myself, I, uh, I think the snakes keep them away, yes, that's it, of course! But they did attack with fireworks, and I think they might be preparing to launch an attack against Sandpoint, so maybe you should, uh, um, take care of that I'd accompany you, but I don't feel too well."
The halfling looks back into his home and then at you, twiddling his fingers. He seems very anxious to get back inside...
K:
A:
???:
Jasper glances at the halfling with suspicion, the oddity of the man's behavior setting off warnings.
"Is something wrong? Do you have a snake problem?"
He is acting odd, but then a large group of people have just invaded his home. We can visit him later and make sure he's ok.
"We're very sorry to have disturbed you Warden, we'll be on our way to take care of the Licktoads now."
Parsifal nods cheerily, "Would that you were feeling better, Warden.. So, the Goblins fear snakes, you say? Interesting, though I do not know how we could use that to our advantage... But about those fireworks, however, do you know where they're being stored, by chance? We had some thoughts about using them.."
Parsifal then notes the Warden's glances back at the house and anxiety, and stops. He asks, with complete sincerity, "Oh, are we keeping you from something? Did you leave something on a cooking fire? Apologies, again."
"Snakes?"
Curious, Ceru peers in the nearby brush and areas along the house, to see if such creatures (or what else) are nearby.
Anen scrunches her eyebrows, looking at the small warden in an exasperated way.
Look here, Mr. Proudstump, something is bothering you, I'm certain of it. What are you not telling us? What's going on? Are you in danger?
????:
Thad:
Pars:
Anen:
Ceru:
Jasp:
Kili:
????:
The halfling fidgets with his hands, looking nervously at you all. "Uh, I'm tired, that's all, honest." He turns his gaze away, his eyes darting nervously around everywhere...
The halfling fidgets when you notice a ripple that runs across his hands and his face... And he is gauging you both...
"Sso, leave me alone..." he continues. Something is off. "I'll make your dead bodies leave me alone!"
His body changes as he leaps on top of Thaddeus. Strange slithering tendrils attach to his bare skin and you can see blood being drained as the creature clings to Thaddeus' head...
Thad:
Pars:
Anen:
Ceru:
Jasp:
Kili:
????:
Round 1
HP = 14
AC = 14
Speed = 30'
Weapon Equipped = None
Active Style(s) = None
Stunning Fist = 1
Elemental Fist = 1
Status Effects = None
"Thadd!"
Jasper sees his friend grabbed by the creature and moves to get it off him.
Parsifal curses as the halfling changes and leaps at Thaddeus, "By the Vault!", That's not the Warden.... then what is it?.
Fortunately, years of training kick in and he begins to move even as those thoughts wash across his mind. He steps toward his companion, moving around to flank , and drawing his longsword as his does so.
He says in a commanding voice, "Release him, beast, or feel the wrath of Abadar!", and then brings down his longsword.
Anen quickly scrounges around in a pouch at her hip, and when her hand emerges, she holds a pinch of what seems like butter.
Thaddeus, I'm casting a spell on you to help you escape. Allow it to work, the effects are only temporary!
Rubbing her fingers together and singing an indistinct melody, Anen flings her hand toward Thaddeus, palm down, pointer finger extended. Thaddeus's armor is quickly coated with a thin, slippery lubricant.
Ceru squawks in horror at what the halfling has become. She doesn't have much time to react, but she draws her short sword () and swiftly darts between her larger friends to flank the creature and at least help them get a better advantage().
()
Taken unaware by the suddenly hostile halfling, Thaddeus is uncertain what to do in the situation. It is at Anen's sggestion that he tries to get an idea of what she has in mind.
Recognizing what she has planned, with an approving nod he opens himself up to being affected by the arcane energies. Once he feels the effect around him, he grabs at the waist of the halfling, and tries to push it away from him.
With room to move now, he draws his blade, empowered by having a weapon in hand against this unexpected threat.
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.
The creature clings to Thaddeus with extreme fervour as Ceru and Parsifal both get into position; the half-elf's attack leaves the creature screaming. A ghastly wail. Its black blood litters the ground. Anen's spell covers Thaddeus' clothes and armour in thick grease and he successfully wrestles free from the creature's grasp - though not without invoking a parting gift. The removal of its tendrils on his neck is vexing, blood spraying out from his neck.
Now no longer clinging to Thaddeus, the creature slips up the stairs in a quick guarded stance, lashing at Parsifal with his blunt fist. It lets out a hiss of pain as it successfully smashes its fist into his armour.
(miss)
Round 2
HP = 14
AC = 15
Speed = 30'
Weapon Equipped = None
Active Style(s) = Snapping Turtle
Stunning Fist = 0/1
Elemental Fist = 1
Status Effects = None
Jasper moves up and attempts to strike the creature.
"What is this foul beast?"
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.
Thaddeus, injured by the tentacles, grasps his neck with his left as he advances on the foul abomination that once was a halfling. "Iomedae, guide my blade." He says a quick prayer before he moves to put himself protectively between Kili and the thing, as he swings his sword. His swing is shaky though, the rapid blood loss making him a little woozy.
Parsifal feels his nerves tighten as the beast shifts, Not the time to be nervous lad, it might not be a goblin, but it's still just an ugly beast. He then smiles as the divine energies flow around him, There, just like they trained you...
He raises his longsword, shouting, "For the Gold-Fisted!"
As you advance upon the creature, he only barely dodges Thaddeus's slash, though Jasper's fist hits him right in what seems to be his heat. Slightly stunned, he turns to Parsifal, only letting out a shriek of desperation as the blade sinks into his flesh, through his upper body... collapsing the creature twitches once and twice, and then it stops...
Parsifal makes a face as the creature falls, and brings his sword down to behead it. "Just in case," he says.
He begins to wipe down his blade before sheathing it and turns to ask, "Does anyone have any idea what that thing was? From the way it was trying to eat Thad, I imagine the real Warden has already been killed... but we should look, just to make sure. Some creatures like to feed slowly."
Ceru kneels down besides the fallen body and examines it carefully--making sure it is dead, seeing if it has any indicators of magic (runes or glyphs) and anything in its possession--though she pokes the body and any interesting objects with a stick before touching or removing them.
Jasper draws his temple sword and glances down at the creature as Parsifal beheads it.
"We should split up into two groups, one go through this door and the other around back to see if there's another door back there. The Warden may still be alive, especially if we've interrupted this thing before it had a chance to kill him."
"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."
It is most certainly dead. Its only possession is a piece of leather armour, for someone of your size. If it once belonged to the halfling, you cannot tell.
The creature's head is cut off without difficulties. The blood is black and leaves the most putrid stench on the stairwell up to the front door. Right inside the door you see a settle and several damaged potted plants... and then you hear a voice. "H...hello? Who...who's there?"
The voice sounds a little squeaky...
Thaddeus, ever proud, rejects Kili's offers for more healing. "No, that is alright, I will be fine. Thank you for your aid, but I do not wish you to exhaust the help of your little friend. I think we do need to see if the Warden is okay, hopefully that thing was merely impersonating him, and was not something that happened to him." Hearing the voice call from inside, Thaddeus reacts, "Warden Proudstump, is that you, do you require assistance?" He waits for an answer before entering the home, his sense of propriety taking charge.
"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.
As soon as you reply you can hear sobbing. It seems to come from above. "Oh, thank the gods, someone came..."
You can hear the sniffling and then you feel it, a soft tremor as something - or somebody - is descending down some stairs. The halfling that nervously peers out the front door looks rather wound-up and shaken. The sniffling has stopped, though you can see the faint remains of tears under his eyes. At the sight of the decapitated creature, he lets out a sigh of relief. "Ah, it really is dead...! Thank the gods..."
Jasper raises his sword and backs away from the door. His guard is up but he does his best not to threaten the halfling.
"Please excuse my caution, you'll understand if I ask for proof of your identity first?"
If these creatures hunt in packs why didn't this one help the other?
The halfling seems slightly taken aback and he lowers his head. "How... am I supposed to 'prove' my identity? I'm Walthus Proudstump. This is my home."
Parsifal smiles at the halfling and bows his head in a gesture of respect, "I apologise, good Warden, for our extreme caution, but we just had this conversation with some...thing... pretending to be you. "
.
He continues, "We had come here to seek your aid -- we were planning to go deal with the Licktoad tribe and end their threat before it becomes more dire... And Shalelu suggested that you might be of assistance.".
"Yes, good sir, it's hard to not be suspicious when 'you' were at the door and grew tentacles and attacked poor Thaddeus.
"Is this armor this creature wearing yours?"
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?"
As the others are talking, Anen spends most of her time looking at the creature at her feet, now dead. Her mind whirls, seeing firsthand the results of battle. She draws her scimitar, looking at it's edge, then at the creature's severed head. Soon enough, it will have to be me causing this. Remember, make father proud. She kicks the head over to where it can be seen by the halfling.
Your tormentor is dead, as you can see. All is well now.
After the last trick from a halfling very much the same as this one, Thaddeus listens to his answers intently, trying to gauge whether this second halfling is being sincere.
He responds to the warden's question, "Any advice you can give us about the goblin threat or the dangers of the swamp, would go a long way toward our faith. I am certain you can see, by what we just fought, that we have cause to be wary." He states matter-of-factly.
Walthus rubs the back of his head. "Well, I was in my garden feeding my snakes when that... thing attacked me. It climbed over the wall, trying to pin me to the ground. I only barely managed to get a hold of my weapons. My poison, and my snakes managed to distract the creature long enough for me to get into a hidden room in this house. I fell unconscious, though... I didn't dare leave the room. Then you came along. I wonder how many of my snakes he killed..."
He glances at the armour the headless creature is wearing. "That's not mine, no."
He seems earnest with his story, and you cannot sense any malicious intent in the little halfling...
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."
Ceru begins pondering many things, speaking aloud but to herself as much as anyone.
"The creature did mention snakes, didn't he? He seemed very nervous about them. He also didn't want to talk about the goblins. Do goblins work with creatures like this?"
Parsifal nods at Kili's suggestion, "Indeed, Warden...I feel it must be more than mere chance that Shalelu recommended we seek your aid precisely when you needed ours... it was likely divine providence. As such, I do think you should let us ensure there are no other threats to you, and perhaps allow us to check your wounds."
Walthus is slightly overwhelmed by the different requests. "Why don't you come inside first? I apologise for the mess, but after yesterday's fight..."
He leads you into his home. The house itself looks to be old and comely, and scarcely decorated. "I wouldn't be surprised if the creature grew to loathe snakes. My pets have sharp fangs and powerful venom. No doubt they made a number on him. In all my years in the swamp, though, I have never seen such a creature like that. Goblins, oh yes, but none of... those."
He leads you through another door; there is a ten foot brick wall surrounding the garden, and it is open to the sky. There are several torn-apart snakes scattered around. Blood is sprayed across multiple plants. There is a hiss, and something darts towards you all from the grass. Walthus kneels down and picks up a tiny viper, and sighs quietly. "Only three alive..."
After he has recovered from the initial shock, he turns to you. "The swamp has few places of interest. There's a shack somewhere south-west of here, supposedly belonging to some hag. I've only been there twice, never really dared go closer. There was a shipwreck south of here, but it's burnt-down. I don't really remember its name... Kiutsu Star or something like that. The goblins... they have a village south-east of here. I have had a few run-ins with them... and they've been braver as of late too."
"Are you hungry? I'd be happy to cook for you, as thanks for saving me."
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."