The Licktoad Genocide
Jade Regent Part I - The Brinewall Legacy - Session One
A meeting was called by the mayor of Sandpoint. The Goblins of the Brinewall Marsh had been gaining confidence in their new found firework technology and were beginning to attack caravans and travelers along the Lost Coast road. Sandpoint itself, being a relatively peaceful place for the past 25 years, had few adventurers that answered the call. Akrid, the "paternal" figure at the orphanage had gathered two potential candidates to assist him in helping the town. One of which, a Human Man named Catfist, an expert fisherman and a recent student at the Streaming Sea monastery. The other, a Half-Elf who the town has come to know as a bit of a troublemaker. Renwyn Arqueros.The only reason this rapscallion isn't locked up in the town stockade is due to the self-proclaimed "protector" Shalelu agreeing to mentor the young man. After the meeting was concluded, and the bounty had been set, the trio had made a loose partnership with two others for this journey. An Elf man, not very well known to the people of Sandpoint, claiming to be an out of work caravan guard, Kaild Graystar. Last but not least, a halfling standing at the knees of Kaild, a spry female fighter named Azamuku Hebi who has a particular love of snakes. Eager for battle and hungering for goblin blood this halfling gladly joined the group.
So the party set out into Brinestump Marsh, a dense and dark swamp on the coast of the Varisian gulf. They wasted no time and went straight for where they suspected the goblin village to be, skipping the clear path of the New Fish Trail and going for the much more rough, thick and creepy parts of the swamp. The group of new adventurers avoided most of the swamps dangers on their way in, only having a skirmish with a giant constrictor which was dispatched after a few spells and swings of the blades.
Upon arriving at the Licktoad village, they were greeted with what was nearly a ghost town. Some huts had been reduced to sticks, or even ash. There was not a goblin in sight, only signs of some battle. After a few moments of investigation, Catfist felt as if someone were watching him. He glanced over his shoulder only to see a small goblin peeking out the window of one of the still standing huts. As his eyes met with the creatures, it cowered back into it's hut. Immediately, the wild Halfling Azam threw the doors to the hut open and slaughtered a trio of helpless Licktoads. "10gp per ear. Money is money" she muttered.
Another Goblin peeking through the window on the opposite side of the village witnessed the massacre. Catfist, without delay ran to the other hut, spun the goblin about, and initiated a headlock on the tiny thing. The goblin struggled to talk, but was able to cackle out fragments of his native tongue. A few members of the group knew at least how to understand Goblin, and heard the goblin screaming, "Nots skeletins! Fleshys!" It struggled with the Monk to break free, but would not give up any real information. Then, tired of it's babbling, Azamuku stuck her blade in the goblins mouth. Silencing it forever.
It was too late however, for the rest of the Licktoads had heard it's screams and two packs of three goblins began to flank the party. One in each of the group holding a strange tube, a firework to be exact. Fairly rare in this region, even Sandru's caravan and all it's traders don't have access to black powder. Without even questioning Catfist took flight, kicking the goblin holding the strange firework square in the face, knocking it to the ground. Azamuku joined Catfist in the melee, while Kaild and Akrid took up support positions. Ren, thinking he could find the Chief and take his head to claim the bounty all to himself started sneaking through the huts and made his way to the largest "building" in the village.
Then, a loud burst as a firework had been set off from a trio of goblins near the fetid pig water pool. The fiery his soared through the air, and clearly missing the targets Akrid and Kaild. Without hesitation, Kaild seemed to be able to bend the air around him, then throwing out his hand a small shockwave threw the goblins from there feet and into the fetid pool.
Azamuku had given chase to a lone goblin that had fled the melee with her and Catfist, her tiny legs carrying her with amazing speed she lept into the air and in one fell swoop, lopped the head, and both ears of the fleeing goblin off. Catfist did not give chase, instead focusing on the remaining Goblin who had grazed him with a rusty spear. In a flurry, Catfist pounded said goblin into nothing but bits of bone, blood and mud.
Ren had found a large door, barred from the inside with a branch from a nearby tree. The half-elf slung his bow around his shoulder and drew his short sword in an attempt to wedge the branch free from the door. Sliding his sword in between the seal of the doors, he dug the tip in to the bark and using all his weight as leverage was able to free the branch from the door. Then, in some crazy attempt to terrorize his companions, he flung the doors open and ran behind a corner while 6 goblins ran out in a frenzy towards Catfist. The quick reactions of Kaild saved the monk from what was likely certain death by calling out to Catfist, "Shield your eyes!" Kaild raised his fingers and pointed in the direction of the barrage of Licktoads and every color of the spectrum blasted the area. The bright light blinded three of the Goblins, leaving only three to threaten Catfist. Azamuku came to aid the monk and between the two of them, were able to fend off the goblins with ease. Azamuku then took some time to take some rage and frustration out and kill each of the blinded, stunned goblins in a very painful manner.
Ren had run inside the hut made of crude woods and mud, only to be greeted by a tiny goblin wearing a shirt and a funny headress. The half-elf drew a smoke arrow and filled the throne area with smoke. Easily finishing off the two throne guards, however, Cheif Gutwad had vanished into his private bedroom. As Ren made his way to the door, he fired an arrow at Gutwad, narrowly missing the Chief's head. Catfist heard the scuffle to his left and ran towards the throne just in time to seen Ren get mortally stabbed in the belly. While bleeding Ren made his final strikes, nearly collapsing from the blood loss. The Monk went into another flurry, each blow to a unique pressure point or organ on the tiny goblins body. Chief Gutwad had fallen into a heap right about the time Akrid came running into the room to see Ren kneeled over on the floor. He placed his hand on his belly and with the divine rite of Qi Zhang the wound had sealed.
A collection of goblin ears was found, as well as the Chief's head, and armor. The village itself was nearly ruins and did not have much items of worth. However, the party managed to find some fireworks (no firework making supplies however), some jewelry, a bit of gold and two very interesting items.
A single beautiful red chest. This chest, is itself a work of art—if the mud and filth that encrust its lacquered sides and velvet interior are cleaned off, the chest is worth 150 gp. Akrid was able to identify it more clearly, to recognize the chest and its delicate etchings of cranes and frogs playing along a beach as being of Minkai manufacture.
A gold-and-ivory fan depicting a gecko walking amid cherry blossoms.The fan is worth 80 gp, but a crude map has been painted on the reverse side. The map is messy, but Akrid was able to make it out enough. The map depicts Brinestump Marsh, along with the locations of two shipwrecks and a cave. These are located at areas I, K, and L respectively.
****RETCON****
As nightfall came in the swamp after the slaughter of the remaining goblins it was decided that this would be the best place to rest for the night. Treading back through the swamp at night would be very dangerous. They camped in Gutwad's throne room, and planned the next course of action. Akrid explained to the group that these Goblins seem to have acquired these items, along with all the fireworks from the shipwrecks. "If they are in fact Minkai shipwrecks, they should have had much more treasure than a pile of fireworks. Furthermore, this box looks very, very aged. If it is of Kaijitsu make, there may be other artifacts, riches, and possibly even some priceless history near or around these ships. We have the rations, none of us are seriously injured, *Akrid snickers at Ren*, an old man is up for some more adventuring. I'm not ready to retire back to home after one night in a swamp. We have a map now to guide us through this awful place. Why don't we explore more and see if we can happen upon some great discovery.... especially before those other adventurers that left town around the same time we did."
The party ends the night with that thought in their heads. Continue on in this nasty swamp for another day exploring, or go back home and collect the bounty and call it a month?
....to be continued next session.
Currently we are in the swamp, at location 'H', camped and safe. :)
