Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Meepo's Story Hour [NEWS! 6-19-02]
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Samnell" data-source="post: 1209" data-attributes="member: 130"><p><strong>IV-Stupid Humans and Goblins</strong></p><p></p><p>Werein Meepo learns the finer points of human theology.</p><p></p><p>Meepo was now securely ensconced into the party as Burble's lackey. Humans were stupid, but the had their uses. Burble was dangerously smart, but trusting. Meepo had him wrapped around his tail.</p><p></p><p>Kobold and halfling led the humans up a corridor ten feet wide. Burble carefully examined every inch of it. Meepo tried to stay a step or two behind the halfling. Any traps the goblins left behind were for Burble to find, not him. Meepo would miss his newly-won ally, but he'd miss his life more.</p><p></p><p>Meepo and Burble made their way forward. They reached a point where another corridor crossed the one they'd been walking along and Meepo decided to curry more favor. He peered theatrically both ways down the crossing corridor and into the darkness ahead of them beyond the intersection. He made sure that he tilted his head so his eyes would flesh and glow in the lantern light. Meepo wanted to appear useful.</p><p></p><p>"Meepo see stones and dirt that way," he told Burble, pointing to the right. "It goes outside, many rats that not make nice there. That way, " now Meepo pointed left. "Meepo see door. Straight up, Meepo see doors on sides of walls, big arch and open past that. Can see no more." He'd seen all of this some moments before at the latest, but telling the humans showed that he was trying to help them. Meepo wanted them to see him as a helpful addition to the group. They'd be more likely to do what he wanted if they trusted him to some degree. Humans were stupid, trust came easy to them.</p><p></p><p>Burble nodded and smiled as best he could with his fire-twisted face. "Thanks Meepo, I am glad to have you with me and help point out what is around. Do you know what lies beyond the door to the left? as for the Right, well glad to know we have another avenue to the outside, but I have no wish to face the damned rats any time soon. Looks like the front is where we want to go, to try to get the Dragon and kill off or defeat the fricken goblins. Well folks, what do you think."</p><p></p><p>Meepo would be damned if he were going to go out into the rats' home. They were as long as kobolds were tall and their bites carried disease. He'd be happy to send the humans there after he was done with them, but for now they had their uses. Maybe he wouldn't send Burble. The halfling might have the potential for longer usefulness. In time, he might become Meepo's lackey if events moved as Meepo willed.</p><p></p><p>Burble wanted to check the door Meepo saw, though. That was smart enough. Goblins could come through the door behind them and lay an ambush. Meepo hadn't considered that. Burble did indeed have his uses. There would be no rats for him. If he became inconvenient Meepo would have to kill him in his sleep.</p><p></p><p>Rowland agreed that the door should be checked. Meepo was especially conscious of the boy now. His Dragonblood had potential uses that left Meepo nearly drooling just thinking about them. Burble moved ahead, "I am about to check this room, any want to follow me? Meepo, get ready and cover me ok flunky."</p><p></p><p>Lorn and Rhea were yammering at each other in the rear, but Meepo paid them no mind. They started talking about Burble, so Meepo started listening. If the two were aligning against Burble, he'd have to know about it.</p><p></p><p>"That blade trap he set off while attempting to open the door does not inspire a lot of confidence." Lorn was saying. "I would hate to see things if he did not have them under control."</p><p></p><p>Meepo noted that the two might be conspiring against Burble and quickly scurried up to the door with the halfling. He could find out the details later, but if he kept hanging back they'd notice. Burble had summoned him and a proper lackey was quick to obey.</p><p></p><p>With the others now gathered up by the door, Meepo with crossbow ready, Burble opened it and quickly swept into the room with his bow drawn. The new room was square and sported another closed door. "Meepo, keep your eyes peeled, ok."</p><p></p><p>Meepo nodded like an idiot. Of course he was going to stay alert. It was good that Burble underestimated him, though. Burble moved up to the door and quickly checked it over. It was safe.</p><p></p><p>Burble carefully opened the door, with Meepo, Bryant, and Rowland standing at the ready. He no more than moved the door an inch before the room exploded in a loud clanging, as though a bell were rung with the motion. Meepo cursed silently. This could get him killed. He could spare a human or two, but his own life was precious.</p><p></p><p>Any advantage of surprise lost, Burble flung the door open and revealed beyond a hallway ten feet wide and perhaps twenty long. The floor was covered with sharpened, pointed metal stars....caltrops, Meepo knew. The hall ended in a roughly-mortared breatwork three feet tall topped with crenelations. Meepo knew in an instant that they'd walked into a trap.</p><p></p><p>As the door opened and bell sounded harsh voices called out and Meepo barely have time to see sallow yellow vaces with sloped-back foreheads and glazed eyes pop up over the breastwork before equally yellow arms raised up sharp javelins and <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> back to throw them. Meepo struggled to keep from screaming at the halfling. If he wanted to yell at Burble he could after he lived through this. Two goblins with cover and javelins were enough to keep him busy for the moment.</p><p></p><p>Burble's arrow struck one of the two goblins in the shoulder and Meepo let himself be caught up in the excitement of battle. "Meepo kill goblin too!" In Meepo's mind, each goblin was one of those who stole Calcryx, beat him, and ruined his plans.</p><p></p><p>The other goblin quickly showed itself and hurled a javelin at Burble, which Burble easily dodged. Meepo enthusiasticly loaded his crossbow and fired a shot at the goblin that attacked Burble. If he hit it, he would look like he was protecting the halfling. Another opprotunity to curry favor. Meepo might be bent on vengeance, but he didn't let it control him entirely. "Meepo kill you!" he cried. The bolt missed. That didn't work out exactly like he'd planned.</p><p></p><p>Bryant sent an arrow at the goblins and Rowland let loose with a magical bolt. The bolt followed the goblin no matter how he dodged. Meepo had to figure out how to do that. The second goblin came up from behind the wall again and Rhea sent a dagger flying at him, which hit about as well as Meepo's crossbow bolt. The goblin raised its javelin and hurled it right at Meepo. The javelin hit him and nearly spun the kobold around with the force of its impact. Pain rocketed down Meepo's arm. He howled in pain. "Meepo hurt! Meepo kill goblin for that!"</p><p></p><p>Then Lorn showed how stupid he was. He called out to some human god and holding his sword high ran across the caltrop-lined corridor, begging to get his feet flayed and be cut down by javelins. Meepo winced at his pain but managed to watch the human running to his death. Somehow, the human made it to the goblin breastwork and sank his blade deep into the stone, just missing a goblin skull. The goblin was smart. It ran. The other followed.</p><p></p><p>Meepo learned an important lesson then. Human gods liked stupid people.</p><p></p><p>"You will not escape a warrior of Heironeous!" Lorn screamed as he started over the breatwork. They were being led into another ambush. Meepo was sure of it. Burble started sweeping the caltrops clear with his bow. That was a wiser action. It couldn't possibly have come from a human.</p><p></p><p>"Follow me Meepo and step as I do, Do not get your feet stuck, as we do not have high healing and I would hate to see you damaged before we can find Calcryx." Like Burble needed to tell him. But best to play the fool again. Burble did stay close to Meepo though, seemingly of his own free will. This presented certain opprotunities.</p><p></p><p>The goblins had vanished into the ruins, and Lorn chose not to follow after all seeing that no one was stupid enough to follow him to his doom. So he waited for the rest to sweep the caltrops away and move up behind him. They stepped carefully over the goblin breastwork. Burble did the work with his bow and asked Meepo to watch his back for goblins.</p><p></p><p>Burble was starting to trust Meepo. That was unexpectedly fast. Time to reinforce that trust. "Meepo watch. Meepo yell if goblins come. Meepo not make nice."</p><p></p><p>"Your doing just fine Meepo. I am proud of the way that you stood up to those nasty buggers. Hope we can pay them back, and with interest. Watch and let us know if you see anything," was Burble's reply. That surprised Meepo a bit. No one had ever paid him a complement before without the threat of violcnce provoking it. Meepo favored the halfling with a toothy kobold grin.</p><p></p><p>Lorn had doubled back while the others cleared the caltrops. "I was unable to stop them without the hand of Heironeous guiding my own." Meepo wondered if the man was even too stupid for stupid human gods.</p><p></p><p>Burble answered the heavily armored man. "You did the best you could Lorn. Hells, I missed the dang alarm that warned the goblins and they have now escaped and warned their fellows. Just stay there and keep an eye out and let us know if you see anything. I want to clear the full path here so we have an escape route if we need to flee. If any want to gather the caltrops, do so, but just be warned, they might be poisoned. Once we get to the wall, we can set out on where we want to go next. Embrill, could you wake up back there and bind Meepo. Ok folks, lets get a move on."</p><p></p><p>Burble wanted Meepo's wounds treated now. He was taking this trust thing into the realms of insanity. But he might just be protecting a useful tool. Meepo could understand that. He'd do the same for Burble. Embrill had other ideas, though.</p><p></p><p>"I don't recall my needing to listen to a damn thing you have to say, much less obey you." Meepo now considered Lorn the leader of the anti-Burble faction of the group and thus his chief obstacle. "Besides, as you've stated in the past, Meepo is your 'lackey'" He spoke the word with the scorn it deserved. "So taking care of his wellbeing would be your responsibility, now wouldn't it?" The druid pushed past Burble and stepped over the goblin wall.</p><p></p><p>Meepo could bear no more and spoke in his own defense. "Meepo good lackey!"</p><p></p><p>"Yes...yes I'm sure you are, Meepo." Embrill's voice was thick with sarcasm and condescention. Meepo wanted to kill him, slowly. Then he'd feed the pieces to that damned wolf.</p><p></p><p>"Yes you are Meepo and we can try to have some nice Riki for dinner when we rest. Pay no attention to that ass of a druid, he seems to love only his dog of a lover, and would not even heal a friend if he could help it." Burble said.</p><p></p><p>"Actually, you bring up a point worth speaking about for a change. Those whom I would call friends are the only ones I would feel are worth healing." Embrill continued.</p><p></p><p>"Meepo no pay attention to dog-lovers. Meepo love dragon." The kobold replied sagely. Let them think that he was driven by remorse and not revenge.</p><p></p><p>"Then maybe we would be better off looking for a real healer and not some selfish ass that would leave people that he travels with. Go find your own group, one more suited to your ideals flower sniffer. Your not even a real priest, just some flaked-out necter-drinking, flower-wearing fop." Burble shot back at Embrill.</p><p></p><p>"I stand by my position. If you have my respect, you have my gift at your disposal. I'm fairly certain none of the others would protest. I'm sure Rhea's leg feels much better now, no?" Embrill retorted.</p><p></p><p>"Ok Embrill, have it your way. I seem to guess that your course with us may not last the best, but then we can see how this all plays out. You want to be the loner, you got it. Hope that you will remember this as you bleed out with a goblin spear in you. You're a nasty bastard, and you seem to want to play things really close to your chest. Hells, you could not even take a fricken shot at the goblin as it fled. Huh, not much use I guess." Burble came to Meepo's defense. This was wonderful! Exactly as Meepo planned! Then Burble tied a rag around Meepo's arm wound.</p><p></p><p>That was unprecedented. Burble was actually caring for him personally? What was wrong with this halfling? To be duped and manipulated was one thing, but Meepo didn't quite know what to make of this. He was unable to hide his shock and finally said, "Burble make nice with Meepo."</p><p></p><p>"Your welcome Meepo." He turned back to Embrill. "Like I said, a real healer. One time you healed someone, and then only after bitching and whining. You do what you will and I shall revel as you bleed out. I will not lift a single finger to assist you, May the bites of a thousand rats send you to the fever filled muck of your soul. May the bones of Riki fester in your stomach. Move out and shut up if you are to be the leader and front line."</p><p></p><p>"I wouldn't accept your help if I was lying bleeding at your feet, so you have no need for worries about that. And if not hiding my feelings makes me a 'nasty bastard', then I'll wear that label with pride." Embrill yammered as he spat at Burble's feet. "Better that that a greedy, two-faced theif."</p><p></p><p>"Hey, Hey now! Watch it with the theif comments....Some of us might take offense..." Rhea piped up.</p><p></p><p>"So I am two-faced am I? Have I yet done anything to attack you with weapons, stolen from you, picked your pocked? You seem to be of one mind, basically full of s***. You know, I have had enough of your damned mouth. Why don't you take your flea bag doggie lover and go away. Go back to your woods and dance around with your fricken farie friends. You have seemed never to really like to be around us, so why stay? Why don't you go join the goblins. Seems you and they have all the same traits, with backstabbing people you live around. Want no help? Well so be it. Get the hells away from here."</p><p></p><p>"So, you others have anything to say here?" Burble looked to the others to back him up and Meepo paid close attention to who would. The factions were forming more clearly now.</p><p></p><p>Bryant had been observing the whole exchange and added his remark now with a smile. "Now that's what I remember adventuring being like."</p><p></p><p>Meepo made his own stance known. "Burble make nice Meepo." He loaded his crossbow, but left it for the moment pointed at the ground. The worthless druid could make the first move.</p><p></p><p>"Not yet Meepo. He is an ass and a waste of a living creature. But we will not kill him here, He throws words around, yet can not seem to do anything useful. Just watch him. if he makes a move to attack, then by all means, bolt him deep, and I will back you up. We shall wait for the right time. I think we both can agree, ambush and timing are all that make it worth while." Burble cautioned Meepo.</p><p></p><p>"Um, no need for that, Embrill. Not in my view. I appreciate your presence and help, myself. And I really do like wolves." He stroked his pet bird. "They're at least as smart and loyal as falcons, perhaps smarter." Meepo wondered what the bird would taste like.</p><p></p><p>"Don't presume to order me around, little man. As far as picking my pockets go, you'd find precious little there to interest you, since I'm not laden with coin, which seems to be the only thing that warms your black little heart. Let's not forget that the naieve elf-girl died under your 'leadership'. Did you strip her corpse right away? Or did you at least let the body cool first?" "Everyone in this group may have their shortcomings - be it failed paladinhood, youthful ignorance or an attraction to the same sex," he said, casting glaces at each of the respective targets in turn "But the only one I genuinely dislike is -you-.</p><p>You know as well as I that you would kill your precious 'lackey' or sell him and his tribe up the river for a sack of coin. And you dare call me similar to the goblins?" Glaring at Burble he continued "If you want me to leave so badly, then make me do so yourself if you can stop setting off every trap in this complex long enough."</p><p></p><p>"Your full of s*** and you know it. Very well, you can take the lead then if you think I am so incompetent ass. Or stay there and lick your damn curs rear for all I care." Burble replied.</p><p></p><p>Lorn was puzzled. "Attraction to the same sex?" he asked skeptically as he scratched his head. Meepo made note once more of how stupid Lorn was.</p><p></p><p>"I think you two spating will draw the goblins here and let them catch us all by surprise," Bryant sighed. Meepo had been keeping his voice quiet, but Worthless Druid hadn't.</p><p></p><p>"Well the Goblins know we are here with the warnings the escaped one brought them, so I am not ashamed by the spat as you call it. I agree that we should head on, if you are wanting, I am done here. This cretin wants the lead, he has it, You want to trust him more then I have tried to do, or if you lack faith in my overall goodwill, then so be it. I have never tried to hide my opinions, or what motivates me, but I have stood on the front line and risked my life for this mission, Has he?" Burble asked Bryant. He shook his head and stuck near Meepo.</p><p></p><p>Rowland tried to defuse things, "Now, now boys...behave yourselves and be nice to each other." He smiled and Meepo ignored him.</p><p></p><p>"Bah! Be nice to that piece of crap, I think not." Burble must have thought much as Meepo did of the boy's comments. His blood might be useful, but his thoughts were worthless.</p><p></p><p>Everyone came over the goblin wall behind Embrill and found a small room with a goblin body laying on the floor, sprawled out. It was one of those that had cast a javeling mere minutes ago. Meepo looked to Burble, meek as he could manage. He spoke in a low whisper. "Meepo go make sure dead?" Only a stupid human would be loud this close to goblins.</p><p></p><p>With Burble's permission, not that he would have stopped anyway, Meepo finished the goblin with a series of brutal spear thrusts. The last thrust cleaved open goblin skull and sent red goblin brains spilling out on to the floor. "Meepo not make nice with dragon-stealing goblins!" Meepo proudly proclaimed. Burble looted the body.</p><p></p><p>"You did real good Meepo and your right, You make really good Not Nice on those Dragon stealing scum and you just keep on killing them left and right." The halfling was either bereft of his senses or trying to flatter Meepo. He hadn't hit a single goblin with his crossbow. Meepo wasn't sure which. "Ok folks, shall we try to head out and see if we can find Calcryx or the goblins and clear out this area?" Burble asked the rest. He motioned for Meepo follow him as he moved towards the only door out of the room.</p><p></p><p>Embrill had had enough through. He moved past Burble with Riki in tow. Bryant deliberately hung back with Burble. Meepo placed Bryant in Burble's faction. Burble and Meepo stayed to the back. The worthless druid could catch a javelin or two for Meepo. As the druid stalked forward, Burble leaned over and muttered to Bryant.</p><p></p><p>"I am sorry to have caught you in the situation between Embrill and Myself. I mean you no ill will and you have not done anything to me that deserves the insults and abuse I may have spread." Meepo admired how quickly he sought to cement his alliances. Bryant looked surprised by the words, but nodded in acknowledgement. A warrior would be useful.</p><p></p><p>Down a short hallway the party went, Meepo and Burble at the rear. The hall opened up into a long room cut across by another breastwork. There were more goblins behind it who began yelling amongst themselves and brandishing javelins. Meepo recognized the one on the far end. He was the goblin that got away from the last fight. Riki growled as Meepo yelled, "Goblins! Meepo kill goblins!"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Samnell, post: 1209, member: 130"] [b]IV-Stupid Humans and Goblins[/b] Werein Meepo learns the finer points of human theology. Meepo was now securely ensconced into the party as Burble's lackey. Humans were stupid, but the had their uses. Burble was dangerously smart, but trusting. Meepo had him wrapped around his tail. Kobold and halfling led the humans up a corridor ten feet wide. Burble carefully examined every inch of it. Meepo tried to stay a step or two behind the halfling. Any traps the goblins left behind were for Burble to find, not him. Meepo would miss his newly-won ally, but he'd miss his life more. Meepo and Burble made their way forward. They reached a point where another corridor crossed the one they'd been walking along and Meepo decided to curry more favor. He peered theatrically both ways down the crossing corridor and into the darkness ahead of them beyond the intersection. He made sure that he tilted his head so his eyes would flesh and glow in the lantern light. Meepo wanted to appear useful. "Meepo see stones and dirt that way," he told Burble, pointing to the right. "It goes outside, many rats that not make nice there. That way, " now Meepo pointed left. "Meepo see door. Straight up, Meepo see doors on sides of walls, big arch and open past that. Can see no more." He'd seen all of this some moments before at the latest, but telling the humans showed that he was trying to help them. Meepo wanted them to see him as a helpful addition to the group. They'd be more likely to do what he wanted if they trusted him to some degree. Humans were stupid, trust came easy to them. Burble nodded and smiled as best he could with his fire-twisted face. "Thanks Meepo, I am glad to have you with me and help point out what is around. Do you know what lies beyond the door to the left? as for the Right, well glad to know we have another avenue to the outside, but I have no wish to face the damned rats any time soon. Looks like the front is where we want to go, to try to get the Dragon and kill off or defeat the fricken goblins. Well folks, what do you think." Meepo would be damned if he were going to go out into the rats' home. They were as long as kobolds were tall and their bites carried disease. He'd be happy to send the humans there after he was done with them, but for now they had their uses. Maybe he wouldn't send Burble. The halfling might have the potential for longer usefulness. In time, he might become Meepo's lackey if events moved as Meepo willed. Burble wanted to check the door Meepo saw, though. That was smart enough. Goblins could come through the door behind them and lay an ambush. Meepo hadn't considered that. Burble did indeed have his uses. There would be no rats for him. If he became inconvenient Meepo would have to kill him in his sleep. Rowland agreed that the door should be checked. Meepo was especially conscious of the boy now. His Dragonblood had potential uses that left Meepo nearly drooling just thinking about them. Burble moved ahead, "I am about to check this room, any want to follow me? Meepo, get ready and cover me ok flunky." Lorn and Rhea were yammering at each other in the rear, but Meepo paid them no mind. They started talking about Burble, so Meepo started listening. If the two were aligning against Burble, he'd have to know about it. "That blade trap he set off while attempting to open the door does not inspire a lot of confidence." Lorn was saying. "I would hate to see things if he did not have them under control." Meepo noted that the two might be conspiring against Burble and quickly scurried up to the door with the halfling. He could find out the details later, but if he kept hanging back they'd notice. Burble had summoned him and a proper lackey was quick to obey. With the others now gathered up by the door, Meepo with crossbow ready, Burble opened it and quickly swept into the room with his bow drawn. The new room was square and sported another closed door. "Meepo, keep your eyes peeled, ok." Meepo nodded like an idiot. Of course he was going to stay alert. It was good that Burble underestimated him, though. Burble moved up to the door and quickly checked it over. It was safe. Burble carefully opened the door, with Meepo, Bryant, and Rowland standing at the ready. He no more than moved the door an inch before the room exploded in a loud clanging, as though a bell were rung with the motion. Meepo cursed silently. This could get him killed. He could spare a human or two, but his own life was precious. Any advantage of surprise lost, Burble flung the door open and revealed beyond a hallway ten feet wide and perhaps twenty long. The floor was covered with sharpened, pointed metal stars....caltrops, Meepo knew. The hall ended in a roughly-mortared breatwork three feet tall topped with crenelations. Meepo knew in an instant that they'd walked into a trap. As the door opened and bell sounded harsh voices called out and Meepo barely have time to see sallow yellow vaces with sloped-back foreheads and glazed eyes pop up over the breastwork before equally yellow arms raised up sharp javelins and :):):):) back to throw them. Meepo struggled to keep from screaming at the halfling. If he wanted to yell at Burble he could after he lived through this. Two goblins with cover and javelins were enough to keep him busy for the moment. Burble's arrow struck one of the two goblins in the shoulder and Meepo let himself be caught up in the excitement of battle. "Meepo kill goblin too!" In Meepo's mind, each goblin was one of those who stole Calcryx, beat him, and ruined his plans. The other goblin quickly showed itself and hurled a javelin at Burble, which Burble easily dodged. Meepo enthusiasticly loaded his crossbow and fired a shot at the goblin that attacked Burble. If he hit it, he would look like he was protecting the halfling. Another opprotunity to curry favor. Meepo might be bent on vengeance, but he didn't let it control him entirely. "Meepo kill you!" he cried. The bolt missed. That didn't work out exactly like he'd planned. Bryant sent an arrow at the goblins and Rowland let loose with a magical bolt. The bolt followed the goblin no matter how he dodged. Meepo had to figure out how to do that. The second goblin came up from behind the wall again and Rhea sent a dagger flying at him, which hit about as well as Meepo's crossbow bolt. The goblin raised its javelin and hurled it right at Meepo. The javelin hit him and nearly spun the kobold around with the force of its impact. Pain rocketed down Meepo's arm. He howled in pain. "Meepo hurt! Meepo kill goblin for that!" Then Lorn showed how stupid he was. He called out to some human god and holding his sword high ran across the caltrop-lined corridor, begging to get his feet flayed and be cut down by javelins. Meepo winced at his pain but managed to watch the human running to his death. Somehow, the human made it to the goblin breastwork and sank his blade deep into the stone, just missing a goblin skull. The goblin was smart. It ran. The other followed. Meepo learned an important lesson then. Human gods liked stupid people. "You will not escape a warrior of Heironeous!" Lorn screamed as he started over the breatwork. They were being led into another ambush. Meepo was sure of it. Burble started sweeping the caltrops clear with his bow. That was a wiser action. It couldn't possibly have come from a human. "Follow me Meepo and step as I do, Do not get your feet stuck, as we do not have high healing and I would hate to see you damaged before we can find Calcryx." Like Burble needed to tell him. But best to play the fool again. Burble did stay close to Meepo though, seemingly of his own free will. This presented certain opprotunities. The goblins had vanished into the ruins, and Lorn chose not to follow after all seeing that no one was stupid enough to follow him to his doom. So he waited for the rest to sweep the caltrops away and move up behind him. They stepped carefully over the goblin breastwork. Burble did the work with his bow and asked Meepo to watch his back for goblins. Burble was starting to trust Meepo. That was unexpectedly fast. Time to reinforce that trust. "Meepo watch. Meepo yell if goblins come. Meepo not make nice." "Your doing just fine Meepo. I am proud of the way that you stood up to those nasty buggers. Hope we can pay them back, and with interest. Watch and let us know if you see anything," was Burble's reply. That surprised Meepo a bit. No one had ever paid him a complement before without the threat of violcnce provoking it. Meepo favored the halfling with a toothy kobold grin. Lorn had doubled back while the others cleared the caltrops. "I was unable to stop them without the hand of Heironeous guiding my own." Meepo wondered if the man was even too stupid for stupid human gods. Burble answered the heavily armored man. "You did the best you could Lorn. Hells, I missed the dang alarm that warned the goblins and they have now escaped and warned their fellows. Just stay there and keep an eye out and let us know if you see anything. I want to clear the full path here so we have an escape route if we need to flee. If any want to gather the caltrops, do so, but just be warned, they might be poisoned. Once we get to the wall, we can set out on where we want to go next. Embrill, could you wake up back there and bind Meepo. Ok folks, lets get a move on." Burble wanted Meepo's wounds treated now. He was taking this trust thing into the realms of insanity. But he might just be protecting a useful tool. Meepo could understand that. He'd do the same for Burble. Embrill had other ideas, though. "I don't recall my needing to listen to a damn thing you have to say, much less obey you." Meepo now considered Lorn the leader of the anti-Burble faction of the group and thus his chief obstacle. "Besides, as you've stated in the past, Meepo is your 'lackey'" He spoke the word with the scorn it deserved. "So taking care of his wellbeing would be your responsibility, now wouldn't it?" The druid pushed past Burble and stepped over the goblin wall. Meepo could bear no more and spoke in his own defense. "Meepo good lackey!" "Yes...yes I'm sure you are, Meepo." Embrill's voice was thick with sarcasm and condescention. Meepo wanted to kill him, slowly. Then he'd feed the pieces to that damned wolf. "Yes you are Meepo and we can try to have some nice Riki for dinner when we rest. Pay no attention to that ass of a druid, he seems to love only his dog of a lover, and would not even heal a friend if he could help it." Burble said. "Actually, you bring up a point worth speaking about for a change. Those whom I would call friends are the only ones I would feel are worth healing." Embrill continued. "Meepo no pay attention to dog-lovers. Meepo love dragon." The kobold replied sagely. Let them think that he was driven by remorse and not revenge. "Then maybe we would be better off looking for a real healer and not some selfish ass that would leave people that he travels with. Go find your own group, one more suited to your ideals flower sniffer. Your not even a real priest, just some flaked-out necter-drinking, flower-wearing fop." Burble shot back at Embrill. "I stand by my position. If you have my respect, you have my gift at your disposal. I'm fairly certain none of the others would protest. I'm sure Rhea's leg feels much better now, no?" Embrill retorted. "Ok Embrill, have it your way. I seem to guess that your course with us may not last the best, but then we can see how this all plays out. You want to be the loner, you got it. Hope that you will remember this as you bleed out with a goblin spear in you. You're a nasty bastard, and you seem to want to play things really close to your chest. Hells, you could not even take a fricken shot at the goblin as it fled. Huh, not much use I guess." Burble came to Meepo's defense. This was wonderful! Exactly as Meepo planned! Then Burble tied a rag around Meepo's arm wound. That was unprecedented. Burble was actually caring for him personally? What was wrong with this halfling? To be duped and manipulated was one thing, but Meepo didn't quite know what to make of this. He was unable to hide his shock and finally said, "Burble make nice with Meepo." "Your welcome Meepo." He turned back to Embrill. "Like I said, a real healer. One time you healed someone, and then only after bitching and whining. You do what you will and I shall revel as you bleed out. I will not lift a single finger to assist you, May the bites of a thousand rats send you to the fever filled muck of your soul. May the bones of Riki fester in your stomach. Move out and shut up if you are to be the leader and front line." "I wouldn't accept your help if I was lying bleeding at your feet, so you have no need for worries about that. And if not hiding my feelings makes me a 'nasty bastard', then I'll wear that label with pride." Embrill yammered as he spat at Burble's feet. "Better that that a greedy, two-faced theif." "Hey, Hey now! Watch it with the theif comments....Some of us might take offense..." Rhea piped up. "So I am two-faced am I? Have I yet done anything to attack you with weapons, stolen from you, picked your pocked? You seem to be of one mind, basically full of s***. You know, I have had enough of your damned mouth. Why don't you take your flea bag doggie lover and go away. Go back to your woods and dance around with your fricken farie friends. You have seemed never to really like to be around us, so why stay? Why don't you go join the goblins. Seems you and they have all the same traits, with backstabbing people you live around. Want no help? Well so be it. Get the hells away from here." "So, you others have anything to say here?" Burble looked to the others to back him up and Meepo paid close attention to who would. The factions were forming more clearly now. Bryant had been observing the whole exchange and added his remark now with a smile. "Now that's what I remember adventuring being like." Meepo made his own stance known. "Burble make nice Meepo." He loaded his crossbow, but left it for the moment pointed at the ground. The worthless druid could make the first move. "Not yet Meepo. He is an ass and a waste of a living creature. But we will not kill him here, He throws words around, yet can not seem to do anything useful. Just watch him. if he makes a move to attack, then by all means, bolt him deep, and I will back you up. We shall wait for the right time. I think we both can agree, ambush and timing are all that make it worth while." Burble cautioned Meepo. "Um, no need for that, Embrill. Not in my view. I appreciate your presence and help, myself. And I really do like wolves." He stroked his pet bird. "They're at least as smart and loyal as falcons, perhaps smarter." Meepo wondered what the bird would taste like. "Don't presume to order me around, little man. As far as picking my pockets go, you'd find precious little there to interest you, since I'm not laden with coin, which seems to be the only thing that warms your black little heart. Let's not forget that the naieve elf-girl died under your 'leadership'. Did you strip her corpse right away? Or did you at least let the body cool first?" "Everyone in this group may have their shortcomings - be it failed paladinhood, youthful ignorance or an attraction to the same sex," he said, casting glaces at each of the respective targets in turn "But the only one I genuinely dislike is -you-. You know as well as I that you would kill your precious 'lackey' or sell him and his tribe up the river for a sack of coin. And you dare call me similar to the goblins?" Glaring at Burble he continued "If you want me to leave so badly, then make me do so yourself if you can stop setting off every trap in this complex long enough." "Your full of s*** and you know it. Very well, you can take the lead then if you think I am so incompetent ass. Or stay there and lick your damn curs rear for all I care." Burble replied. Lorn was puzzled. "Attraction to the same sex?" he asked skeptically as he scratched his head. Meepo made note once more of how stupid Lorn was. "I think you two spating will draw the goblins here and let them catch us all by surprise," Bryant sighed. Meepo had been keeping his voice quiet, but Worthless Druid hadn't. "Well the Goblins know we are here with the warnings the escaped one brought them, so I am not ashamed by the spat as you call it. I agree that we should head on, if you are wanting, I am done here. This cretin wants the lead, he has it, You want to trust him more then I have tried to do, or if you lack faith in my overall goodwill, then so be it. I have never tried to hide my opinions, or what motivates me, but I have stood on the front line and risked my life for this mission, Has he?" Burble asked Bryant. He shook his head and stuck near Meepo. Rowland tried to defuse things, "Now, now boys...behave yourselves and be nice to each other." He smiled and Meepo ignored him. "Bah! Be nice to that piece of crap, I think not." Burble must have thought much as Meepo did of the boy's comments. His blood might be useful, but his thoughts were worthless. Everyone came over the goblin wall behind Embrill and found a small room with a goblin body laying on the floor, sprawled out. It was one of those that had cast a javeling mere minutes ago. Meepo looked to Burble, meek as he could manage. He spoke in a low whisper. "Meepo go make sure dead?" Only a stupid human would be loud this close to goblins. With Burble's permission, not that he would have stopped anyway, Meepo finished the goblin with a series of brutal spear thrusts. The last thrust cleaved open goblin skull and sent red goblin brains spilling out on to the floor. "Meepo not make nice with dragon-stealing goblins!" Meepo proudly proclaimed. Burble looted the body. "You did real good Meepo and your right, You make really good Not Nice on those Dragon stealing scum and you just keep on killing them left and right." The halfling was either bereft of his senses or trying to flatter Meepo. He hadn't hit a single goblin with his crossbow. Meepo wasn't sure which. "Ok folks, shall we try to head out and see if we can find Calcryx or the goblins and clear out this area?" Burble asked the rest. He motioned for Meepo follow him as he moved towards the only door out of the room. Embrill had had enough through. He moved past Burble with Riki in tow. Bryant deliberately hung back with Burble. Meepo placed Bryant in Burble's faction. Burble and Meepo stayed to the back. The worthless druid could catch a javelin or two for Meepo. As the druid stalked forward, Burble leaned over and muttered to Bryant. "I am sorry to have caught you in the situation between Embrill and Myself. I mean you no ill will and you have not done anything to me that deserves the insults and abuse I may have spread." Meepo admired how quickly he sought to cement his alliances. Bryant looked surprised by the words, but nodded in acknowledgement. A warrior would be useful. Down a short hallway the party went, Meepo and Burble at the rear. The hall opened up into a long room cut across by another breastwork. There were more goblins behind it who began yelling amongst themselves and brandishing javelins. Meepo recognized the one on the far end. He was the goblin that got away from the last fight. Riki growled as Meepo yelled, "Goblins! Meepo kill goblins!" [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Meepo's Story Hour [NEWS! 6-19-02]
Top