Episode 21: Bonk Bonk Swamp

The Story

After the Battle

The crowd in shock of their undefeated champion Kremit the Bold part and make way for Christopher Frogkin who greets them. Juan pays his respects to Kremit the Bold crossing his arms and performing a touching ceremony while Christopher Frogkin waits impatiently. Upon completion he approaches Christopher Frogkin and villagers run up pulling the corpse in different directions breaking up his parts into trophies.

Juan asks Christopher about Hilin Battlehammer and where he can find her. Christopher is reluctant to give information about a friend, without Juan doing something for him and rubbing his fingers together. Juan doesn't get the hint, and contemplates taking him hostage, but then asks Christopher to clarify what he meant, and Christopher advises that currency is a great way to make friends. Juan pulls out a Jade Rabbit, and asks if that will suffice. Christopher states that he has ample trinkets in his frog tent, and Juan should go see if he can trade his trinket for Frog Bucks and then Christopher can talk. Juan attempts to intimidate him ineffectively, with Christopher looking at him coldly with his amphibian eyes, taking out a cigarette, lighting it, taking a slow long drag and blowing it in Juan's face.

Juan incensed by this, grabs Christopher, and is suddenly surrounded by a number of spear wielding guards. Juan relents and advises Christopher that he will regret it, as he will be back with Frog Bucks. Christopher seems glad he will get Frog Bucks, and heads off to his Frog Shack.

A portly frog approaches the party and advises that he runs the ring and that if the party want Frog Bucks he can help them as they impressed him by their performance in the ring. He introduces himself as Toady Soprano, who's in union work and is the one who gets things done in the town. He advises them of how the town works, and lends Juan 100 Frog Bucks. Juan gives Toady a gift for Kremit's kin.

The Market

The party agree to go to the market and get some Frog Bucks. Juan enters the Currency exchange, and Juan greets the "Frog Person" inside. He takes offence at being called "Frog Person" and asks they call him by his name, which is Isaacs A'Frogperson. The party discuss conversion rates and decide to try and use the 100 Frog Bucks from Toady Soprano on Christopher Frogkin.

Drūdlin heads into the tavern, and sees a bunch of frogs drinking a thick grey green drink at the bar and when they talk to each other it seems to be only insulting one another. Drūdlin approaches the bartender and introduces herself and he introduces himself as Frognald Trump. And discloses that Christopher Frogkin is a terrible leader, and is leading the area into ruin, suggesting another leader would be much better.

Mal is perusing the market, with some stalls but also some hastily assembled tents which Mal recognizes as Bazraar's Bazaar from the Farmstead and Chasm, he approaches and is accused of being a guy who "Fucked me" by one of the traders. After a short back and forth Mal heads in to Bazraar's big tent, and trades with him selling the armor that the Spirit of Varnal had purchased for gold and a Deck of Many things while also trading some gems for Frog Bucks.

Attempt to get to Christopher Frogkin

Juan, Aginiars, Bookt and Craw head towards Christopher's palace and are stopped at the bridge by guards. Juan demands to see Christopher, and the guards resist, and say they cannot enter, and Christopher Frogkin won't come out, they also get annoyed at the way Juan speaks with his "Long words" saying that Juan is patronising them, and they begin mocking his remarks, which irritates Juan so he backhands the frog guard initiating a fight, as the guard cries out "What a wise guy! Hey fellas, this guy just hit me!" which drew a bunch of other guards in. Craw fires an arrow at the guard scraping the cheek Juan just hit, before hitting him with another arrow. The guard starts making a croaking sound in his throat, which everyone except Aginiars covers their ears against it, however Aginiars, slow to react, is left stunned.

The guards attack Juan with spears, hitting repeatedly, while the guards further away fires a poisoned arrow at him, with one hitting and one missing. Bookt seeing Juan's distress approaches him puts his hand on Juan's shoulder and says "Come brother, now is not the time to lose your fight" healing him for 11 HP.

Aginiars completely stunned and incapacitated cannot move, so Juan steps forward and addresses the crowd stating "I don't want to hurt anyone and I can surrender my weapons, and go alone if need be but I need to speak with Christopher Frogkin" the one he hit doesn't want to accept it, but his friend holds him back. The frogs give Juan an out by saying if they pay the toll of 500 Frog Bucks. Juan tries to intimidate them and fails and the toll goes up to 750 Frog Bucks. Juan decides to not push ahead with force and walks away.

As they walk away, Bookt gives Juan a conciliatory pat on the back, and Juan could swear he became less stocky and grew a couple of inches taller. The party head towards the town.

Mal and Drūdlin meet up on the bridge to find Juan and Aginiars and see them slinking back from the other bridge.

Back at the market

The party joins back up in the market, and Drūdlin could swear he was not this tall. She greets them with a whistle saying "Bookt you grew up", he doesn't answer, while Craw mimics the whistle. She carries one with "Seriously Bookt did you get taller? I'm so short that it's kinda obvious", he responds with "How would you explain that? I am a fearsome warrior, I did not 'Get' big I was born big".

After catching up Drūdlin attempts to lead the way over the bridge. The guard laughs saying "They sent the small one to do the business". She asks them to let Christopher know that they're here, He declines saying that he needs at least 750 Frog Bucks. Not making progress she heads back over the bridge and they discuss that they could wait until the star author arrives as everyone would attend. Juan, Bookt and Craw head to the tavern to rest while the others head to market.

Mal approaches a street urchin asking where the best way to make money is, he suggests the currency exchange or checking the vacancies, for work. While Mal looks at the signs with jobs the urchin attempts the clumsiest attempt at pick pocketing, which Mal spun around and grabbed his wrist and scolded him, and sent him on his way.

Reading the help wanted board there were 3 jobs listed,

• Clearing trees from the farm - Price on request
• Fish for a banquet - Minimum wage, paid by the pound
• Need Cash?!!?!!:)! - Report to the farm

Aginiars needing a skull for his wand, the party stop in at Bazraar's Bazaar and Bazraar makes a golden skull for Aginiars. With the skull in hand the party go to Games Games Games

A frog with adolescent warts greets them, welcoming them to the arcade, and the party enquire how it works, there are prizes on the wall, with a ticket value next to them. The jackpot prize is 10,000 Frog Bucks and needs 100,000 tickets. Mal asks about the highest paying game, which the frog takes them to the game of the day which costs 40 Frog Bucks to play, and has a payout of 10,000 tickets. Mal and Aginiars play the game while Drūdlin watches. Aginiars does not win, while Mal won 10,000 tickets,.

The prizes available he could afford were

• A creepy frog toy with glowing eyes
• A flaming looking sword
• And an ornate round shield

Mal tries another game a couple of times trying to win more tickets, winning a couple of waves of the game but not making it through to the end winning a total of 264 more tickets

Aginiars then goes to the currency exchange, and exchanges 50 gold for 75 Frog Bucks. He then heads to the tavern to be rested for the morning with Juan, Methven accompanies him.

Mal, Drūdlin and sign up for an overnight job collecting Night Weed, and they gain 2 levels of exhaustion and 500 Frog Bucks each.