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Pathstomper

Part 1 of 3

This is a non-profit fan-based parody. Ultraman and other various Ultra monsters are property of Tsuburaya Productions. Background, other monsters, and story elements are owned/inspired by Paizo Publishing. Support the official releases.
Episode 3
Scene starts out in a gray, cloudy day in a clearing near a road. A voice begins as the camera focuses on the group in the clearing. “This is Ansmaro. First name needed only. Here I am with my group,” the voice says as the Camera pans to him sitting on a tree stump with Vrondi Piscine reading his new spell book close by. “The salamander there, he’s blind, but somehow he can read that spell book we got from the old prison we left behind, go figure right?” he questions as the camera pans over to King Joe and Bonesmasher. The Red King barbarian is grinding something with a small hand-held grinder into a glass vessel for the robotic kaiju. “Those two, the alchemist and the barbarian, they are okay I guess. While the short arm of the law over there is a kill joy,” he adds as the camera pans over to a napping Silver Fang. “See about ten days ago, we defeated some great evil and the town we were in honored us as heroes on the next day. The day after, we had to report to the temple of Pharasma to respond to some questions on the prison and other things. We also learned that our alchemist was not actually making our potions, just purchasing them!” He scowls at the gold robot that doesn’t notice this at all. “Well he did learn them with a feat on our way here. Yes, apparently our GM, that governs this world, decided to make us lvl 7 by now, even though on the road we didn’t get enough combat to warrant it,” he says in a condescending manner.” I, myself, learned the feat “Deft Hands” to help disable devices and have the rogue talent “Fast Stealth” to move normally and remain concealed,” he continues as Bonesmasher finishes his chore for King Joe. The camera pans to a jar that King Joe has in his bag that seems to have a writhing green mass inside it. “Yeah, the alchemist figured out how to contain acidic oozes. He got two from the dungeon underneath the prison and contained them in jars in his bag, plus he learned the feat “Alchemical Prodigy”,” the Rayja says as he focuses his attention on Bonesmasher. “He, on the other hand, learned the feat “Improved Grapple” and the rage power “Scent”, so he can smell out enemies. Disgusting!” he cries internally, not wishing to anger the barbarian. The camera focuses on the waking Silver Fang, who gives a hearty yawn. “That boy scout over there took the feat “Combat Casting”, since he is now a caster”, he moans. The group gets together and starts packing up their various items. After about fifteen minutes, the group begins their trek.
He begins to narrate again as the group marches down the road, “We should have been to this town of Lepidstadt about a week or so ago, but then we; as I said earlier; were forced to stay in Harrowstone for two extra days. Then it took us two days to get to an inn, battling a few gangs of goblinoids on the way. Then we were stuck due to weather for four days,” he snorts in frustration. “We did go off and try to get back on the road, also inadvertently attracted the ire of a dire boar. We were able to subdue and kill it-well after the barbarian clobbered it repeatedly in the face. When we were forced to turn back to the inn, they were so delighted we killed their porcine menace, they rewarded us with boar stew, 100 gold pieces each, and they even gave the boy scout a new suit of full plate armor plus they enchanted his mace giving it some sonic enhancement,” he says and looks at Silver Fang in his new, steel-gray armor. “The last day and a half after, we been on the road, almost to this town-Meh! I could care less! Fine! Before I mentioned how we left the previous town right? Before we headed out, an Ultra in dark, platemail met us and said he heard and seen the three that stole the artifact. He was a Hellknight,” Ansmaro then snarls and mutters. “They are a really militant force of knights that basically are violent enforcers of the rule of law. Gaaahhh! Well anyway, he claimed he overheard them claiming they were off to Lepidstadt, before heading back into Varisia,” he continues to narrate as Bonesmasher walks beside the Rayja and gives a toothy grin to him. “He didn’t know they were criminals, at the time, so he didn’t act at the time. I wish I could figure a way to make a break for it maybe or make a fortune on this whole ‘adventure’,” muses Ansmaro. He stops and notices in the distance what appears to be a walled-in city. Silver Fang points to it and remarks, “It’s Lepidstadt! We’re finally here!” The group migrates toward the town and it takes about twenty minutes to each it.
Before they go into the town, they are greeted by what seems to be a security checkpoint of some sort. People in uniforms of various races watch over the gate and seem to be checking people into the town. Posters in common, Varisian, and Baltan adorn posts in front of this checkpoint at the gate and they read: “Due to security precautions all visitors must be screened and interviewed.” Silver Fang goes up to one of the uniformed Guts guards and explains their situation. The guard looks at the group curiously and signals a higher-ranking officer to talk with Silver Fang. After much deliberation, Silver Fang walks over and explains to the ground, “Well we can enter, however they want to interview and check Ansmaro and King Joe.” “Me? Why little ole’ me?” questions Ansmaro half-heartedly. “Because you are a pirate and thief. They don’t trust you. King Joe they want to make sure he isn’t carrying any outlawed alchemical substances,” Silver fang says while trying to respect the law enforcement agents and not trying to sound like he has sold out his group. The group gets to go forward and the Rayja and the Technic go into the checkpoint.
On the other side of the wall, Bonesmasher, Silver Fang, and Vrondi Piscine wait for the others and then they arrive disheveled. “How’d THAT go?” Vrondi inquired. King Joe turned toward them and autotuned, “I had to register as an alchemist in this city. Cost: 6 gold pieces. Because of varying tariffs on alchemical substances I also had to pay an additional 7 gold pieces to bring my items. Lastly, because of my various explosive materials I was fined for haz-mat. Cost: 10 gold pieces.” “That’s ridiculous! However, it IS the law,” Silver Fang mumbled after crying with surprise. Bonesmasher looks at Ansmaro and asks, “Fin-head pirate guy, what did they do to you?” Ansmaro grumbles, “Patted me down, made me register my firearm-which cost me 15 gold pieces, and said that I have been forewarned about theft that I may do.” “Why such security around this place anyway?” questioned Ansmaro in a huff. “I’m not sure,” responds Silver Fang and then, without warning a Shaplay in uniform says, “It’s because of the Beast and his trail later in the early evening tonight.” “The Beast?” questions Vrondi. “A Nosferu serial killer…” trails the Shaplay.” “Sounds pretty bad to have all this,” cries Bonesmasher and the group just goes onward to look for an inn.
After a while the group does find an inn operated by a few Baltans called “The Kessington Inn” Silver Fang and Vrondi book a room together as do Bonesmasher and Ansmaro as well. King Joe, on the other hand, rents a spacious walk-in closet in comparison to the others. It’s about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, so the group decides to meet up later at 6, after everyone gets some rest, to go out and eat. The group goes their separate ways and in four hours, they convene at a local tavern.
After entering the tavern, they notice that most of the crowd seems very displeased. The general emotions of the crowd seem to be almost to the point of violence. Ansmaro notices an old Gomora that seems to be covering himself in a cloak, as to not draw attention to himself, at a booth by himself. He brings this up with the group and Vrondi quietly casts “Detect Thoughts”. After a few minutes, he finds out who this Gomora is. After the few minutes pass, Vrondi whispers to the group, “This guy is one of the judges at the trial. He’s trying to hide himself, because of today’s verdict. He also believes the real serial killer is still at large.” The group deliberates and Ansmaro and Bonesmasher stay back to watch the unruly group at the bar drink heavily and spout their rage, while Silver Fang, King Joe, and Vrondi approach the secreted judge.
The three approached him and sat at his booth. He, in a startled manner, looked at them from under his hood, “Who are you? What do you want?” “We just have a few questions for you,” Vrondi says in a calming manner. “I don’t need to answer anything of you,” grumbles the judge. “Please, I want to know why you did what you did,” says Silver Fang quietly as not to arise the ire of the other patrons who are loudly shouting profanities and insulting the names of the judges. “Why? Come to kill me, stranger?” he questions. “No, just trying to serve the law,” remarks Silver Fang in a kind manner. The judge looks around, calls over a waitress to move them to one of the private galleries upstairs, and pays her a small pouch of gold coins. The group goes upstairs following her, she lights an oil lamp in a private room, and exits promptly.
“So what do you want to know? Why I voted not to find the Noferu thief guilty and condemn him?” he snorts and pulls his hooded cloak from over his head, revealing himself to be an old Gomora with few teeth and a scar on the left side of his face. “It doesn’t concern you, strangers,” he adds and takes a swig of his tankard. “If an innocent is endangered and the law is not upheld, it concerns me,” remarks Silver fang. The Gomora nods and says, “I’m Flavian. I used to be a member of the town guard and eventually I became one of the town’s four judges. The three introduce themselves likewise and ask what has been happening of recent. “Ever hear of the Sandpoint Devil?” questions Flavian. Vrondi nods and quickly responds, “Yes!!! The giant winged monster of questionable origin that is supposed to cause misfortune wherever it stops?” Flavian nods and begins to speak, “We have our own version of the foul beast called the Daemon Steed. About a month ago, the creature was sighted, and since, a few times it has reared its horrid head, even cursing the daughter of the mayor.” King Joe autotunes, “Really? What sort of curse?” The judge looks at King Joe and asks, “Is that a golem or a Technic?” then he clears his throat and says, “She has been bed ridden for the last two weeks and has lost all her skin coloring.” Vrondi responds in a defensive manner, “This is our friend, King Joe, heir to the throne of Numeria.” “Well anyway, the major problem at hand is the serial killer dubbed, “The Beast”. About seven days ago, his rampage began in the early evening. In the last seven days, this murderer has claimed the lives of sixteen citizens of Lepidstadt,” Flavian says and finishes his drink in a mighty chug. “About two days ago, a Nosferu thief was captured and was blamed for the murders,” he says and looks at them with a strong look of resolve on his face, “but, I strongly believe he was arrested just for being a Nosferu thief.” Vrondi nods, “Nosferu are usually blood feeders, so they usually don’t have good reputations, however aren’t Nosferu generally welcomed in this part of the country since they played a big part in the war against the tyrannical regime of King Kreitov of Ustalav about seventy-three years ago? Flavian responds, “Yes, however their dark, shifty nature still pervades them and makes people nervous of them. This one was in the wrong place in the wrong time-right after the sixteenth victim was found he was there.” “So what’s this guy’s name and why do you think he’s innocent?” questions Silver Fang. “First of all, his name is Krakov. Second, there are two major factors at play. The most major part is that all the victims had their throats ripped to shreds in a way that doesn’t correspond to a bladed weapon or the Nosferu’s mouth parts. The other factor is a lone survivor, a hobgoblinoid, described a red, leathery winged creature with red, glaring eyes and a maw of irregular jagged teeth,” Flavian responds and looks into his tankard to see if there are any droplets of mead left. “That makes sense,” Silver Fang responds in a tone that shows he is torn, “but he still is a common thief.” Flavian darts back a look that could kill at Silver fang, and Silver Fang backpedals, “However he is not responsible for these crimes though. Do you know who would do this?” Flavian shakes his head, “No, I just known I was one the only judge that believed he was innocent. I got another judge to have reasonable doubt and vote against the verdict just for procedure’s sake, while the one wants to just make the people happy because he’s a newbie to the position and the other just wants a Nosferu dead.” “Did the hobgoblinoid testify?” questions King Joe, and Flavian squints at the Technic. “Really, he looks like a weird, metal golem. Anyways, yes, he did. The court room wasn’t swayed by him, because of the knowledge that ‘hobgoblinoids are always liars and are always evil’,” he says sarcastically. He looks solemnly at them, “We have five days to prove his innocence or the majority of the judges’ votes for “guilty” take hold, and he will be executed.” “Any hints of what could we do?” asks Silver Fang in a tone to try to reassure Flavian. “A few days ago, there were bizarre lights on Karb Isle on the third day of the Beast’s rampage. There’s an abandoned temple there and the isle rests right out of the city in a river, and it is infested with ghouls. There has been no one over there in years, maybe it has something to do with the Beast?” he questions and ponders to them. “Undead again?” Silver Fang mutters under his breath. “That’s all I can suggest, there may be clues there,” Flavian gets up and puts his hood over his head. “We should get going,” he says.
Down below, some of the patrons are getting very drunk and very irritable. One Shaplay knocks over his drink and cries out in a loud, angry tone, “Cursed Nosferu! Those monsters must have paid off the judge or something!” Bonesmasher keeps his head low and so does Ansmaro who keeps his hat tipped forward to obscure his face (though the fins at the sides of his neck still are apparent). One of the patrons throws down his drink and the glass shatters to pieces. He hollers in a massive fit and blames the judge for not doing his job. Bonesmasher cannot take any more of this stupidity-ironic isn’t it? Bonesmasher quickly rises to his feet and points at this patron who threw his glass to the ground-a Black King and cries, “Hey! Stop messing with the justice system and let it be done the way the judges see fit!” Ansmaro snidely remarks under his breath, “Such big words for him to say.” Bonesmasher releases a mighty bellow that intimidates the rest of the drunks into staying out of the fight, but this sole Black King wishes to fight. He charges Bonesmasher and with a quick, decisive strike, gets ploughed in the face with Bonesmasher’s mighty fist. With that, the Black King falls over-out cold.
The other patrons see this and start to run out of the tavern as the three other allies and the judge come down from the upper floor. “What happened?!” asks Silver Fang in a look of utter surprise. “Nothing much, just the big guy putting down a riot,” responds Ansmaro with a bit of sarcasm. “We have to get out of here!” shouts Vrondi Piscine animatedly. Flavian points to the tavern’s kitchen, “I’m a friend with the owner! There’s an exit out that way!” They set off through the kitchen and the scene fades.