A3b. Confronting the Culprits

If Puddle is watching the players, or if the players call out to the mephits, he emerges to greet them while Muck and Bog-Boy remain hidden. Read or paraphrase:

Puddle hopes to divert the players, drive them away, or taunt them into attacking him—thereby allowing Muck and Bog-Boy to ambush them from hiding. The players can’t convince the mephits to surrender Flax’s hoard by any means. 

The mephits attack in self-defense, or if any player moves within five feet of the burrow. (See “Fighting the Mephits” below.) When they do, Puddle shouts, “Get ‘em!”

During the players’ conversation with Puddle, you might read, paraphrase, or adapt any of the following lines:

• Puddle lifts an amorphous hand from the water and tips his pot-lid in greeting. “The name’s Puddle,” he says. “Y’know, normally we charge for tours, but I’m feeling generous today, so whataya want? Directions? A slap? I’d offer ya tea, but all I’ve got is swampwater and sarcasm.”

• If Flax is visible, Puddle bows his head in Flax’s direction with mocking depth. “Our adorable new neighbor! How’s our little squatter holding up?”

• If the players ask about Flax’s hoard, Puddle scoffs. “You’re here for that baby’s treasure? Well, I don’t have it, but even if I did, you’d still be leaving here empty-handed.”

• If the players confront Puddle with evidence that the mephits stole Flax’s hoard, he rolls his eyes and snorts. “Fine, fine. Yeah, we took it. But you’re still not getting it back.”

• If Puddle catches one of the players in a lie, he scowls and says, “Oh, wow! You really think you’re the first silver-tongued moron to try and sweet-talk me? I’m insulted! If you’re gonna lie, at least lie better.”

• If the players try to negotiate with Puddle, he giggles and says, “If you had anything I wanted, I’d just take it.”

• If one of the players threatens Puddle, he looks deadpan at another player and sneers, “Ya’d better call off your dog before he gets a mud bath.” (If the players continue to threaten him, he bares his muddy mouth in a vicious smile and says, “Why don’t ya swim on out here, and I can introduce ya to the last morons that dropped by?”)

If the players attempt to convince Puddle that Flax’s older sister, a young silver dragon, will arrive soon—and won’t be happy if the hoard isn’t returned, they can make a DC 18 Charisma (Persuasion) check:

• On a failure, Puddle barks a laugh and says, “Oh, that’s a good one! You almost had me thinkin’ that any real dragon cares about this wimp of a wyrmling. Lemme guess—next you’ll tell me that the pond is gonna freeze over in the middle of summer?”

• On a success, Puddle whistles for Muck and Bog-Boy and says that the Mud Pie Gang will need to “take their prize and fly the coop for a couple of days.” (“You sure boss?” Muck asks, rising from the muddy ledge by the burrow. “Course I’m sure, mushroom brain,” Puddle replies. “Now get up and heave!”) The mephits then attempt to retrieve the hoard from their burrow and fly it west across the treetops, moving at half speed while encumbered.