D&D campaign scenes

Halfling Christmas

Party: The Drunk Dice

It was five in the morning in the village of Phandalin and the party stood outside the cavern of the Redbrand's' base.

"There's no way we're getting past that Nothic," Salazar said, leaning against the steep, rocky side of the mound.

Xar wrung his hands together awkwardly. "But Glasstaff is in there."

"Yep," Errich replied quickly. "And I need to kill him. Before he kills me. And stop the Redbrands. Before they kill me too. Jesus, why do they want me dead so much?"

Xar hesitated. "I don't know, you never told us."

"Oh yeah, that's right, I don't know why anyway," The halfling grinned up at his human friend.

"Guys, I still think we should go back to the inn, I am so tired..." Groaned Thorin.

"You wouldn't be tired if you hadn't drunk half of that ale barrel in one night," Salazar replied shortly, picking at the edge of his greataxe.

Thorin grinned. "Totally worth it."

"Guys, the Nothic?" Xar reminded. "It won't let us pass without food and, no, Thorin, we're not feeding it Errich."

"Right, yes." Thorin thought for a moment and a cheeky grin spread across his face. "Errich's' aunt's' farm is nearby? You guys thinking what I'm thinking?"

Salazar widened his eyes as a plan formed. "Oh, yes, we could get a farm animal and-"

"Feed it Errich's' cousin!"

Errich began spluttering. "What is it with you and feeding the Nothic halflings?!"

Xar paled. "Hey, I liked Salazar's' idea way better, let's do that."

Salazar smirked at Thorin and the dwarven cleric pouted and glared. The fighter snorted, and shoved him slightly.

Errich folded his arms. "I don't really want to steal animals from Auntie Quelline... What if I get caught? I mean, I'm the only one stealthy enough to do it and if I go to jail the Redbrands will know I'm here and-"

"Errich." Xar said calmly. "It's five in the bloody morning. You are not gonna get caught."

The halfling hesitated but it really didn't take long to persuade him. "Alright, I'll do it. But, Thorin, you're paying my fine if I get caught."

"What, why me?"

"Because you wanted to feed my little cousin to the Nothic."

Salazar shrugged, glancing down at the dwarf. "Sounds fair, dude. Sounds fair."

Thorin raised his hands up in the air, looking put out and shocked. "You son of a-"

.:*:.

Errich slipped back to the carvern entrance only a few mintues later with a sleeping, fat lamb slung over his shoulder. He dumped it on the ground before Xar's' feet, panting slightly, "That's heavy."

"Nah, you're just too small and weak," Salazar replied, picking up the sheep and slinging it over onto his own back. Errich gasped, offended.

The party headed into the cavern and the Nothic looked up. It tilted it's' head and an unerthal voice spoke in their heads. "Have you brought me food? Or do I eat your small freckled halfling friend?"

"We've brought you a sheep. Can we get through now?" Thorin asked with a sigh.

The Nothic shuffled up to the four men, sniffling and snorting at the sleeping lamb. Then it picked it up and devoured it in one gulp. Errich winced slightly.

"Thank you... I am not hungry anymore..." The Nothic's' quiet voice said in their minds. "You can go past..."

.:*:.

A day or so later, the party emerged from the tarven, smelling like blood that had dried on their weapons. Errich had quickly went to visit his aunt, Quelline Alderleaf. Xar decided to go with him and the halfling happily greeted his family.

After the initial happiness of seeing her nephew return alive, Quelline quickly asked if he had seen the lamb she was preparing for Halfling Christmas. "It vanished a few days ago," She fretted. "I've looked around the farm but nothing!"

Xar glanced down at the paling halfling as they made their way to the inn. "Do you think-?"

"Shush, shush, shush!" Errich interurpted, holding up his two index fingers to shut up his friend. He looked Xar dead in the eye. "I... Have ruined Halfling Christmas. I will never look Auntie Quelline in the eys again."