As the party is in a [insert coastal town here] they might be partaking in a fishing mini-game of some sort (or they are partaking in our What Lies In The Depths Fishing Tournament). If they’re not or have no intention to, they come upon a half-elf who is disgusted by what he has just reeled in. Scoffing, he holds up his line and proclaims, “what hideous footwear is this!”
Holding a pair of boots aloft, the sun glints off of their sleek exterior, water glistening as it rolls off the boots. The half-elf chucks that boots further down the dock and goes back to his fishing, mumbling to himself.
If the party approaches, a goat will jump out and grab the boots, beginning to nibble at them. Still enamored with the pair of kicks, the party feels a strange pull to get the boots away from the goat. They can do this in several ways (including murder because hey, a goat only has 4HP in D&D), but once any of them touch the boots, they will have an intense vision.
The Vision
Pulsing clouds seemingly spit the boots out into the air where they hover and slowly begin to rub together making a faint squeeeeeeak noise. As rain begins to fall on the boots, they squeeeeeeak again, this time highlighting the intense water resistance.
Emerging from the clouds behind the boots comes a teacup pig, who gently inserts one hoof and then another into each boot. The teacup pig smiles and looks at the party, whispering…
Be thou not wet again, nor stricken by flame. May your muddy paths be laid clear, and where once a difficult terrain befell you, difficult no more shall it be.
My children, go with the squeaks, become the squeaks, and abide by the squeaks. No longer shall you travel vast distances in water, for these boots, which I give to you now, shall make you forever dry.
Go, my child, into the great puddles of beyond. Ever splashing, but pruney no more.
As the vision clears, the half-elf will be reeling in his next catch, this time a Kuo-toa with an extra wide mouth who engulfs the half-elf and pulls him under the water.
The party holds no allegiance to the half-elf and other fishermen laugh as he is pulled under, the bubbles slowly fading until the water is still again.
Having acquired the Boots of Squeaking, the party now understands its mysteries.
When worn, these gaudy rain boots constantly squeak, and like…real loud too. While they are super squeaky, they do provide some benefits:
- Can walk on top of water for a distance of 15 feet
- Movement is not affected by muddy terrain
- Fire damage resistance (so ugly they can’t be burned)
- Water damage resistance (bludgeoning in most campaigns)
The boots do unfortunately have some negative effects.
- Disadvantage on all stealth checks
- If you pass by a pond, you will walk away with 5 ducklings following you and calling you mother (they are yours to do with as you please.
- If worn for considerable amounts of time causes foot rot. For each consistent day worn, wearer must take Xd4 damage, where X is the number of days in a row the boots have been worn.
How do you plan on pulling these boots out for your party?
