The two Goblins are very dead, and have been for several days. One has a cloven skull and the other looks to have been trampled to death.
"B-boss," Snovli whispers. "We hear rumours from other goblins, that some Goblins try to kill Chief Ripnugget by luring him to fight terrible monster, and that he not die but got it penned up in courtyard, in outhouse ... this one!"
Gob mutters something about this being too well-made for goblins, and gets sidetracked trying to figure out how this could have not a single crack, hole, opening, or the like.
The bottom of the door is flush with the courtyard? No ventilation holes, being an outhouse?
After hearing his friends' comments, gob steps aside and hides behind some detritus, crossbow aimed at the curiously-crafted door.
There are a few holes and cracks, but the structure, while crudely made, has a double-thickness wall, with the planking overlaid on both sides in a fashion that while it has gaps, are often blocked by the second layer. There is a gap of an inch or two under the door.
Perception DC10:
Smells like a stable.
Survival (track) DC15:
Shod hoof-prints everywhere around here, particularly near the door and the dead goblins, who were killed by hoof-blows.
"Bwa-hehhe hehehehe" Gob almost bursts out laughing and turns it into a giggle, then whispers, "Tudmunch, Snovli... if I promise the *snicker* horse won't hurt you, would you mind if we bring it along to scare all the other goblins?"
Gob speaks as if to a human toddler, "You know how humans are not afraid of horses? How they ride them and tame them? Just like goblins ride and tame goblin dos [ooc](or whatever is not offensive to goblins to call them)! We have human companions that can keep the horse calm and control it. Maybe even ride it!" Gob smiles.
"And," he adds slyly, "if it gets out of hand, I'll just blast it to pieces with my mind and you can eat it for dinner later, deal?"
Male Half-Giant Monk (Monk of the Four Winds/Ki Mystic) 2/ Psychic Warrior 1
Looking at the size of the "stable", Albrecht clucks his tongue disapprovingly before moving up to the stable and getting ready to open the door. "So, what's the verdict?"
Male Human of Varisian and Chelaxian descent Cleric of Erastil 5
"A horse will be a burden inside the fort. Let's make sure it's ok, but leave it here for now. We can release it once we're through."
Work, holidays and prepping visits by the in-laws is leaving me rather busy IRL. Posting may be slow or non-existant for a couple weeks. DMPC Vaclav as needed.
I expect everyone's posting could be disrupted over the period between now and the New Year, so don't sweat about posting regularly folks! If you can post, it's a bonus.
Male Human of Varisian and Chelaxian descent Cleric of Erastil 5
"All right. We'll come back to the horse after we've dealt with the goblin menace."
Dabbler, the door in the south wall of the courtyard -- which may lead into the room with the boarded over door (that unexplored area between C11 and C13-- is it normal or boarded over or locked?
Gob creeps toward the southern door, not wanting to leave an unexplored section behind them. He signals Tudmunch and Snovli to open it, and then hide behind Gornak.
The door opens to a ten foot by ten foot room. Shelves lined with crude tools, nets, and tack and harness line the walls here. To the northeast stands a large L-shaped wooden cage that contains dozens of rabbits.
Male Human of Varisian and Chelaxian descent Cleric of Erastil 5
Vaclav stands about 15' back from the door with bow ready. He takes a quick look around at the other doors and the courtyard before focusing his attention on the new door.
The door swings open to reveal a short, fifteen-foot stretch of dingy passageway, some five feet wide. At the end a single door adorns the east side of the passageway. This also checks clear, and beyond it is another short stretch of passageway with a small door to the left and right.
Not for nothing did my RL group call this complex the Realm of More-Door.
"Obnoxious as all this tension is, this is a surprisingly defensible base. Good thing these goblins are too dumb to utilize the layout to their advantage."
One to the right opens to a small room dominated by a central table with several chairs. The table is covered in maps and drawings.
The one to the left opens to another short passageway, with a door to a foul-smelling privy (at least you can hope it's a privy) to the left again, and a door next it gives no clues.
