[ooc]Survival
That's not a wolf, either! You're crazy!
"You are outnumbered. It's best you realize that and start explaining on how our fallen companion is your kin as Jaegr said. Obviously there is no blood relation but your words hint at something else...I'm intrigued for now, but this momentary curiosity won't delay your inevitable gutting much longer."
Survival 1d20+9
In the back of Cricket's brain, an idea occurs to him... one so momentous that he almost loses track of the conversation in trying to put his finger on it.
I am Cricket, brother of the Tuelvi and initiate of the Grove of the Pink Triangle; and Kelsin was my cousin as are all of the Wood Elves. You claim allegiance with my kinsman, and enmity towards these corpses of stunted green vermin. Prove it with actions, not words, or I shall call upon the spirits of stone and sky! EDIT: And, then, um...
Caspian whether upright or prone continues his song about picking caltrops.......
adding a line....
"Whatever I do not find with mah fingers I am sure to find with mah behind!"
1d20+9
The shapechanging animal explodes in Cricket's brain.
And, then, um...woah, dude!
Cricket's eyes bug out once again and he involuntarily starts clapping one hand and muttering to himself.
DC 15 Perception check:
** spoiler omitted **
Cricket continues to zone out in a koan-induced epiphany of the cosmic "duuuude"-ness of all existence until someone else does something. Wolvie's ears go back up and he starts sniffing Caspian's crotch.
Caspian squirms back and forth to avoid the nose....
"Tha dog is friendly enough it seems....maybe a bit too interested in my nuggets!"
Jaegr to the goblin druid, "Believe us or not, I care not. Kelsin was a traveling companion to us and a friend. He is dead now because of a goblin king's stone head. We are heading back somewhere with a roof and some ale. Vanya also has some 'friends' in the local jail that needs to have a talking to."
Blinks his eye and comes out of his reverie. His face is serene for a moment, but then fear and horror wrack his visage. His pupils dilate dramatically and then go back to normal. His hand jerks forward and clutches desperately at Caspian's shoulder.
I have seen a vision! A vision from Old Mother Tree! Our fates verily must entwine or else all Aviona shall perish in smoke and fog!
Comes back to his senses, removes his hand from Caspian and starts smoothing the fabric that he wrinkled up.
Sorry, small one. Hmm. Old Mother Tree says we gestures to the whole group have much work to do. First, however, I must attend to the remains of my Tuelvi kin.
Starts preparing Kelsin and the other dude's bodies for proper Wood Elf funerary rites.
"Uhhh if you say so..."
Thinks about what the goblin said.....
Caspian sings
"Lightning crashes and old mother dies
Her intentions fall from the world
The mother closes her eyes
The confusion that was hers
Belongs now to the us behind the wall
Oh now feel it, comin' back again
Like a rollin', thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it."
Taps toes while nodding head in time with Caspian's dirge.
So, I guess after a day and a half, Cricket has probably finished prepping the bodies...
Old Mother Tree, we consign the bodies of our beloved brothers, Kelsin and some other dude, to your eternal embrace. May their rot and putrescence and corruption serve a purpose and feed a tree. The wheel in the sky keeps on turning, we are just dust on the wind and the only thing we can do is keep on keeping on. Amen.
"So yous a druid? Like Kelsin?"
Yes, little one, I am an initiate of the Grove of the Pink Triangle and a follower of Old Mother Tree. Do you like raisins?
"I only hears tale o one goblin druid, her names Vorka she was a cannibal an liked eating her own kind....."
Uh, I don't think I know her. And I'm not a goblin, really. I like to think of myself more as a short, green wood elf. Would you like a lozenge?
As you finish paying your respects to your fallen comrade, with Caspian and the small goblin conversing out of the corners of their mouths, the sharp-eyed Wyvurn spots some dust in the air to the west, just before the sound of heavy hoofbeats carries to the rest of you. A few moments later, Geoff -- one of your merchant friends -- arrives on a panting, lathered horse. He looks bedraggled, and pauses only to take a gulp of water from his canteen before addressing you:
"You guys need to get out of here! Goblin attack -- last night -- jailhouse burned to the ground, inn burned down, mill set on fire, but I think they might have that under control now. They're all blaming you. They say that Wyvurn (indicating the scarred hobgoblin) is a spy for the goblins, who asassinated the marshal so that the attack could take place unopposed. And everyone remembers you fighting with the uniformed elf-lords as well. There'll be a mob coming before too long."
Geoff studiously avoids looking at Cricket.
"Ok but takes yerself a look down tha hole an yah will see we killed them gobbies dead, except this one an we thinks he is a short wood-elf."
Nice to meet you, good sir, I am Cricket of the Tuelvi. It is terrible to hear about your town's misfortunes. Bad days all around, I fear. Would you like a bit o' honey?
Turns to party:
What say you, newfound bosom companions? Shall we face this lynch mob head on like a bighorn ram? Or turn and flee, like a frightened doe?
As you finish paying your respects to your fallen comrade, with Caspian and the small goblin conversing out of the corners of their mouths, the sharp-eyed Wyvurn spots some dust in the air to the west, just before the sound of heavy hoofbeats carries to the rest of you. A few moments later, Geoff -- one of your merchant friends -- arrives on a panting, lathered horse. He looks bedraggled, and pauses only to take a gulp of water from his canteen before addressing you:
"You guys need to get out of here! Goblin attack -- last night -- jailhouse burned to the ground, inn burned down, mill set on fire, but I think they might have that under control now. They're all blaming you. They say that Wyvurn (indicating the scarred hobgoblin) is a spy for the goblins, who asassinated the marshal so that the attack could take place unopposed. And everyone remembers you fighting with the uniformed elf-lords as well. There'll be a mob coming before too long."
Geoff studiously avoids looking at Cricket.
And here I was looking forward to a good night of rest
Jaegr tells the goblin, "I am new to the surface, and don't quite understand the ways of surface folk, but I dislike being known as an ally goblins, no offense. I would like to set the record straight, and let them know we killed the goblins here to protect the town, though I am not sure how to convince them. Avoiding the mob may be the best option to avoid this getting any worse."
Wyvurn grunts and shakes his head.
"Not sure anything will change this town's mind with regards to me. Easy to lay blame on what they already hate and fear. Not sure our new found friend is going to look good for you and Caspian either, Jaegr. I'm for disappearing and continuing on with the original plan. Geoff, you still looking for help establishing that trade route? Wouldn't do you any good sticking around either. Somebody is sure to connect the dots between us sooner or later."
"Well, yeah, they done that, too. Wilbur's locked in a root cellar under guard, but he thinks he can talk his way out of trouble. I didn't stick around to find out -- just grabbed a horse and headed this way. Given my choice, I'd bail him out if I had the money, grab all those horses, and start driving them west."
"Well, yeah, they done that, too. Wilbur's locked in a root cellar under guard, but he thinks he can talk his way out of trouble. I didn't stick around to find out -- just grabbed a horse and headed this way. Given my choice, I'd bail him out if I had the money, grab all those horses, and start driving them west."
"How much money will it be? I think we may have picked up some from the goblins"
"Frightened doe I guess, now about them raisins."
Oooh! Ponies? I love ponies! I have a merit badge in mustang-driving and I'd be happy to render any assistance of which I am capable.
Hands Caspian some raisins.
"I prefer tah put a slingstone intah a barghest o some monster, but I got no desire tah does tha same tah tha local butcher."
munches on raisins.....
"We halflins calls fruit dried winter fruit."
I made that up! ;)
"How much money will it be? I think we may have picked up some from the goblins"
"They haven't set an exact bail yet, but I think I can talk them down to 500 gp or so -- that amount will convince them that there's no risk of flight. Then we take the horses and set off -- and don't come back."
"Five hundred gold is too much money."
"Then we need to find another way to free him"
I abhor putting living things in cages!
"I say we lets him out an leave 500 coppers behind. I knows I heard 500 coppers!"
If I were more powerful, I could cast meteor swarm on the town--but that might not be very nice. Maybe just entangle?
"They're not bad people -- and half their town was just burned by goblins. I wouldn't wish any more misfortune on them -- but if you guys really just slew the goblins..." (again, a dubious glance at Cricket) "... I see no need to stick around here anymore either. And I know for daggone sure that Wilbur and I can't survive the Cortland Marshes alone."
I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, since I'm participating in it. I may be assuming things to be true that aren't, but from listening to your parley, I think the best thing to do would be to somehow secure the release of Wilbur and then abscond to the Cortland Marshes.
Is there any member of the party who isn't wanted for treason and espionage?
Raises hand.
I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, since I'm participating in it. I may be assuming things to be true that aren't, but from listening to your parley, I think the best thing to do would be to somehow secure the release of Wilbur and then abscond to the Cortland Marshes.
Is there any member of the party who isn't wanted for treason and espionage?
Raises hand.
"Right, you are just wanted for killing and burning half the town"
to Geoff, "We need to come up with a way to get Wilbur free that we can either afford or sneak in there. I'm not really a sneaky guy so anyone else have an idea?"
The tricky hobbit thinks for a minute and starts talking before he even finishes his thoughts......
"I knows a spell tha allows me tah offer a reasonable suggestion tah one person, I thinks iffen tha leader was tah come here I could suggest he go back an get tha prisoner, or I could goes intah town an make tha suggestion tha he bring tha prisoner here tah help remove tha goblin bodies tah prevent disease, a work detail, since he does not care iffen a prisoner dies."
"Tha suggestion must be reasonable an must be able tah be done in 3 hours."
DM
might work?
** spoiler omitted **
"I think that is about as good as plan as any. I wish no harm on the townsfolk either. However, Caspian is known to associate with me and that might prevent him from getting close enough to beguile someone. I can move quickly unseen and unheard even more so if there was some sort of a diversion. If the distraction is sufficient it should not be too hard to slip in and free Wilbur and make off with the horses."
I am quite sure that, if needed, I could be of great assistance in providing a distraction.
"Easiest would be tah get tha guy wit tha keys here an convince him tah bring our man here."
"No goin in lessen we ave tah."
Hmm, that's an idea, too. What do the rest of you think, boon companions of mine?
"How do you propose we get him here? I doubt he'll answer a message that asks him to come out in the middle of nowhere all by himself to discuss the incarceration of a suspected associate of wanted criminals.
"I have doubts about Caspian getting close enough, but if you are willing, then by all means."
"Ok so close tah town it is."
"Shall we move a little closer so yah's ken operate a rescue o mahself if need be."
Y'know, I'm pretty sneaky. Also, I can cast this cool spell that makes me look like I'm made of wood and it lasts 30 minutes. If I got caught, I could pretend to be an entling! Also, I need to get some more raisins and lozenges. Let's do it, Caspian!
"I am pretty sneaky also!"
Oh, my sincere apologies. I was taking your sneakiness into account and only adding that I might be able to tag along as well.