“Close the door,” Ambrus Valsin murmurs as the team gathers in his office. “Let me start by saying, this mission is not for dissemination among other members of the Society.” The chamberlain of the Grand Lodge gives everyone a serious look in turn before continuing. “This mission is not an investigation, just a simple, straightforward assignment, but that makes it no less important.”
“I need you to book passage to the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, and cross over into Irrisen. You’re to head north and rendezvous with another team who have captured some—”Valsin pauses for a heartbeat before continuing. “—persons of interest. We have reason to believe that these individuals have information on the Shadow Lodge cells that are refusing to reconcile with the Society under Grandmaster Torch’s leadership.” Valsin’s expression becomes particularly grim at that point. “If these rogue cells are outright refusing amnesty, then they represent a clear threat to all of us. I need you to take charge of these captives and get them out of Irrisen safely and quietly. Once you’re clear of Irrisen, a larger extraction team will take custody of them and bring them in for questioning. Of course, we will cover the expense of your travel in full, and provide maps to lead you to the meeting point in Irrisen. Because of the nature of the mission and Irrisen itself, you’ll be meeting the other team in the field, away from what passes for civilization up there. The team you’ll be getting the prisoners from will show you the best route out of Irrisen, and the castellan of Trollheim has agreed to grant you passage through his lands. You are responsible for avoiding unexpected trouble between the handoff and Trollheim.”
Valsin gestures for the team to depart, but pauses, staring at his fireplace for a moment before adding, “Wait. You need to know this. Your prisoners will be goblins. The Shadow Lodge separatists made extensive use of the sadistic creatures as soldiers and servants, and as much as you may want to throttle them, please remember that we need them alive.” Then with a final nod for luck, the venture-captain dismisses the group.
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Cloaked and hooded, this man towers over most people. A very heavy looking flail strapped across his shoulders for easy access. Broad shoulders and a long lanky legs suggest speed and power but his hands are mottled green as if afflicted with something.......
"How many goblins are we talking about here and why the need for us when it seems to me that both teams could simply meet each other?" his voice rasps out like dry paper upon twigs.
Valsin looks at Zandru, nods as if to say good questions, this recruit was a good choice.
There are six goblins. More than half of the goblins must survive. We need to be able to compare and contrast their stories.”
"As to your second question, the extraction team is large and designed to keep the goblins from being killed by vigilant town guards or angry commoners with a grudge before they have a chance to talk, and a team that size would draw too much attention in Irrisen. And the team responsible for capturing the goblins is very experienced in moving through Irrisen without being noticed, so we need them to remain in the field.”
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I have my pony, but the rest of you will need horses when we get to the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, or maybe a couple of sleighs if there is snow there. How much is the society going to provide us to pay for transport and equipment? The halfling says as he looks up at the bigger creatures around him.
“I'm afraid mounts aren't going to work. In other circumstances you could use horses or dog sleds, but you can’t when traveling with goblins, as they won’t tolerate either beast to live. That pony of yours is going to cause a serious problem, and I will strongly advise you to leave it stabled here in Absalom."
Valsin scratches at his beard a bit, then continues,"Also, the Iceflow River follows the border, and you want to avoid disputed territory until you’re ready to cross, as its Western edge is strongly guarded and we don’t have permission to move through that territory uncontested as we do in the south, where Freyr Darkwine’s Blackravens patrol.”
"You do realize that goblins are legal citizens in Irrisen? The idea is to not draw any extra attention to yourselves. Though proceed how you feel is best." explains the Venture Captain.
Irrisen is the land of eternal winter and as such is always below freezing, night time temperatures usually drop to -5. Humanoids like goblins, trolls, and the like are citizens, and with the exception of the ruling class of human witches are considered a higher class than the average human. So shop accordingly.
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They are legal citizens that have already been taken prisoner, how would tying them up and stuffing them in sacks make it anyworse. Plus what will draw more attention a bunch of tied of "citizens" or a horse drawn sleigh with a load wrapped bundles in it. I will leave my pony behind if I must but if I do it will slow us down. My legs aren't very long and snow that is knee deep on some of you will be waist deep on me.
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Pellacia hides a smile as she imagines the halfling stuck in a snowdrift, but wrinkles her nose at the easy discrimination the rogue had shown towards a member of another race. Sure, they were goblins, but still...
Happy that she was in her human form, the Kitsune listened hard to Ambrus Valsin, knowing next to nothing about the region, she was happy to pick up any tidbits that might help her adjust to the mission.
"Cooperate is one of the core concepts of the Society, though I understand your reluctance on this matter. I am not completely convinced that this is going to be worth our time either, but the Decemerivate believes that this is the best course of action. Your contact in Irrisen, Ragna Lightfoot, assures me that these goblins behave as well as any ten year old left to their own devices. Treat them well enough, and they will follow orders."explains Captain Valsin.
Valsin looks you over on last time."Good luck on this mission. Your boat leaves in an hour, please make haste to the docks. Make sure to purchase anything you might need while on the way. Once you get to Irrisen you aren't likely to find any shops."
4.Arodus.4714 10:00:00AM
After a lengthy and rather boring trip up the river through the Land of the Linnorm Kings and Irrisen, and a solid 2 day march to Ragna Lightfoot's camp, you arrive a few hours after morning. Lightfoot’s camp stands approximately 53 miles north of the Rimeflow River and 6 miles east of the Iceflow River. Her team consists of six Ulfen rangers and druids, including Ragna Lightfoot herself.
As you approach, the camp is in the process of being taken down and packed away. A small group of goblins sit in a circle under the watch of a bear wearing armor. A tall Ulfen woman approaches. "You've finally arrived. I'm Ragna this is my camp. Welcome to Irrisen. Let me introduce you to your charges."says Ragna with a mix of impatience and relief.
She leads you over to the goblins and says,"All right you gobs, these nice people are going to escort you to Trollheim where you will start your new assignments. Now up you get and get moving."
With that, Ragna hands you a map, gestures at some large packs then heads back to the main camp area and gets to work packing camp. The bear looks at you and grins knowingly and meanders after her, leaving you to the goblins.
The goblins stand in a small group, looking at you. They seem to be a bit afraid of the half orc and when he speaks they all sort of cringe. They look and see a dwarf and look slightly confused. Dwarf and orc not killing each other? These Pathfinders are truly strange.
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Alright you lot! Ben says addressing the goblins. You will walk in a single line and follow the big green one. I will be right behind you and the dwarf will be behind me. Do not leave the Green one's tracks for any reason. Do not talk, do not sing, do not belch, do not fart or make any other noise until one of us tells you it is okay to do so. Do you understand?
Even if all the goblins reply in the affirmative Ben shakes his head and says to the others They have probably already forgotten half of what I said. Well Master Bloodstone lead the way. Ben pulls his heavy wool cloak more tightly around him, and follows the six goblins as they tramp through the snow after Zandru.
With some light grumbling the goblins line up as ordered.
Ragna, looks back at you. "You planning to take the food with you right? You're not be going to take four ravenous goblins on a 4 day hike without supplies in this country."she calls out, indicating the large packs."I'd keep a close eye on those packs, no matter how well behaved they seem, them gobs will be in those bags the moment no one is looking."
The goblins eye the sacks longingly, you can clearly see their minds working. Maybe we can get Pathfinders to feed us now. Should we whine or pretend to make nice?
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Yes we are planning to take the food! You ever met a halfling that didn't want to take food! Calls after the Ulfen woman. You there, Gobos. Grab those packs. If you open them with out being given permission you'll get a thrashing. I will give you something to chew on once we get moving.
While the goblins are getting ready Ben looks up at the over cast sky trying to get a sense of the coming weather. I hope we don't have a storm coming, I can't tell if the weather is improving or getting worse.
Once they are all packed up and moving Ben gives a piece of iron hard jerked meat out of his pack to each of the goblins. Chew on that while we march. He says Like Pellacia said you'll get more when we make camp. Ben also takes a piece of jerked meat himself. Anybody else want some? he asks as he trudges along after the goblins.
The goblins grumble some more at having to carry the delicious smelling packs and not getting to eat any. However the offer of jerky is well received.
The goblins chew very noisily and there is saliva dripping out of their giant maws staining their furs with drool and bits of chewed meat. With packs shouldered, they begin to march after Zandru.
The goblins are content with the jerky to march along without a fuss for now.
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It's not more than I can manage, but I am begining to think I might be slowing us down. Ben huffs. I would be glad of your help master dwarf. When they next stop to rest for a few minutes Ben give Marsk a bundle of ten torches, 50 feet of rope, 10 pitons, and a grappling hook. Those are the items I was carrying incase they were needed by the group. I can manage the rest quite well thank you.
You travel through the snows and forests of southern Irrisen for several hours, with the goblins behaving well, for the most part. You only had to chase one or two of them down as they ran off into the snow and woods after something to eat, snow hares and other small furry animals. You come across a narrow southern pass that winds its way through steep, icy hills, the frigid wind periodically dusting all in its path with a layer of snow. Two ancient stone watchtowers stand on either side of the path between two nearly vertical bluffs rising thirty feet to either side, just as Lightfoot’s map indicated they would. The eighty-foot-wide path narrows to a mere twenty-five feet in width between the two fifty-foot towers.
Snow has been knocked off the tops of the 50 foot tall towers.
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Ben is too busy watching the goblins to be paying much attention to his surroundings. At Marsk's warning he looks up. Are you sure someone knocked it off. squinting against the snow glare. Maybe it slid off, or was blown off by the wind. inspite of his words Ben takes out his sling and several sling bullets. He loads one bullet in his sling and keeps the others ready in his hand.
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well I will give it a try if you want me too, but snow doesn't make for very good cover. Ben takes off his pack and loosens his rapier in it's sheath. Lucky drunk. he mumbles under his breath as he begins working his way toward the base of right hand tower. Watch over me in the idiocy I am about to engage in.
Ben makes it to the base of the tower, with nothing occurring. He examines the base of the tower and listens carefully. He detects evidence that goblins have been here recently and thinks he hears them at the top of the tower.
There is a short rickety stair, facing back the way you came in, leading to a door that appears to be made of scraps of wood, tree branches, and lengths of bone. If that door was locked, a blind chicken could open it. There appears to be anywhere between 3 and 8 goblins living here, as there are plenty of muddy tracks covering any surface not covered in snow. Listening intently you think the goblins are on top of the tower.