Kalim looks on, arms folded. "I am Kalim, Touched by the Void, He Who Would Stare Back. We are outsiders of some ability, and I believe we have goals that overlap."
Malcolm stands behind the others with arms crossed.
"Relax...I no kill you, you no kill me today. You guest, you drink with me, we talk." One of his subordinates brings forth a smoky black bottle of liquor, "Good drink." As the aid pours everyone a shot of the alcohol. He pick his up and shoots it down the hatch without flinching. "You have sanctuary."
Hobgoblin or Orc
Desmond nods, giving a smile but not mentally relaxing at all. He doubts they would get poisoned or stabbed in the back. Somebody saying something stupid to start a fight was far more likely. He sniffs the drink as if appreciating the smell of the liquor, then drinks it down .
Before he chats he waits for each person to shoot back the booze.
It's smoky charcoal whiskey that actually is quite smooth and tasty. No poison.
Hobgoblin or Orc
Hobgoblin or Orc
Karnog drinks the shot in a single swallow.
Grung does as well and holds his cup out for more
Raising the glass to her lips Felicitas downs hers in one gulp just to put the glass upside down on the table. "Add one of those bottles to the deal, will you!"
The hobgolblin leader chuckles at Felicatas bravado, "Good...good taste." His aid refills anyone wanting more but does not push a second drink on those not desiring one.
Of course Meath'd drinks his and he tries to lick the inside of the tiny cup. He feels important being in this meeting but knows not to speak unless told to do so.
Greznek good city but could be great with new leader. I despises and distrusts Tribitz, he move citizens towards more darkness. Me think that no good. He too preachy, zealot."
"Me keep city safe, me hero, but people like Tribitz more." He thumps his temple with a finger to indicate they are influenced by religion or brainwashed. "Me want him dead, you do that, then people don't think me involved."
"You bring me the head of Tribitz and some of his underpriest, me give you 1000 platinum, 2000 diamond value, 2000 emerald value, and staff of fire. You benefit," he points to Karnog and Malcolm, "less Orcus, more rational rule."
Grung perks up at the thought of killing goblins and orcs, and treasure
"So, what kind of zealot is this Tribitz? A Cleric of Orcus, mighty spellcaster, that kind of thing? And his underlings are also powerful spellcasters? Do they have any weak points that you are aware of? Any vulnerabilities to be exploited?"
Malcolm grunts at his words, steps forward and chugs the drink. He winks at the hobgoblin, then steps back.
"Tribitz is a goblin who gets divine power, like his underlyings. He thinks a second, "Xil try to help before brought up drow to do job but they trapped. Zerna, her name, she hates Orcus. She has drow with her, they may help if you find them. They be on other side of river and lake where main temples be located.
"You get to other side by being great hydra killers, they looking for brave warriors to defeat hydra sent my Hecate, to torment Orcus followers."
Hmm. I'm liking this guy more by the minute. Desmond takes a second drink, but stops after that. "I think we need a minute to think on your offer, but it is very generous and reasonable."
He hunts through a box on his desk and pulls out a few scrolls, "These help? I get them off dead. You agree, then i give."
There is an arcane and divine version of dimensional anchor.
An arcane version of shield.
A cure critical wound scroll (good deity)
Freedom of movement (divine)
Dispel magic (arcane)
Delay poison (arcane bard)
Heroism (arcane bard)
Looking at the scrolls Felicitas smiles:"You just know how to sweeten a pot." Looking around she asks:"Hydra?"
"Sounds good to me. I don't suppose anyone knows any magic to charm or control the minds of a fire breathing hydra, eh? Also, anyone have any energy protection Spells prepared?"
He chuckles, "Yes hydra, with many heads, sent to curse city to punish Orcus. It wandered up via the northern passage, which stretches north for several miles before it connects with a long, wide, east-west tunnel in the Under Realms. Herzod learn the hydra was sent by Hecate, goddess of magic, as a curse against the Orcus clerics for corrupting Phalen, one of her prized disciple. Now hydra beginning to cause problems and Tribitz looking to have someone else handle it, he no want to risk his own resources. He no want to lose face more like it."
You gather there have been several attempts by outside mercenaries to deal with the hydra issue and it is pressing Tribitz, sort of a thorn in his side, so he has been meeting with adventuring parties.
"You go back after rest, announce you be willing to fight Hydra, then Tribitz meet you. You kill him and some of his cleircs."
The other thing you've gathered is Orcus, the Demon Prince of the Undead, has few divine enemies. Primarily Hecate, goddess of magic, but from the sounds of it others.
Orcus is the Prince of the Undead, and it is said that he alone created the first undead that walked the worlds. Orcus is one of the strongest (if not the strongest) and most powerful of all demon lords. He fights a never-ending war against rival demon princes that spans several Abyssal layers. From his great bone palace he commands his troops as they wage war across the smoldering and stinking planes of the Abyss. Orcus spends most of his days in his palace, rarely leaving its confines unless he decides to leads his troops into battle (which has happened on more than one occasion). Most of the time though, he is content to let his generals and commanders lead the battles.
Worshipping Hecate
Hecate, the lawful evil goddess of magic, accepts only virgin priestesses as her clerics. Hecate’s priestesses are always multiclassed female wizard/clerics. Infamous for her strict and very unforgiving nature, Hecate requires that her priestesses dedicate themselves to the quest for knowledge and nothing else. Once a priestess commits any violation of those devotional precepts, she loses one level in each class. Serious transgressions result in a loss of all powers and other perils (like being turned into a statue). Numerous male wizards worship her, and she sometimes blesses them with knowledge beyond that normally attainable by mortals. Her symbol is a many-headed hydra poised before a flaming sphere.
So do we get to kill both?
"If you want, you do so."
"Slaying a hydra, changing a regime, fighting evil, gaining new allies. Something in this for everyone. Herzod, I believe we have an excellent situation here."
Using her loremaster ability Felicitas ponders for a moment before nodding. She will later tell her allies about orcus and about hecate.
"Pale shades of the Elder Ones of the Void. Truly, their best use would be as weapons thrown at the Elders to buy time."
Grung blinks at Kalim, not understanding what he is saying at all
"Are we sure it breathes fire, and not something else?"
Responding to Desmond's question, "No one live to tell."
"Anyone have any more questions?
"Well that's just poor planning. You should always have one person in the back to tell the tale of how his party died. Or at least send in a scout and a scapegoat."
Later on you'd be rejoined with Xil'etha, "So he gave you his mission, it's not quite so simple as he makes it sound, but one thing that should go off without a hitch is getting to the other side of the river. Tribitz is looking for hydra killers so if you come under that disguise you should be able to meet him." She puts her slender fingers under chin. "I still think an attack on the outpost is the way to go first, but it's your decision."
"Well that's just poor planning. You should always have one person in the back to tell the tale of how his party died. Or at least send in a scout and a scapegoat."
"Tribitz not as smart as Herzord. You send in scout first." He cracks a smile.
"What about the drow prisoners? How can we ensure they do the most good for us, not to mention identify us as friends? Also, how far away is the outpost from the hydra lair? Would it be feasible to lure it in to attack them somehow?"
"Well look for ZERNA, and if your find her or anyone from that party mention my name. Either you'll fight or you won't it'll be decided pretty quickly I suspect.' Xil responds to Karnog.
"Outpost within an hour's walk...shorter with run." He frowns at the thought of disruption at the outpost. "Could work but some loyal to me, not many priests there." You sense he isn't totally good with the idea of attacking the outpost and disrupting the backdoor. it doesn't take long to realize that the outpost is Xil's idea, not the Herzod's.
Rung's mind starts to spin with all the options.
I thought we kill monster, then priest, then outpost...
"Seems like a plan. The hydra is our ticket in to see Tribitz anyways."
Once the deal is struck to kill Tribitz, the Captain will give you the scrolls. The meeting is adjourned and Xil will take you out. If you need to rest up a night she'll take you back to waiting room so you can rest and start fresh.
The next day after you've had a chance to rest and prepare for what lies ahead, Xil leads you back through the cavern tunnels and into Greznek. She'll explain that she can only get you to a guard post then you'll be on your own. That normally they don't permit non-goblinoid's across the river. Remember you're here to trade which you have done and to kill the hydra, then let's hope that convinces them to let you go further.
Overnight duties: cast masterwork transformation on Meathead's armor.
Morning time: change spells a bit.
"Let's try to play nice as long as possible. Still no mind-warping-domination magic, I assume? And do you think we can refresh these disguises, Felicitas? I would hate to be filled with goblin arrows just because I look like a dwarf!"
You are eventually led back into the goblins city and through some areas that look vaguely familiar especially the fighting cavern. Xil leads you up to guard post where 3 heavily armed goblins stand at attention. they are not fidgeting or playing with themselves, they take their job seriously and appear proficient with there gear.
[b}No non-goblinoids beyond this point."[/b] The commander then proceeds to aske a series of questions. “Who are you?"
"Where are you from?"
" Why are you coming here?” and,
“How long will you stay?”
Karnog looks towards Felicitas to do the talking for the group.
In goblin:
"We are sellswords, paid in gold, to keep some monster at bay! We come from afar, diffrent places and we do keep our past our past. As for how long, we are just passing through, our goal is to make our employer happy and our purses full! We wish no harm to the citizen of this place!!"
The goblin guard studies you and frowns, "What makes you think we need your help?"
Desmond shrugs. "Maybe you don't. But this way, none of you die fighting, and either way the problem gets taken care of." He says this in common, but if they don't understand he'll give Felicitas a look to translate.
Yes the conversation is being translated but Desmond's language skills leaves something to be desired.
Kill Hydra! Raawwwwrrrrr!