Straehan gives a curt nod. "If Fin misses I may be too shocked to kill it. She is wickedly accurate with that bow."
Tch... Fin slips to the right and loose a shaft after the retreating goblin hoping to hit him in at the base of the skull for a swift, silent death...
As Straehan makes his amused retort, the fletched blur that is Fin's arrow streaks by behind him, the breeze of its passing blowing his hair. From the cavern, there is only the sharp sound of bone splintering and the muffled whump of a body bonelessly hitting the floor - very dead.
Jayse moves to pin the little creature.
"Straehan, you speak goblin, right? Tell this little thing that he cooperates or I tear his arms off."
Ushari nods and moves swiftly to the front entrance, her arrow nocked still, and scans the cave entrance to see if any attention has been drawn to the ambush...
Straehan nods and speaks in harsh syllables to the hated creature. He can't believe Jayse would even think of letting this creature live... His claws twitch.
The goblin smells something not quite right with Jayse. Perhaps it is a look in his eye... but the clear hatred of the gnome and Straehan's naked desire to kill him - held in check by the human's words - that makes the Goblin think there may be a way to save its neck yet.
It barks some syllables back at Straehan who says, "The little $#&(*& says it will 'help'."
For the time being, Fin remains in the bushes, with an arrow at the ready in case the others should need covering fire.
Jayse successfully maintains his hold and applies a pin to the creature before starting his gambit.
Ushari, crouched at the entrance of the cave, hears nothing inside that sounds like alerted guards or the like. Unfortunately, she can't see more than 15' into the gloom. She does notice the smell and sight of small trails of smoke issuing from the cave. And there are vague echoing sounds, but nothing substantive.
Fin, stays on station, seeing and hearing no threat from either the woods behind them or the cave in front.
Jayse nods grimly, "Then tell it it can help us with information. How many are in there? How many warriors or hunters? Are they all goblins in there? Or will we find hobgoblins or worse as well? And how many entrances are there from this cave?"
He then watches the goblin for any signs of deception during the answers.
You easily retreat into the treeline, carrying the goblins. You maintain sight of the cave entrance but are quite far back in the trees.
"How many are in there? How many warriors or hunters?"
Straehan translates the goblin's half gibbering, half snarling answers verbatim. "More than my fingers but less than my toes. Maybe a dozen or so. We are ALL warriors and hunters!"
"Are they all goblins in there? Or will we find hobgoblins or worse as well?"
"Bah! Hobgoblins only act tough. We had a couple. They got killed. Think maybe that was your work." Straehan injects his own opinion, "I think this little sh!t is trying to butter you up."
"And how many entrances are there from this cave?"
"I'm not a digger, not on that crew. I been on foraging crew - out in woods. Diggers been busy, could have made a new hole, I don't know. I know this as only entrance. You let me go now, OK?"
Jayse senses no overt lies but gets the distinct impression this little fellow is answering his questions precisely, no more, no less.
"Anyone else have any more questions for this creature?"
If so, he'll continue as is, trying to determine the goblin's truthfulness.
As Ushari and Straehan sneak forward to recover the body in the cave entrance, they are acutely aware of every possible threat. Perhaps it is his close proximity to the ground that alerts Straehan, a moment before they step on it, that a trapdoor blocks the passageway except for a narrow 'walkway' on the left side.
Once aware of the danger they easily skirt it and retrieve the body. Straehan pulls out a set of fine tools and attempts to disable the trap but fails to put it out of commission.
Going once...
Going twice...
Dead gobbie!
Jayse dispatches the goblin cleanly and efficiently and the companions quickly secrete the bodies.
Jayse lays the still body in some bushes, next to the one felled by the woman's arrows then turns back to the others. "Ushari, wi you translate for me? I was thinking we do this in two groups. Findelgwing and Straehan, you two scout. Your eyes are much more suited to it in there. Ushari and I will be about 30 to 40 feet behind you with torches lit. If you come to a fork, just come back and let us know which way you're going. If we come up on a fork, and haven't heard from you, we'll try to wait for you there. If something goes wrong, just shout and we'll move to you as fast as we can. Does that sound good? Any better ideas?"
If not, he breaks out two of the healing potions for each of the forward scouts, keeping the remaining for himself and Ushari. He turns to her as he lights two torches, "If you'd prefer not to fight, you can be in charge of the healing potions." He grins, "Bur I saw how you pincushioned that goblin back there, so the choice is yours."
Jayse lays the still body in some bushes, next to the one felled by the woman's arrows then turns back to the others. "Ushari, wi you translate for me? I was thinking we do this in two groups. Findelgwing and Straehan, you two scout. Your eyes are much more suited to it in there. Ushari and I will be about 30 to 40 feet behind you with torches lit. If you come to a fork, just come back and let us know which way you're going. If we come up on a fork, and haven't heard from you, we'll try to wait for you there. If something goes wrong, just shout and we'll move to you as fast as we can. Does that sound good? Any better ideas?"
Ushari shakes her head, "I think that is a good plan, as I am blind as a bat in the dark, apparently."
If not, he breaks out two of the healing potions for each of the forward scouts, keeping the remaining for himself and Ushari. He turns to her as he lights two torches, "If you'd prefer not to fight, you can be in charge of the healing potions." He grins, "Bur I saw how you pincushioned that goblin back there, so the choice is yours."
Ushari shoots Jayse a glare, taking both a torch and a potion, "I can do both, thank you very much!"
Fin takes point and heads in ahead of the others, being certain to keep silent...
Fin signals you to join her at the first intersection.
This is clearly a natural cavern with uneven walls and floor. Staring into the gloom of the cavern, you try to acclimate to the odd echoing, dripping water, and smell. There is a stink of unwashed bodies and spoiled food. You think the smell comes more prominently from the right-hand path but it is hard to tell in the odd swirling air patterns of the cave. It also seems like the smokey smell comes more strongly from the left-hand path.
Ushari looks down each passageway, straining to compensate from her limited vision, by using her other senses. After a moment of thought, she slowly points to the left passage while pointing to her nose.
Fin takes a moment to look at the floor in the area to see if she can figure out how frequently the various passageways are traversed and if anything significantly different from just goblins pass thru here. She points from her eyes to the ground and makes pawing motions like an animal walking. She whispers a single word of elvish to Ushari, "Tracks."
Survival
Fin and Ushari spend a few minutes looking for tracks in the uneven stone floor. To the best of their knowledge, they find no prints other than Goblin ones. There could be some larger boot scuff marks that may belong to hobgoblins... but that is far from certain. While all the ways show the passage of numerous goblins, the mostly heavily treaded route is the left path, followed by the right.
Ushari gives Fin a questioning look, while pointing to the left branch. It is clear she is waiting on the elf girl to give her approval to the plan.
Findelgwing rolls her eyes and motions to Jayse and Straehan. She then makes a talking motion with her hand and points to Ushari.
You get the feeling that she wants you guys to discuss something with Ushari. Given that the two of them were just searching the ground for tracks, you suspect it has something to do with that.
Getting the gist of Fin's message, Straehan whispers to Ushari and Jayse, "Did you find something noteworthy? Fin seems to think so."
Ushari gives Fin a long look, then turns her attention to the other 2 companions.
She whispers in reply to Straehan in Common, "We found goblin tracks headed both left and right, more tracks to the left, I think. I think the food supply is to the left, not sure what is to the right."
Jayse shrugs, "Then I guess we go left."
Fin slinks ahead up the left-hand path. She signals to Straehan who tells the others to wait and moves up to see what she is pointing at. He comes back. "Fin found a room and there is a bit of light in there - embers from a small fire. It looks empty but she wants to check it out. I need you follow me and stay exactly where I tell you. There is a good bit of light coming from that northern passage as well and we don't want to alert the locals."
Straehan carefully leads them up less than a dozen feet, sticking close to the right wall and then stops. He moves forward and disappears into the darkness around the corner.
When everyone is in position, Fin peeks around the corner of the room, wary for any sound. The cavern room appears empty but she can't quite see the northern end of the room, so she risks lighting a small candle to make sure. The room is as empty as it appears. Fin gives Straehan (who is watching the northern passageway) a thumbs up and takes a good look around.
There are three large pallet beds, a crate that appears to be used as a table and a chest with a corroded but still functioning lock surrounding a decent looking rug. The remnants of clothing near the bed are large - probably sized for hobgoblins. The large, knobby, cracked, boots under one of the beds seems to confirm that. The south end of the room, centered around the small fire that has been reduced to dying embers, has three stinking 'piles' of straw, cloth, and other materials as well as a stool and another crate that seems to double for a table.
Ushari waits for Fin to return to her, before she puts out the torch, and allows Fin to guide her into the cavern room. Once inside, she asks to borrow a candle from Fin, and conducts a quick search for anything interesting, like papers or other clues as to why they are active now.
Ushari's methodical search turns up no papers but does uncover a half-eaten cat sandwich on moldy bread, some anatomically incorrect graffiti, and various bric-a-brac. The only object that remains unsearched but potentially of interest is the chest with the corroded and rusty lock.
Ushari walks over to the chest, and reaches into her pouch and pulls out a small leather strap, with several long pieces of metal, and looks at them closely. She realizes they are thieves tools, useful for picking locks, but as she holds them, she does not remember how she had used them before her memory loss.
Fin, Ushari, and Jayse debate how to silently bust into the chest, eventually drawing Straehan's attention. He takes a quick walk around the room examining the contents before staring at the chest. He looks at the chest soberly and whispers, "My understanding of picking locks is largely theoretical... but I'll give it a shot."
He crouches down by the chest, pulls out a small pouch of tools and gets to work. "Well it doesn't appear trapped. That's good, I suppose... unless I'm wrong."
It is with a few curses and just a couple of attempts that he manages to pop the lock and open the chest. Inside is a small pile of gold and nothing else.
Ushari looks at the gold, and nods, saying quietly, "Well, it looks like we found the chieftain's treasure chest." She smiles faintly, "But we are no closer to any answers."
She points to the northern passageway, "Shall we press on?"
Your band proceeds cautiously up the northern passageway. Fin and Straehan chance a quick glance into the lit area then duck back quickly.
Straehan looks to Fin for confirmation and whispers, "Its a large, long cave. There are two fires going and about eight goblins - four near each fire. Ideas?"
Ushari thinks for a moment. Although the group's purpose was stealth, and recon, she also knew if there was a perfect opportunity to strike at the goblins, it was now. Plus if the group retreated, there was a chance the goblins could cut off their retreat.
She whispers quietly, "If we want to strike them, now is the time."
Ignoring whatever Ushari is whispering, Fin knows an opportunity to draw a map when she sees it. Taking a few arrows from her quiver, she lays them on the ground to approximate the tunnels and uses coins to mark the goblins and each of you.
She the points to Straehan and a spot in the tunnel ahead (X-4). She moves the goblin coins toward 'Straehan' then puts both hands in front of her, fingers spread wide and makes and exploding motion. After doing so, she moves his coin to a spot back around the corner (Z-2).
Next she points to Jayse and indicates a niche just behind the tunnel (Z-3) before pating herself on the chest and pointing to another spot (Y-2) and grins as she pats the hilt of her sword.
She then moves the goblins coins forward toward the two of them, showing the goblins in a neat line.
Lastly, she points at Ushari placing her coin in the hallway you just came from and making the 'look at' gesture and pointing in that direction.
After her demonstration, Findelgwing gives the thumbs-up gesture and nods expectantly look you each in the eye to see of you agree.
Ushari will watch the rear in case anyone tries to come up on you from behind.
Ushari has difficulty following the pantomine, and wonders whether she should risk speaking further. She does see Fin wants her to guard the rear while whatever plane she devised gets carried out. She elects to wait until either Jayse or Straehan clarifies what the enigmatic elf girl is 'talking' about.
Straehan stares at the diorama, seeming to grasp Fin's plan. He pulls at his goatee, considering the plan and looking for any better options.
It appears I'm to be the bait. Straehan casts a spell on himself, still considering the plan.
Jayse watches the plan unfold. It's smarter than letting them surround us. He smiles encouragingly, gesturing to encompass the impromptu map and gives a thumbs up. He then whispers to Ushari and Straehan, "If something comes up behind us, you two should make sure to let us know. I can easily get into a defensive spot behind you should the need arise."
"Also, Straehan, don't get stuck out there. If you don't have a chance to get a spell off for some reason, fall back. Try to work your magics from behind me and Findelgwing."