A two-masted ship lies mired in the mud in this clearing, its rigging thick with moss and decorated with lanterns and wind chimes made from goblin skulls and bones. Strange writing is faintly visible along the ship’s prow, while the soggy, swampy “yard” that surrounds the wreck is encircled by a rickety wooden fence. A thin curl of smoke wafts up from a chimney that protrudes from an unusual box-like structure near the ship's bow.
"Well, whoever live here no like poor Goblins...", Chuffy mutters to himself.
He keeps the crossbow at the ready, covering Reta as she explores the area.
”.. and goblins not like whoever live here!” She responds, looking around.
Reta sniffs the air and points to what looks like it acts as a chimney on the ship. ”Smoke.” Then she squints at the “yard” around the ship, then points at some large, roundish tracks in the mud. ”Big animal?”
”So, how to sneakings in?” She begins pulling a rope at least partially made of dead moles from her corset, ”Goes over?” She points to the north side of the fence, where the large tree nearly hangs over it, but also grows out over the ship's deck. "Sneakings to tree, climb up in branches, and quiet-drop on bigboat?"
Morgmurch hisses with distaste. "Horseys, they prance prance prance here with LONGSHANKS" he growls. Puffing out his chest at knowing something his goblin friends don't know he struts up and down the line, looking important.
Chuffy sniggers.
"Well, since Mogmurch know so much about horseys, does Mogmurch want to find and kill horsey?"
"You alll quiet!" hisses Poog, glaring at Chuffy and Mogmurch. "No sneaking when yelling. Reta, we go, kill longshanks annnnd horses, and take fireworks. Make the rope go up.
@Draga
It was a response including pretty much what my Knowledge Nature spoiler told me. The implication is that longshanks ride horses, whether they did on this occasion or not.
Reta nods and sets to work, skirting stalking along the northern side of the rickety fence before choosing a spot for her climb over.
With comical, persistence, Reta will continue attempting the fence-climb until she finally scrabbles over.
Although he starts by sniggering, after a while, Chuffy gets bored of watching Reta, and slithers up over the fence like a snake to see what is on the other side, blowing Reta a raspberry as he does so.
Reta struggles to maneuver herself over the fence, while Chuffy effortlessly leaps up and pulls himself over in one smooth motion.
Reta hits the ground on the inside of the fence, hissing briefly at the insufferable Chuffy before tossing her mink-skin rope over to help the others climb in.
As you settle yourselves in the thick mud under a scraggly tree, a sudden thwop thwop thwop sounds from the aft of the ship. A filthy, dark gray stallion rounds the corner, kicking mud and snorting wildly! Huddled under the shade of the foliage above, our heroes remain unseen by the enormous creature.
Reta hisses and gleefully draws Gorge of Glutton, licking the blade in eager anticipation of the horse-blood that will soon run from it.
Chuffy giggles, waiting for the horse to get in range for a sneak attack...
Mormurch sneaks forward, following suit of the rest of his allies, sneaking closer.
Chuffy contemplates setting fire to the fence, whilst waiting for Poog to decide what to do...
Poog reaches out and touches Reta's shoulder as he whispers prayers to Zarongel.
Stomp, the mighty equine, shakes his mane and returns to drinking water from the murky pool before him.
Reta looks at the horse, then the ship, then the horse, then the ship.
”BAAAAH!” She points at the ship, ”We climbing onto boat sneakses-like. Find fireworks. Then choose if stompy is gonna die.”
She skulks through the brush to the base of the tree, then chomps down on the horse-killing dogslicer, holding it in her maw as she shimmies up the trunk and out over the branches. With little difficulty, she clears the side of the boat via the longer branches and drops quietly just inside the ship's starboard railing.
Then she fishes out her rope again and drops it over the side, holding it secure for the others to climb.
"Fiiiiiirrrreewwwwooooorrrrrkkkksssss!" she hisses with hysterical glee, red eyes seeking any traps or threats ... as well as the right path to their explosive treasure.
Just to show that he is every bit the stealthy climber that Reta is...
...Chuffy shimmies up the tree, barely disturbing a leaf, and then practically dances across the branches to drop noiselessly on the boat.
He then beckons the others over, grinning from ear to ear.
"See? Easy-peasy!"
Reta punches Chuffy's ugly face ... lightly. But resumes holding the mink-rope for Moggy and Poog.
As soon as Reta's back is turned, Chuffy pokes his tongue out at her.
Mormurch follows suit, sneaking his way up to the tree, making excellent use of the rope to easily make the climb.
Poog nearly drops his lucky toad, his snacks, and his javelins. He grimaces silently.
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The main deck of the shipwreck is cluttered with objects both natural and artificial. Thick swaths of leafy vines grow over the deck, and shiny green patches of algae and moss grow where the vines do not. The central cabin's roof has a wide edge, creating a canopied walkway along the ship's sides. A flight of steps up to the roof of the ship's main cabin, the entrance to which is blocked by a door decorated by a large number of rodent and bird skulls. A smoking stovepipe chimney extends up from the ship's highest point above.
Rising up from the aft deck and forecastle, two rickety wooden platforms — crow’s nests — sit on the masts, ten feet above the ship’s deck below. Each is linked by a pair of thick ropes, and additional ropes hang down from the platform on the stern-most mast to the deck.
The railing groans in protest as Poog climbs over, alerting two feral dogs chained up to each mast - deck—one a mangy hound with one blue eye on the forecastle, and one brown eye and the other a scruffy mongrel with
a crooked tail on the deck below. Ears perked, they erupt in low growls, teeth bared and slathering drool at the tasty goblin snacks that have appeared.
Both dogs appear quite feral and half-starved, chained to different masts via 20-foot-long rusty chains. The mangy hound is chained to the central mast on the upper deck, while the scruffy mongrel is chained to the aft mast below.
Reta’s head snaps between the two mutts. The rope hits the deck … already forgotten. Reta’s eyes widen for a second before narrowing to hate-filled slits.
”Doggeeeeeesssss!” She stalks towards the one on the foredeck, drawing the magical dogslicer into her eager hand, every word is punctuated with a step toward her hated foe, ”Loud! Stinking! Barking! DOGGEESSS!”
Every step is quicker than the last, until she is scampering towards her foe, up the ladder, and dives around it … ending by plunging her blade into its side.
The mangy hound yelps as Reta's wicked blade does the bloody work of its namesake.
Chuffy, giggling, shoots the dog closest to him with his new crossbow, before it has a chance to act.
Only a whimper escapes the mongrel dog as Chuffy's bolt skewers the beast, pinning its neck against the mast. The creature writhes for the span of a few ragged breaths, before finally slumping, blood staining the weathered timber.
Eager to shed the blood of a dog, Poog draws his trusty dogslicer and scampers to attack the other mangy cur!
Snicker-snack! Poog's blade lashes out, and another dog is laid low. The air stills, but somewhere below are the snorts and stomps of that horrid horse, stamping in the mud.
Blowing a raspberry at Reta, Chuffy (quickly!) clambers up into the rigging like he was born to it, and has a look around.
Reta spends another minute stabbing and kicking the pinned doggy corpse. Finally, her fury spent, she scampers up to the forecastle door. There, she presses her ear against it for a few seconds before sniffing at its base.
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Chuffy's curiosity is rewarded, as the crow's nests show signs of recent use. The central platform contains two vials of alchemist’s fire, a half-finished bottle of grog, and three Desnan candles. The stern platform contains a masterwork sling and a dozen sling stones.
Reta leans low to the door, and hears the faint sound of boiling liquid. Her nose detects the smell of smoke, burned meat, and... DOG!
Big dog!