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Ssilax opts not to risk his dragon skin any longer, after having defended his friends againsr this group of goblins.
Daxniss runs back, but knowing she can't reach the goblins as quickly as Argon, she lets him get there first. Argon moves forward and chops the biggest of the goblins down in one shot.
Wrathe looks around and spots spiders still scurrying, but without sufficient density they instinctively avoid contact with the giant, bipedal, angry stomping machines.
The two goblins at the back are on a rope, ostensibly climbing. However, it is most difficult to make vertical progress when you are arguing and one is grabbing at the crossbow bolts of the other, and poking at each others' eyes. You cannot understand their ugly tongue, but you imagine they are saying something like, "Mom said not to fire your crossbow while running away!" and "But Dad said the humanish ones are weak and scaredy, and I want to scare dem more!"
The goblin a bit in front of Argon, the one who can speak properly, lets go a crossbow bolt at the slayer, but it sails wide. Then he backpedals a bit as he realizes he is in trouble. "Wait! Wait, I give, you win!" Meanwhile, the last one starts running away, up the path.
(You're up)
With a glance around, to ensure that not obvious threats were mounting, Wrathe takes a moment to glance into the hole that birthed so many spiders.
Under his breath he mutters, "This seem like a bad idea to you? It certainly seems like this will be the last thing I ever do."
"Ask that one what's in the cave," Ssilax says pointing at the goblin as the battered dragonkin glances around the area.
Determining that he was safe enough for the moment, the young Theurge quietly prays to Nethys to heal his wounds once more.
Sniffing at the charred spider corpses, Dog sneezes and looks around the clearing.
"I never should have gotten out of bed today," Ssilax grumbles with a shake of his hooded head. Letting a small sigh escape as the divine magics close the bad gash on his leg, he glances at his friends and the remaining goblin. Other than taking a beating, the dragonkin seems to be in decent enough spirits, as in he was still alive. He was still going to have to clean and bandage his, and the others wounds. The dragonkin didn't want infection setting in.
"I'm guessing the others went to get the rest," the dragonkin says quietly in Undercommon to his friends.
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The spider density seems somewhat increased inside the cave. Taking a careful look, you can see it goes in a ways, very narrow, and then there is a little bit of light in there, about fifteen feet back, which you don't notice until your eyes adjust to the darkness.
The goblin, still backing up, says "Spiders, nothing else I know about. Could be treasure, yeah? Treasure? Gold? Who knows what someone might hide in there?"
Argon follows the backpedaling goblin, and after he goes ten feet he says, "Stop! Drop your weapons or you'll end up like your brother there." He points to the bleeding, unconscious gobiln.
He is prepared to attack again, if the goblin doesn't fully surrender. This one might be able to tell them more than just what's in the cave.
Speaking in Undercommon the wizard updates everyone as to the makeup of the cave, and the light beyond.
Wrathe continues to move his eyes around the area, trying to understand if there's a cavern beyond (likely where the goblins dwell), or if the light comes from something else.
"Perhaps I am just being paranoid, but remaining on this tight ledge, with who knows what above us, is making me nervous. Shall we keep moving before they return in greater numbers?"
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As soon as Argon starts following or chasing the goblin, he turns and runs at full speed. And he and his companion before him are both pretty quick.
Wrathe sees the light is dim, and constant, and perhaps whitish rather than yellowish, indicating it may be that the cave is stylishly decorated with some kind of skylight, or at least a hole above.
Ssilax heals himself and feels much healthier, for now. Wrathe has some spider bites, and is weak from their venom, while Argon has many bites all over his body, though the venom doesn't seem to have affected him as much.
"Fine with me!" calls out Argon as he continues to chase the goblin. If he can reach it, he tries to knock it over.
Argon pins the goblin, holding it in place against the cliff face.
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Dog barks, and everyone sees Argon up ahead, holding the goblin against the cliff. Goblin voices, probably those you fought, come from above, but it's unclear what they are saying.
The held goblin tries to smile, and says, "You like more spiders, yes? More spiders, with millions of little hairy legs, yum, coming soon! Let me go and no spiders!"
Daxniss finishes loading the heavy crossbow, wishing she had purchased a short bow in town, it was one of the many things that she had forgotten to procure before heading out. Daxniss draws a bead on one of the other goblins and calls out " We could have had a nice conversation to say the least and then you had to go ahead and attack us, perhaps we could work this out without any more of you trying to incite bloodshed. The next spider swarm or goblin that attacks us and we get violent. " Daxniss looks at the nearest goblin and hefts the crossbow at it.
Millions of spiders?
Wrathe decides that he has had quite enough of spiders this day and slowly backs away from his position near the cave entrance, and then harries Ssilax and Daxniss to make up the ground between themselves and Argon.
"More than likely their shaman is in there, or small possibilitity what we are looking for might be in there, but that seems a bit unlikely," the dragonkin looks into the cave. He speaks quietly in Undercommon. The dragonkin looks over at the goblin. The dragonkin's sapphire orbs narrow slightly.
"I'd like to think that if we just tie it up and leave, they won't retaliate but... it probably will. We should probably deal with it. Or make it tell us where the person we are looking for. But we should probably get away." The young Theurge says.
Argon says, "I'd like to throw him off the cliff, or in the cave, but I think we should bring him with us. Maybe we can make him tell us what we need to know." He looks fiercely at the goblin.
"What other kind of creatures, or people, live up on the Plateau of Peril?"
Once everyone is around, he'll remove all the goblin's weapons and tie his hands.
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The goblin smiles meekly and says, "You don't wanna go up there. Many many goblins, and spiders too. Bad things. Um... Haunted temples, ghosts at night, Dragons at day, and big flying horses with nasty feets and unreasonable dispositions."
He looks at you, nodding at his own words, and obviously hoping you'll turn around and go back down.
Wrathe listens to the goblin's accounting with a jaundiced ear.
An ominous tone taints his next words, "I will feed you your tongue if you utter another lie."
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The goblin, lying through his big teeth up to now, gulps and swishes his tongue about his mouth, as if to ensure it is still intact and functional. His red eyes go wide and, possibly because it's just not in his nature to speak the truth to the likes of you, he remains silent.
A small flatulent peep does, however, emerge from his southern regions.
Daxniss shakes her head, glad that Wrathe should be able to keep the goblin in line.
" If anything, it might be able to delay any others from attacking us for the moment. Since you two have such a good time together, you should be able to get a few answers out of him, unless you want me to ask some questions. " Daxniss finishes her words and looks up towards the rope.
While his words are for Daxniss, they are directed to the goblin more so.
"Should he prove uncooperative, I shall simply enthral him with my magics and leave him shattered upon the rocks below."
Turning his attention back to the speaker of their ambushers he asks, "What lies above, what is the source of the illumination within the cave, how many are your numbers?"
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The goblin gulps, and his eyes go wide as he hears of magic and the rocks below. He saw his comrade fall down there, and he starts to shake.
"I.. I ... I"
He closes his eyes and tries to compose himself, but it not overly successful. "Above is the hills. We have some spiders but we keep 'em locked up. No nation in the cave, just the spiders we dropped in there. The bags opened and the spiders came out. Numbers? Our clan is strong, with lots and lots of goblins. We have.... huts... temporary... four or five hands? I'm NOT lying!"
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After a bit more grilling, speaking more slowly and with simpler words, you determine, assuming the goblin is "truthing" (as he says), that he is part of a "society" of about a hundred goblins. They live in what he calls huts, which are rebuilt whenever they relocate to a new spot, which is every few weeks or months. Four or five goblins live in a hut, and there are more than five "hands" (groups of five) of such huts, so you calculate there are over a hundred goblins.
They dropped the spiders through a hole above the cave, after untying two bags of them. The spiders escaped the bags and found you there. They have more spiders, which they keep in bags, caves, and a big barrel with wheels, which they "found".
There are other creatures on the plateau, such as orcs, wild animals such as wolves, bears, deer and smaller game. He mentions winged horses a few times, with great fear in his voice, but he can only recall actually encountering them once, when they attacked a group of the goblins for "no reason at all". There are not many humans, but there are a few near here that live in a "haunted house" which is very scary, though he can't tell you why. Oh, and one of them isn't living in the house because several days ago she was captured and put in a cage.
" How far is the 'haunted' house from here? We might have some business with the house and if on the way back are you going to leave us alone? I would rather not have to deal with another round of fighting provided that you leave us alone. " Daxnniss asks, her bow still trained on the goblin, this time focusing on his bait and tackle.
Daxniss wonders why they would be after winged horses and the fact that such beings would be around this area however, she pushes such ideas out of the for front of her mind.
"Let's get moving, before the rest return, and we can take our new friend with us. He can tell us all about the person that they captured." Ssilax says, glancing at the cave once more. "If he's truthful, we let him go. If not, we stake him out in the open somewhere where the flying horses can find him. Or whatever animal that comes across him, to eat him alive."
Not that he really had any intention of doing so, murdering the goblin or the like. There wasn't really any reason for them to do so. He was getting the suspicion that the woman they had captured was the Theurge.
Wrathe also had come to the conclusion that the woman was the one they sought. He remains silent, simply staring at the goblin from the depths of his cowl with an enigmatic little smile painted across his face.
Argon ensures the goblin's hands are well tied, and wraps some rope around his ankles, together, too, to keep him from running. Then he lifts him up and puts him across his shoulders like he would a sack of potatoes, and starts on the last part of the climb up the path.
"Ssilax, I think the spider bites have got into my blood. Do you have anything for that?". He looks back, stopped in his place for the moment.
" Well we should go, I'll keep on eye out behind us for any more surprises from our new friends. "
"As soon as we clear this area, and lay eyes upon the haunted house, you will be free."
Wrathe offers no other option to the goblin, and starts walking.
"Nothing directly once the poison enters your system," Ssilax says, pulling off one of his gloves to reveal the golden scales that cover his hand. Putting his palm against the Slayer's forehead to gauges his friends temperature, he counts for a few seconds. Observing Argon for a few moments, he nods, mostly to himself.
"I can help you to recover a bit faster, but that would be it. Let me take a minute to bandage your wounds. I'm not bleeding anymore, so, as long as I don't try to hold another line, I should be fine," Ssilax jokes.
The dragonkin looks at the goblin briefly, a bit of a plan stirring in his mind.
Peeling off his other glove, sliding down his cowl, Ssilax tugs his hood over his horns. "Need to see what I'm doing," he mutters mostly to himself. Quickly, the young Theurge digs out his Healer's Kit and begins to work, knowing they were on a bit of a time crunch.
"So, goblin, what is your name?" Ssilax asks the tied up creature as he begins to bandage the Slayer's wounds that were still oozing blood.
Argon thanks Ssilax for his bodily care. "It's kind of like fixing a weapon, except the body's a bit softer and more complex. If you can make it stronger and tougher, that would be great."
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The goblin looks with surprise and maybe horror as Ssilax removes his cowl. "You are.... what are you? My name? My name is Moog. The Wise, because I can speak human."
Once Ssilax finishes up on Argon, the group moves off, up the slope. You are near the top, and you can see the ground below, and sea just beyond it. The town of Blackburn is now visible north of you, since the fog has been burned off by the sun. To the east many miles, you can see the massive Dragon Head rising much higher than you are now. The mountain is currently covered in clouds, but you can see green foliage on its slanted top. And to the southeast you can see the magnificent Ayrtor rising before you, its upper slopes covered in snow, and its layered clouds above.
If you are expecting a flat plain when you reach the top you may be disappointed, as the plateau, though rising vertically above the western half of the island, has a fairly 'regular' landscape with hills, forests, rivers, and probably lakes too. You could easily imagine farmers existing up here, but perhaps the orc and goblins keep the plateau free of growers of vegetables.
Moog points southeast, toward a small forest, and says, "Haunted House over there. Follow the trail."
There is not really much of a trail, as travellers of the path perhaps all have different destinations once they reach the Plateau.
Daxniss resisted the urge to chuckle at the goblin after all, he and his folk had tried to kill them. Still, no one in the group was human, at least some of them were not wholly human to say the least.
Setting aside such thoughts she focus her attention on her surroundings, as it would do little good to be taken unaware again. Daxniss keeps her cross bow loaded for now, the weapon was simple enough but she didn't enjoy using it, as the weapon had been used in the group not to long ago.
Wrathe keeps quiet as Moog was remaining with them long enough to ensure that their location was in fact the theurge they sought, but more importantly to keep the goblins from their heels for as long as was possible.
"I am descended from dragons, Moog the Wise," the young Theurge says as he pulls his cowl back up, replacing his hood and gloves. After a short time walking Ssilax looks at the goblin bouncing on Argon's shoulder. The dragonkin sniffs the air a few times.
"I do not think so," Ssilax says, looking at Moog. With barely a thought, he casts Prestidigitation, cleaning the smell and filth from the Goblin. It takes a couple of casting to remove the smell, but is well worth it. At least to his nostrils.
"So Moog, being truthful, what do you know about the human that was captured?" Ssilax asks.
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Moog is being carried, so though he's expending none of his abundance of goblin energy moving, he is bouncing up and down a little. He winces at the magical effect, or perhaps at the removal of odor, as the prestidigitation does its trick.
"AAAaaaack... The woman.... Mama .... Digger .... is an evil..... wizard .... and lives in...... the haunted house .... which is a .... temple.... The walls ... outside ... talk, ...... curse you when.... you touch..... them.... Now she feeds. ....... ..... spiders, ha... Used to....... feed ... ..... birds...."
Just then Argon 'stumbles' and Moog lands hard on Argon's shoulders, and is winded for a bit.
As you continue, Moog shows you the trail in the woods, and you begin to follow it.
Daxniss hears the words that Moog managed to get out, in between all of his fidgeting and of course, Argon's response to his burden and grins.
Daxniss makes sure that the trail behind them is clear enough, and no goblins or other foes are trying to stalk them.
Fast stealth
Wrathe follows suit with the rogue, concerned that they might be followed by some of the tribe that had fallen behind them.
"So how is this Mama Digger evil? And cursed in what way once the house is touched?" the dragonkin asks. His mind turns over what the goblin had said about the spiders.
Argon continues on the path, wondering what they were going to do with this goblin. He supposes as long as there are goblins near, it will be useful to have him as a hostage and guide.
He keeps his eyes and ears open for any dangers, or watchers.
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The forest is somewhat dark, and would be difficult to navigate, due to the close trees and bushes, fallen branches and logs, and occasional rocks, were it not for the path you follow. You think you are heading southeast, based on glimpses of the sun through the canopy of the trees above you.
Moog seems talkative, and continues. "Evil ... told you, she's ... a wizard. I .... I never touched .... house. YARD is .... haunted too, walls..... Walls speak, and.... scary too.... Moog.... Moog good guide?"
You hear some animal, probably, scream in the forest.
Daxniss nods at Wrathe, glad that he too was looking for a possible tail, and the fact that Argon was looking out for trouble ahead of them.
Wrathe considers the path ahead and behind, judging distances based on what Moog had said before offering in the under tongue, "I believe our newly-found companion should be set free in short order."
Perhaps it would lead to pursuit, but he ever leaned to the side of liberty and autonomy whenever possible.
As always he respects the other's opinions, though they know how doggedly he fights against such oppression (an irony that is not lost on him, consider the magical charms he uses at times) when they are faced with choices.
His last words to Moog, leveraging the fear his tone had created, are ominous ones.
"Should our steps be harried by your kin, or you lay in wait for us a second time...", he pauses for dramatic effect, "I will unleash such magics upon your misbegotten soul that they will ever use your name to represent horrors unimaginable.
Then he politely thanks Moog for acting as their guide, and wishes him well upon his journeys from this day forth.
"Well, it would be nice to have a guide who knows the area like Moog does. Hmmm," Ssilax taps the end of his snout through his cowl. "Perhaps we can work out a deal." The dragonkin says looking over at the goblin.
"What do you think Moog, would you like to be payed for guiding us around? I have gold and food. Perhaps, if you do a good job, I might be able to arrange some ale. What do you think?"
'That, and I would like a direct guide to your camp in case your people captured the person we fled our homes to find," the young Theurge thinks to himself.
"Did anybody have an idea where that noise came from. It sounded like someone screaming." Ssilax comments, looking around the thick undergrowth. At the sight of the foliage pressing in against them, Ssilax sighs. "I miss Storm," he comments quietly to himself and the forest.
Wrathe claps Ssilax on the back, momentarily forgetting about the dragonkin's dislike of physical contact, and offers him a smile form the depths of his cowl. Such an offer fell perfectly in line with his own beliefs.
He stops for a moment, and tries to let his ears locate the direction of the sound they heard.
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The goblin says, "No, I just want to go home..." You are unfamiliar with goblin facial expression, but it's possible he's about to cry.
The sound came from deep within the woods.
Argon places the goblin on the ground, and, holding him, asks, "So, we are letting him go? I was getting tired of carrying him anyhow, and now I smell like goblin." The woods are darker than outside them, of course, but the path is pretty clear.
Daxniss snorts but follows Wrathe's line of thinking quickly, at the very least it would do well enough to for the group to understand what else was waiting for thme
Daxniss had a feeling that it there wasn't that many goblins and that the group could be able to handle them if they were not ambushed. Daxniss shrugs a shoulder letting the others know she didn't have a problem with letting the goblin go.
With no immediate argument from his companion Wrathe steps forward and releases Moog from his bonds.
"Understand that you will be our first target should you seek vengeance for any perceived slight. Cross not our path again Moog, unless you approach as a friend."
Ssilax had flinched when the unexpected pat on the back had come from Wrathe. His body stiffed momentarily at the contact, as if it could shield itself from the contact.
Looking at Wrathe the dragonkin bobs his cowled and hooded head. It was a mix of a nod and a smile.
"Well smelling like a goblin is the first step to being excepted by them. Who knows? You could one day be the leader of your very own tribe." Ssilax says with a quiet chuckle.
Handing the freed Moog a gold coin, Ssilax looks down at the their former guide/captive.
"Your were more helpful then you know, be well Moog." The dragonkin says to the goblin.
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After untying Moog's hands and feet, he steps back, and looks at you with a look of confusion on his face. He takes the gold coin, and smiles, and says, "Thank you. I smelled better before you magicked me..." He bows and scurries off down the direction you came from.
The path continues, and rock outcroppings and small hills abound. The forest is rich with deciduous trees, bushes and other forest plants. Small mammals scurry from your reach, and the occasional spider and snake are seen.
After some time you see a clearing ahead. It is about two hundred feet long, a little less than that wide, and it's surrounded by a short rock wall. A small gate connects it to the path you're on. A few other gates can be seen around the wall. In the clearing is a small structure built of smooth stone. It has an unusual design, as if a potter had done an experiment and then enlarged it. Its smooth walls are curved, and the roof sits at an unlikely angle. Windows occupy unlikely positions all over the 'sides' you can see, and a great door of bronze sits on the front, out of place, it seems. The door is not rectangular, but instead is a four sided polygon with none of the angles right, and none of the sides parallel. Despite its unusual look, or perhaps because of it, it appears inviting and welcoming to Ssilax and Wrathe; and hazardous and foreboding to Argon and Daxniss.