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Kelvin joins in with Cabaguil, bombastic in his retelling of their heroics as he mixes it up with the crowd. "You should have seen the dragon-beast! Huge claws, razor-sharp teeth, and a stench that'll know you flat! But not me, oh no! I leaped in, bashing it's brain with my morningstar. And with hide as thick as it had, you've got to have strength for it to feel it. But feel it, it did! And then Dak and Cuth got their chance to help me. Even the old dwarf here showed up for the fight," he gestures a thumb at Dori. "And when we get back I'm pulling out a tooth to keep as a trophy. I'll show you it!"
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The crowd gasps and grows in excitement as Cabaguil and Kelvin tell stories of their adventure to Hellknight Hill. The town soaks it all in, hanging on every detail. Raspar raises his shield as a couple rotten tomatoes from a nearby cart are flung at the arsonist halfling. Raspar deflects them as they splatter against his shield. Reaching the new temporary Town Hall Raspar opens the door and leads Calmont inside where he hangs his head low.
Greta stands with a look of grim determination on her face. "Guards! She calls out, pointing to Calmont. [b]"Have Calmont placed under arrest and taken to a cell." She stops Calmont as he passes, placing a hand on his chest. "You will be brought before the council and questioned later."
She turns back to Raspar. "Were you able to make contact with the Bumblebrasher Tribe?" She looks curiously at Alak.
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Raspar hasn’t spoken a single word since they started their descent back into town, smiling almost imperceptibly at his companions’ grand retelling of their adventure. But his focus is on protecting the dignity of their prisoner, and he is pleased when he is able to shield him from rotten produce.
When Greta addresses him specifically to ask about what happened, he can’t help but feeling a surge of pride and validation.
He’s eager to tell Grata all they discovered, but he does so in a lowered voice to prevent eavesdroppers from learning what he suspects might be sensitive information.
”Yes, we met the Bumblebrashers! Eight of them are still alive. One was being threatened by Calmont, who wanted to know about the location of a specific ring or something. The tribe is hiding from the monsters in the fortress, and they kept talking of cultists, too. And we ran into this Hellknight, name’s Alek. He’s also looking for a ring,” he explains earnestly as he recalls what happened, though possibly not in the most helpful fashion. He adds, genuinely curious: ”Do you know anything about a ring, Greta? Or can tell us who might have an idea?”
Then he remembers another thing, suddenly spinning around, his eyes scanning the crowd. ”Where’s Warbal? We must tell her about her friends and ask her what she thinks we can do.” He’s determined to help the frightened goblins, and bring them food and supplies from the town so they can be more comfortable during their exile. Maybe he could bring them something to make up for the destroyed larder. ”Also, Greta, do you have any supplies to offer the goblins in their time of need?”
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Greta shakes her head. "I haven't heard anything about a ring there. And I doubt may have. If what you say of this ring holds true then I doubt the Hellknights would have just left the keep willingly. Right?" She looks to Alak, who shrugs. "Was before my time, and as far as I am made aware they have no interest in the summer retreat."
Greta chuckles a bit at the joke. "Yea Warbal has been pacing up and down the road waiting for you to come back. She has been worried and out there since dawn. I'll have a cart of food drawn up to be taking out to the Keep once you give the all clear." Greta draws a good sized leather bag and dumps it onto the table counting out 20 gold pieces. She adds 4 more to the stack to make it an even split. "Ten for contacting Warbal's Tribe. Ten for bringing in Calmont alive and another 2 on top of each for being so fast about it. As promised." Greta also produces a rolled parchment and hands it to you. At the bottom it is signed by the council. "That will get you a discount on equipment around Breachhill for the services you provided today."
"Thank you, that's very generous of you - and much appreciated! We're going to rest, have a spot of lunch, and head back up there ourselves for a delve into the basements to help our new found friends." he smiles warmly, collecting the cash and doling it out.
Cabaguil turns to the others, "I have need of a few things about town, but let's have lunch first, and see what we can do for our injuries. Kelvin, you and Alak are the worst off, so we should start with you first. I think a few of us can heal, but I'll start with Alak. Sir, come with me and let's fix you up a bit."
vs DC 15 (likely)
additional healing
"There, that should do the trick!" Cabaguil smiles glowingly.
Over lunch, he chats with the group, "So I'm in a bit of a jam, and was wondering if one of you could help me out. I need to pick up an alchemy kit, and some documents - formulas really. But the lab will be heavy, and I can't quite carry it along with all my other gear. At least not that and keep up the pace with you gentlefolk. Can one of you carry some stuff for me, it'd be a great help!"
"After lunch, I suggest we collect anything we need in town, and meet back at the fire. We can head back up from there. Agreed?"
Raspar’s hand trembles he swiftly divides the coins on the table into equal piles, one for himself and the others for his companions to take. He’s practically overcome with gratitude – for Greta’s approval, for the safe delivery of their prisoner, for the opportunity to serve the town… and for the chance to bring Warbal what must be news much better than she feared.
He turns to look for the goblin ambassador. Once he spots her, he will hurry over to share what they now know about the state of the citadel and the goblin tribe, and he won’t forget to also ask her opinion regarding this odd ring business that everyone up on the hill seems so obsessed with.
”Your tribe is fine. Mostly fine, just a bit shook up,” Raspar approaches with a joyful smile before launching to explain what happened.
”...and so we brought Calmont back here and intend to return to clear out the monsters. I think the others are coming back to help too, but if they don’t we have an almost verified Hellknight with us to help us, we do.” Raspar adds the last to help assure Warbal of their chances to rid the area of monsters. He waits for Warbal to ask questions before continuing.
”And so do you know anything about the ring or elf gates?”
Cuthberwyn takes the coins silently but quite willingly.
Like Dori, Cuth accompanies Raspar to visit Warbal. He lets the halfling do the lion's share of the talking while he sits back and observes. Fascinating creatures, goblins,[/]i he thinks to himself. [i]Why, look at the manner in which her eyes moisten at the story, and the way she picks Raspar up in a bear hug, overcome with emotion but not really knowing quite how to express herself. Yes, yes, this is excellent.
He makes sure to mention, if Raspar does not, that Helga and the tribe wanted to remain in the forest while the group goes about the task of clearing the catacombs out.
Without anything in particular to shop for at this time, he keeps the coins in his belt pouch, rather happy with the way they clink more heavily than silver. Giddy from the coin and from meeting the Bumblebrashers, he is much too excited to eat and makes his way back to the fire site well before any of the others arrive.
As Dori leaves with Raspar and Cuth, Kelvin leaves with Cabaguil. During lunch he says, "If you need help carrying stuff, the old dwarf will do it. Just tell him it's for helping to heal others and his 'honour' will kick in. He can't help it. Dori is all about doing good." You get a sense that Kelvin is both proud and derisive of this fact.
"Beer please!" he shouts, a smile on his face. "And Cabaguil, you just let me know when I should stop to let you check over the bruises. I've had worse, but still. Best of make sure nothing's broken."
Dak skips the public conversations, approaching Raspar after, "Thank you for connecting the threads between the tribe and the town. Such matters typically don't occur to me. I'm far more interested in the aiudara."
After taking the reward with a bow, Dak joins Kelvin. "I too am looking to prepare for a tougher fight."
Cabaguil looks Kelvin over as they lunch, "Yes, yes - of course! I shall certainly tend to your wounds, here, let me take a look at you!"
He goes over Kelvin carefully, and does what he can with his kit.
vs DC 15 (likely)
As he works he comments further, dropping into Dwarven, "Spasibo za predlozheniye sil'noy spiny Dori. YA mog by zastavit' yego nesti moi meditsinskiye prinadlezhnosti. Oni tyazhelyye i zaputannyye. YA sproshu yego, kogda on voydet. Spasibo!"
- - -
Seeing he isn't getting anywhere, he keeps working, taking forever as he yammers on, switching back to the easier common tongue as he concentrates.
vs DC 15 (likely)
"So what brings your brother and you here? Is he your brother? I don't know why I assumed that, I just did. I mean it's not as if you look alike or anything. You're very different of course. Different beards."
When he's done healing all comers, he says, "Give me just a moment while I pop off and pick up some gear. I'll be back directly!"
He rushes to the alchemy supply shop and picks up Alchemist's Tools (5gp, 1). Overly burdened he looks for dwarven aid, waiting for Dori and the others to rejoin the group.
While he waits, he infuses an Alchemist’s Fire (lesser), two Bottled Lightning (lesser), and a Frost Vial (lesser).
"Hah! Yeah, we're definitely not brothers. Dori's a long time friend of the family. He was best man at my parents wedding, and was a regular fixture around my home when I was growing up. He's a good sort, and insisted on coming when I told him I was coming here."
Kelvin pauses, considering his next few words. It's obvious to Cabaguil that he wants to hold back. He lets out a sigh, surprised to have been holding his breath. "As to why we're here... Well, it's going to sound odd. You see, ever since I was a wee one I've had problems with sleep. Lots of nightmares. My folks never thought too much about it, but I'm forty-three now and I remember over three decades worth of nightmares. All sporadic, but similar. Fire, and lots of it. Odd, right? So one day I stumble across a book Dori had on various religions, open to a page on Dahak. He's a dragon god, and is all about destruction. Real bad news kind of dragon god, you know? And I just couldn't shake the feeling that there was some kind of connection."
He takes a long drink from his mug, puts it down empty, and wipes the foam from his beard. "So I get to studying. Reading up on religions of all sorts, but really focusing on Dahak. And then one day my dreams get a little clearer. I see something: the town of Breachill burning. It took a bit for me to figure out that it was Breachill, but it was. So I told Dori, and the old dwarf starts talking about fate and destiny. Which is fine but... Bugger all that. If this happens, people will die."
He leans back in his chair, all seriousness leaving him. "But hey, good news is I'm here now. Going to save you all and be a hero forever to this town. Maybe get a statue erected! Ha!"
Addendum to above:
Before heading to the fire site, Cuthberwyn makes a side trip back to the Breachill Archives to ask about Alseta's Ring. Anything he learns in a short time, he will bring back to the group. If a short time isn't enough but the archivist is willing, Cuth will pay for research to be done while the group returns to Citadel Altaerein.
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Raspar easily finds Warbal pacing the streets and tracks her down. She looks very relieved as she is caught up on the current events. Of in the distance you notice the signal fires for distress from her tribe going out one by one. She picks Raspar up in a bearhug.
"Rings?" Warbal looks honestly confused. "Never heard of an Elf Ring. Is it shiny? I bet it is. Rings are always shiny. But there are no shiny rings down in that vault according to that Tribe. But there are rooms even deeper, and Crypts too. They never go there so maybe the ring is there."
*****************************************************************
Meanwhile Cabaguil spends sever hours bandaging up the wounded as they discuss their histories and what brought them to Breachhill in the first place.
Cuthberwyn does a little bit of research at the archives where he finds a one Jorell Blacktusk, a half-orc Chief Archivist. he seems happy to find even the most obscure records and seems woefully understaffed. he has militaristic records dating back to the town's involvement in the Goblin-Blood Wars, as well as the Order of the Nails presence at Hellknight Hill. these records seem rather formal and official compared to the more personal recollections on the main repository.
There is nothing official found in the Archives concerning Alseta's Ring. No mention of it at all. Though Ðakaþos knows that the elves consider Alseta, goddess of doorways, to be the unofficial patron deity of elf gates.
Cuthberwyn (25/28)
Kelvin (29/30)
Cabaguil (22/22)
Dori (23/23)(Need level 2 info)
Raspar (28/28)
Alak
Ðakaþos (28/28)
Cabaguil listens to Kelvin’s story with rapt attention. ”Wow, that’s very impressive! A series of dreams about dragon fire huh? Geeze, I hope we don’t run into anything so dangerous as that!” He laughs at such a notion.
”I’m sorry. I do not laugh at your dreams good sir dwarf, just at the idea that we will stand between a dragon and the town. I mean, sure, we’ve done well, but a dragon! I just can’t imagine it.” Grinning further he ads, ”But if you will stand there, I will stand there with you. I’d rather be burned to a crisp defending the town, then burned to a crisp hiding under my bed. I’m dead either way, but I can face my ancestors with honor in only one of those instances.”
When the rest of the group rejoins them, he goes up to Dori, ”Sir, your brethren Kelvin suggested you might be amenable to carrying my medical supplies. I could really use the help if I’m to keep up with the group.”
After that conversation is concluded, he turns to the others, ”We’ve a few hours of daylight left, I say we head back up that Hill and see what can be found below. I’ve some bombs now, and I’m eager to try them out! That tanglefoot bag wasn’t much, but then I didn’t expect much out of it. Some of these other concoctions are kinda cool. We’ll see if they make me more effective… or less!”
He’s ready to head back up to the fortress today for another delve, if only a brief one. If we head back, let's check out the front door/gatehouse area first. We can enter from the back and see what's there. Maybe, if we're lucky, we can clear out the rest of the upper structure today, then start in on the underground bits in the morning. Cabaguil is fine though if folks want to start underground right away. He's just happy to be exploring.
"Don't forget Alak's wounds. We'll need him hale for the journey to come."
Ðakaþos checks out the armor and weapons. He eyes some heavy armor, but a quick heft of his money back dissuades him from getting excited. Soon.
Raspar nods briefly at Ðakaþos, smiling sincerely at the towering elf. He’s still somewhat suspicious of the two dwarfs… well, mostly that more impulsive one who goes by Kelvin. But they seem to have their heart in the right place, and he vows to continue to believe in their honor and goodness, and to lead by example.
After leaving Warbal, Raspar takes a brief moment to think about all the things he has to do before the party returns to the citadel. He has coins in his pocket, much more than before (and more than he’s ever had), and a full town to spend it in.
He runs to Lamond’s Lament, dropping off 5 silver pieces to Renatta, with the request that if any of his goblin friends stop by for help that she feed them. They might stop by, especially if the party fails to stop the monsters, and wants to make sure they are fed. ”I hear they like spiders, Renatta. Just so you know,” Raspar adds, sharing all that he knows about goblin dietary preferences.
Then he moves to Quarters and Bits to buy some supplies. Greeting the halfling proprietor, Raspar begins to shop for what he needs before going back: mostly a nice picnic and care package for the displaced goblins. ”Might be cold in those woods, Crink. I need to feed eight homeless goblins for the night...what do you have to help?” Raspar will begin to load up his shield like a shopping basket with goods and foods for the trip back, including a nice spreading blanket. He buys...
”I tells you, Crink, there is some trouble up there on the ‘Hill. But we’ll try to make it right, we will. Monsters might make the road unsafe. Need to make sure things are safe,” Raspar offers as he pulls down some halfling rations onto his carrying shield. He adds a large sack to his purchases so he can carry all the goods, and even a nice bottle-vase - because in a civilized society, décor can make all the difference when judging the success of a crunchy spider picnic.
When Alak arrives at the designated meeting place, Cuthberwyn notices his wounds. My good sir! I apologize for not paying attention before! Let me see to those, with your leave.
for
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Raspar is smiling as he carries his large back to the party, ready to return to the ‘Hill. On the way back, he will stop whenever he sees any forest flowers to pluck a few nice ones and puts them into his bottle-vase, careful not to over-harvest from any one spot.
When he gets to back to the ‘Hill, he will set up a nice picnic spot for his goblin friends, laying out the rations upon the blanket near some place that might offer a nice view. He unpacks halfling rations, and human rations, and some fresh fruit. He even has a bit of cheese and honey, because those belong in a picnic from what he knows.
He’s about to call out to the goblins when he remembers the most important part. With a look of worry, he runs back into the Hellknight’s fort to find the packages of spiders that he packed earlier and brings them out and adds them to the feast.
”Helba! HELBA!? WE’RE BACK!! WARBAL SAYS ‘HI’!!!” Raspar yells, trying to find his goblin friends. ”I BROUGHT A PICNIC!! THERE ARE FRESH SPIDERS TOO!!”
He waits, smiling for the goblins to come. He rocks on his heels in delighted anticipation.
When they are eating and found and safe, he will don his shield and be ready to enter the fort again to fight the monsters.
”You stay out here where it is safe. I’ll go bleed for you,” Raspar says with a cheery, ardent smile on his face. When the others are ready and once he knows the secret entrance, we will go down.
Cuthberwyn watches Raspar in curiosity as the halfling spreads a blanket down, but quickly picks up on the reasoning and, with a smile, lends a hand. He accidentally-on-purpose puts his thumb in the honey pot as he moves it, and that will just have to be licked off, now, won't it?
When he looks up and sees that Raspar has picked up yesterday's dead spiders, he raises a finger to intervene, but the look on Raspar's face of pure joy makes him think otherwise: why spoil his moment with suchj petty details? Besides, it will be interesting to see whether the goblins like the delicacy or not.
Cabaguil isn’t sure about the spiders, but he tries his conversational goblin, calling out when they get close, ”Txais tos thiab lus ceeb toom!”
- - -
He’s happy to let Raspar be their contact with the little folk, he’s more their height after all. Probably comes across as less threatening. As they get closer, he starts to carry one of his flasks of bottled lightning, just in case.
"So, are we going to the secret entrance today, or finishing checking out the rest of the fort first? I suspect the fort won't take long, but there's probably nothing else there too. Still, I am kinda curious..."
In the end, he leaves it up to the group to decide.
Dak is happy to let someone else be the liaison, he has no patience for it. "Let us complete the obvious before plumbing the depths of the hidden."
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One by one the goblins emerge from the woods. Some sniffing their noses high in the air as they smell the food. One of the goblins scamers over, grabbing the blanket and tears a large bit out of it before smiling at Raspar. "This good!" He pats his tum-tum. Another's tongue caresses the honeypot, all around the edges before he spits it back out inside the jar. "Bleh!" Seeing the spiders the goblin grows excited, grabs a handful and dunks it back into the honey, triple dipping his spit-stew and eats the spiders. "That's better."
Warbal wraps Raspar in another bearhug. "Thank you, Thank you! We haven't eaten good in days."
With the goblins eaten Cabaguil distracts Helba long enough with conversation for Raspar to wriggle free from her grasp to take a look for this entrance that Helba described earlier. It's not overly difficult to find with Helba's assistance earlier. A particularly well hidden secret door is built into the hillside just west of the central tower.
Cuthberwyn (28/28)
Kelvin (29/30)
Cabaguil (22/22)
Dori (23/23)(Need level 2 info)
Raspar (28/28)
Alak
Ðakaþos (28/28)
Raspar is feeling overjoyed. He's grateful for the gnome's help in setting up a picnic for the goblins, and now that he's watched them tuck in and turn his offerings — even the items he didn't know they'd consider edible — into a feast to be devoured makes his heart sing. Those poor, persecuted goblins, happy and content at last...
Though he is eager to go ahead and rid their home of threatening creatures, he nods to Dak, indicating that he will follow or lead towards exploring the upper map before heading to the secret door.
Rasp will open the south door when others are ready.
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Leaving the goblins to their spidery picnic as the group heads back into the Fort. Alak stretches. "This luxurious palace is bigger than I imagined." Raspar opens the door to the main foyer very quietly.
Battered, reinforced doors hang ajar at this main entrance to Citadel Altaerein, once the headquarters of the Hellknight Order of the Nail. Above the doorframe, a tarnished seal depicting a sunburst made of nails but clear line of carved text.
The large room beyond is a cluttered amalgamation of a formal receiving parlor and a ruined husk. Dented, rusted, and otherwise ruined suits of outdated Hellknight armor line the north and south walls; each display is leaning or entirely tipped over and missing its helmet, gauntlets, boots, or other pieces (these still-functional elements were looted long ago). Broken furniture is scattered about the area, as are what look like the half-chewed carcasses of several small prey animals. A wide but dirty stretch of black carpet leads to two large doors, one to the northwest and one to the southwest. Scuffs on the walls indicate where valuable paintings or framed documents once hung.
Though more importantly five large, blunt-nosed rodents with thin bodies and long legs, that resemble dogs are in the room. Some padding along quietly while other nip at each other with teeth bared. Several of the dogs raise their heads as the door opens. Their backs hunched, they growl low.
Goblin dogs! Cuthberwyn says. Well, not dogs at all, actually, but that's what they're called. Typically pets of goblins, after a fashion, though these appear feral, not domesticated. They're actually rodents, not canines, you know, by classification. Which I suppose is rather academic and more or less besides the point.
Cabaguil snorts as Alak praises the building, "She's got good bones sure. But luxurious? Not currently." He smiles.
Following the others he's surprised at the rodents, he very nearly summons fire, but as they haven't charged as yet, he holds off. He looks to the others, "Goblin dogs? Anyone know what to do with them?"
He tries, in goblin, a phrase or two to see if they're trained. He's pretty much just making it up as he goes along with 'sit', 'stay', 'down' floating out among other gibberish sounding words.
He watches carefully for a reaction from the dogs.
Raspar looks at Cuth, slowly closing the door so the party can talk about it.
"Are they pets for the goblins? Dangers? Should we go ask?" Rasp asks Cuth who seems to know things. "We should go ask, right? I bet Helba would know what they think."
If given time, he will march out and ask Helba if the dogs are pets, potential pets, threats, or something else (food?), and what they want done with them.
"It would be rather gauche to kill the dogs if they're the pets of the tribe Raspar." Dak is willing to wait a bit for Raspar's report.
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Cuthberwyn identifies the animals as goblin dogs. The dogs danger creates harmful allergic reactions to most living around them.
Goblins’ eponymous pets aren’t true canines at all, but rather large, blunt-nosed rodents with thin bodies and long legs. As cowardly as they are ugly, goblin dogs prefer to lurk behind bushes or in deep shadows, pouncing upon lone or wounded prey. Goblin dogs frequently lair and roam in packs, but they are likely to flee from a fight if injured, even if it means abandoning their pack-mates. Goblin dogs take their name from their long association with goblins, who breed the beasts as guard animals and mounts. Most goblins take issue with the name, as the average goblin is appalled at the suggestion that these, their favored mounts, have anything at all to do with actual dogs. Of course, being goblins, they haven’t bothered to come up with their own, unique name for goblin dogs.
Even the most pampered goblin dogs have itchy mange and prolific dander that tenaciously affects those who come in contact with them. This “goblin pox” causes itchy hives and festering sores that are as unsightly as they are irritating and distracting. Goblin dog dander causes allergic reactions in nearly all other creatures that don’t share the goblin dogs’ terrible hygiene—with the notable exception, of course, of goblins, who remain entirely immune to the disease regardless of cleanliness.
Hunger can drive goblin dogs to bouts of uncharacteristic violence; many goblins purposefully starve their pets to make them more aggressive in battle. Goblin dogs subsist on whatever organic material they can scavenge, and they particularly enjoy fresh carrion. Although goblins are far from picky eaters, they value goblin dogs as pets because the noisome animals will consume food that even goblins won’t dare to eat. “Will it eat?” is one of several games goblins enjoy playing with their goblin dog pets, where a wide range of mouth-sized morsels (not always edible or safe to consume) are dangled before a goblin dog’s snout. “Will it die?” is often a game played after “Will it eat?” Goblin dogs who survive the second game earn renown for their digestive prowess and often become favored tribal pets treated better than most of the rank-and-file goblins.
Cabaguil watches the dogs reactions. From what he can tell the group simply caught them off guard while they were resting. Raspar closes the door as the goblin dogs begin to get up and close the distance. As the door shuts Raspar heads growling and clawing on the opposite side.
As the group waits Raspar marches outside and finds the goblins have the feast spread all over the ground, most of it eaten. Several of the goblins lay in the grass, their stomachs bulging from the food as the snore. Shaking one Helba awake she listens to Raspar about the dogs. She rubs her eyes. "Yea, they stay around. Guard the doors." The goblin explains, even though several of the walls are collapsed to allow other entry points. She looks at you confused. "You just have to know how to handle them and they will follow you." Standing up the goblin seems a similar height. "You ride them if want. Food helps." Helba smiles, pleased with herself, fully believing to have fixed Raspar's situation as she wipes dead spiders from her cheek.
"How do you handle them?" Dak's tone is poorly contained disdain... but contained nonetheless.
Raspar trots back to the party to inform them what the goblins told them.
"We don't need to harm them," Raspar smiles, relating what the goblins told him. "They are friends to the goblins, might even protect them when needed. There are other, truer monsters to face, no doubt."
With that and when others are ready, he will pad to the next door and open it at an appropriate time.
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A judge’s bench, a witness stand, and councilors’ tables are the only remaining indication of this room’s previous use as a formal courtroom. Benches have long ago been smashed to fragments and strewn about the gallery, covering the floor of the room in debris. Through several empty doorways to the north, a large, ragged opening in the citadel’s wall is visible—along with what appears to be a corpse wearing silvery armor, lying on a muddy lump in the center of a pool of water that has filled much of the collapsed section.
Alak looks around. "This courtroom was used for large public trials usually of bandits or other petty villains who had caused harm."
Cabaguil agrees with the others, "Yes, let's leave the dogs alone. The goblins can tend to 'em after we've left. I about there's anything of value in there anyway. I can't seem to control 'em, but probably don't know the right terms or inflection."
He looks into the next chamber, "Do a lot of judging did they? Quite an impressive room."
When Dori quips in, he chuckles, "Well there is that, but surely not all diabolists are evil. Perhaps some good was done after all. Petty criminals are often the bane of small communities."
He drifts back a bit, "We should try this door next, I'd hate to leave it behind us in case there's something there." he gestures to the door he's nearest on the map - the diagonal door.
"Agreed." If Ðakaþos heard the discussion, he didn't acknowledge it. Instead he moves to the door Cabaguil points out. "Seems safe."
He then opens the door.
Kelvin ignores the prejudicial comment from Dori, especially since it's nothing new to him. He walks up to the door with Dak, knowing that he has better eyes than the elf when it comes to traps.
"No offense meant, elf. But if you've never worked with traps before you're not going to have an easy time finding them."
"None taken dwarf. Skulduggery isn't my style."
Raspar, shield on his left arm, waits on the threshold of the courtroom for the team to open the side door. His thoughts turn to the goblin dogs and how nice it must be to have pets and friends like that. He smiles more fully at the joy and rapture of friendship. I would bleed for them.
If nothing exciting happens in the room that Dak/Kelvin open, Raspar will move up into the trashed room with 3 doors and ready to open the left door when others are ready.
Perception (trashy room)
Raspar isn’t skulking about, but just doesn’t make a lot of noise as he moves, as smiling has few auditory elements.
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Raspar and Ðakaþos open doors simultaneously to the same waiting room. Once-plush crimson curtains hang in tatters on the walls, and scuffs reveal places where portraits once hung. Trash and rotted food lie in heaps on the floor like tiny moldering corpses. Open doors lead to north, northeast, and southwest.
A glint of gold catches Alak's eyes near the murky water. he kneels down across the way and points. "There look. There on the body in armor. Gold gleamed in the sunlight. Hard to believe the goblins missed as much."
Cuthberwyn (28/28)
Kelvin (29/30)
Cabaguil (22/22)
Dori (23/23)(Need level 2 info)
Raspar (28/28)
Alak
Ðakaþos (28/28)
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"Whoah there Alak, good eye. True enough too, the goblins likely wouldn't have missed this. Careful. It might be trapped."
Cabaguil joins Alak searching for traps in the water or on the body, maybe by taking some debris and moving things around at a distance.
Supremely confident he's found every trap there is to be found, he reaches for the glimmer to see what it is.
Cuthberwyn watches Cabaguil reach for the glittery goodness in anticipation.
"What are... Wait!" Kelvin manages to exclaim before it's too late to stop Cabaguil.
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Cabaguil moves a few stones around, so as not to get submerged in the water. Hanging over on his knees he strains to reach for the gold piece. Pulling on one of the skeletal bones it falls loose and the gold dips into the water below.
The “muddy lump” in the middle of the pool to the north is in fact a dangerous ambush predator—a turtle-like beast that emerges as murky water and coins fling up to the surface. The corpse is that of a former victim impaled on one of the several large spikes protruding from its shell. Aside from its shell, the monster resembles no known animal. Small but bright yellow eyes watch from the sagging flesh of its head, the most prominent feature of which is a curiously shaped, toothy maw twisted into a perpetual grin. Its stubby arms and legs are impractical for both walking and swimming.
A second turtle-like beast rises to the surface as the first stirs, awakening its slumber.
Cuthberwyn (28/28)
Kelvin (29/30)
Alak
Dori (23/23)(Need level 2 info)
Ðakaþos (28/28)
Cabaguil (22/22)
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Turtle
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Raspar (28/28)
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Dori sees Kelvin's reaction and knows something is wrong. "Raspar!if you wanted to bled, here's your opportunity!" He flies towards the turtles and positions himself to defend the human.
"Get behind me! My shield will protect you."
Action 1:stride
Action 2:stride
Action 3:swing! on green
Resistance on next attack:4
Ðakaþos strides forth boldly, "Dammit!" He steps forward and casts a quick spell of shield before approaching any further.
Round: 1
Weapon Equipped: Lesser flask of bottled lightning
Conditions: None
Spooky: 10/10hp, Fast Movement, Life Link
Spells Spell attack +8 (T), Spell DC’s 18 (T)
Bloodline Focus: Diabolic Edict* (Focus Points: 1/1)
Cantrips: Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Produce Flame*, Read Aura
First Level: (3/4) Charm*, Heal, Magic Weapon, Purify Food and Drink
Infusions
Alchemist’s Fire (lesser),
Cabaguil immediately tosses his bottled lightning, in a sort of panic, throwing it at the back of the red one if he can, so the all powerful Dori don’t get splashed (•>).
& flat footed plus 1 splash to target and all w/in 5’
He then backs away from the creatures which so suddenly appeared before him (•>), ”Whoah! Check it out folks.”
Then, breathing hard, he’ll take an unjaundiced eye to try and identify it (•>).
Action 1: Stride
Action 2: Stride
Action 3: Strike
"ARRRRGH!" Kelvin shouts as he rushes forward to get into melee. He puts himself directly in front of one of the creatures while swinging his morningstar at the other.
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Kelvin stomps through the shallow waters and swings his morningstar into the turtle's head. It recoils a bit as Alak moves in to back up the dwarves. "Nice hit!" He calls out. Dori proves just as effective as his waraxe cleaves into the turtle's eye.
Cabaguil panics and tosses the bottled lightning at the overgrown spiked turtles. Though the bottle misses a blast of electricity arcs across the water and their shells, injuring the pair slightly.
Cabaguil still isn't quite sure what the pair of spiny turtles are.
Cuthberwyn (28/28)
Kelvin (29/30)
Alak
Dori (36/36)
Ðakaþos (28/28)
Cabaguil (22/22)
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Turtle (Red -14) (Green -11)
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Raspar (28/28)