"Me?" Indrick blinked, surprised at the question. "Erm, I can sing. I also know a few magic tricks, if that would help any..."
While the magic could possibly be of use to the impeding trike on the arguing goblins, Indrick wasn't exactly sure how singing of all things would be of any help. Maybe to lift spirits or provide an annoying distraction, but he didn't know if he could apply it to any real practical use. "Shall I sing us a merry tune to keep our spirits armored against the wicked beasties?"
Tochi’s eyes flew wide when he felt the relatively small hand land firmly on his______. "Woah!" He says surprised trying to keep his volume down all the same. It caused him to jump a good distance and nearly landed him in the fountain itself had he not caught himself. He laughed heartily with the halfling until he turned his head and met the gaze of Mina square on. The look she was giving him was reminiscent of the glares he would get from his mother coming home covered in mud and holding a broken practice sword after a spar with his father.
His laughter died on his lips and he cleared his throat a couple times, rubbing the back of his head and feeling like that guilty child all over again. "Yea, I think a song would be a good idea, Indrick. Though for the sake of keeping the element of surprise, maybe it would be best to begin as we commence the fight, rather than before."
Baris sidles up to Indrick, motions for him to bend down, and whispers into Indrick ear,"Indrick, see Mina there, she looks like her god died or something, if you can cheer her up things would be better, see if you can inspire her with a song of Erastil, now of course wait until we get a jump on those despoilers, get your bow out for now."
If he does not comply Baris will make quick short statments after each jump...
Sefyr giggles are her friend's antics. Let's start with the color spray. It's harder to keep it from hitting friends later on. Nothing permanent, but bad enough in a fight.
Thinking about it a bit, I'll rushed them from where Baris and I were spying before. Tochi and Bladecatcher, please be right behind me. I can disable them, but little else.
[/spoiler=DM][/spoiler]
"Bladecatcher, Tochi, Mina, Indrict, are you all ready? Yes, then let's do this, after Sefyr."
While trying to make the move out there to surprise attack the Goblins, Sefyr trips over her own foot, and then Wilhelmina trips over her, both starting to fall to the ground.
Sefyr falls while Wilhelmina barely manages to stay on here feet. As the rest of you file in behind, you can see the walls of this large cavern are covered with crude drawings of goblins. In the southwest corner is a throne made from animal bones, with a goblin wearing a crown of bones and feathers. Six more goblins are nearby, arguing violently and shoving each other. The goblin on the throne appears annoyed, and is covering his ears as the four other goblins shove and scream at each other.
With all the commotion, the one who appears to be their chief sees you and jumps out of his throne. The other goblins immediately stop talking, turn, and stare at the intruders. The chief composes himself walks to the head of the small group of goblins, and attempts to impress his goblin minions by addressing the scary adventurers in a loud voice, saying, He stands there, waiting for your response, while the other goblins look on. They do not look like they’re getting ready to fight.
Tochi had meant to lead the charge into the next room, but when Sefyr and Mina ended up tripping over their own feet they managed to get ahead of him, and when Sefyr landed prone on the floor Tochi quickly weaved his way around Baris and into the front beside the girl laying prone on the floor. He brought his weapon to the ready, the butt braced against his back foot so that he could reach one hand down to help Sefyr up.
Baris elbows Indrick, "You're on music man".
"My god is not dead," said Wilhelmina as though she had heard Baris's whispering to Indrick (though she hadn't), "and neither am I." I still have a job to do here, and I'm going to do it.
They were moving before Wilhelmina could even voice her objection to Sefyr going first, as the young girl was the least-armored of them all and still wounded. This whole time since they entered the cave, Sefyr did not seem to have learned from the prior ambush, judging from the way she kept scouting off on her own. True, she was never straying too far from the group, but she'd been right next to them when the first wave of goblins had attacked and wounded her almost badly enough to put her in critical condition.
Next thing she knew, she was struggling to stay upright, and facing down a room full of seven goblins. She didn't even have time to blame it on the now-prone Sefyr, and probably wouldn't even if she had, since that color spray spell of hers would have worked great right here.
When the goblin king proclaimed himself as such, Wilhelmina knew that there was probably no getting out of a fight with him, since he was the one who had ordered the other goblins to attack them (according to the escaped goblin's testimony), and was probably also in league with Black Fang.
Still, with the goblins not immediately moving to attack, Wilhelmina believed she could buy the group time to get in better combat position and give Sefyr a moment to get up if she talked to them first. Quickly moving to stash her sling in its harness, she spoke. "Have mercy, o king!" She was asking mercy in courteousness rather than fear, as she evidenced by the polite but strong tone of voice she took. "We have stumbled into your presence, literally, by accident. We are but pilgrims who came to pay homage to the shrine of Desna in yonder room. " Hearing Baris's prompting of Indrick, she thought she could use that to her advantage. "In fact, we would ask the opportunity to thank you for your hospitality with a gift of music."
Indrick couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the others' eagerness to have him sing. "Uh, right then." At Baris' quiet request for a song to Erastil, Indrick pulled a face but nodded regardless. Riiiiight. Erastil wasn't the sort of god who invoked a lot of songs, but he could probably improvise something on the fly. Probably.
The charge was.... not quite a success. In some ways it was, as the goblins were, in fact, quite surprised. Indrick couldn't help but be surprised himself, as he watched Sefyr tumble to the ground in front of his eyes. Ouch. That had to hurt the ego, if nothing else.
He was quick to regain his senses, if nothing else. Hard to miss that if you had a self-proclaimed goblin lord screeching at you.
"We..." he began, hastily trying to think of a plausible lie. "Well, we are adventurers of sorts! I am a great collector of songs," Which was, in fact, something of a truth. "I have heard that you and your... Fatmouth Tribe, I believe? Well, if rumor has it, I am to believe that your tribe has some of the greatest goblin songs in the region." Indrick proceeded to flash his most winning of smiles. "I am most interested in learning a few of them, your great goblin-ness. Sir."
"Of course," he added hastily as the cleric spun a tale of her own, "As my lovely friend here has pointed out, I would be more than pleased to give you a demonstration of my musical talents as proof."
Baris clenches his teeth, not liking the lieing, whispering a death whisper, "Get some info or I will start killing..."
Looking back and forth between Wilhelmina and Indrick, King Fatmouth broke out into a big, toothy smile. "Me pleased to be talked at with respect. Many mine minions could learn from tall adventurers, even clumsy white lady!" With that all the goblins broke out into uproarious laughter. Then King Fatmouth raised his hand and they all fell silent again. "Me sister Bucktooth stole dragon toy. Her missing now. These idiots too scared to go find toy. If you go find toy, me let you live. And me let you go through throne room as much as you want!"
King Fatmouth turns to Indrick, smiling even bigger. "You gather songs? Goblins have many great songs, great lyrical history of music." He pokes the Goblin immediately to his left. "You, sing for man Goblin Terror Song, in C#." Pointing back at Indrick, "You sing next to goblins, pretty song of war!"
The goblin next to Fatmouth steps up, clears his throat, and begins to sing in a horrible, throaty, garbled tone while the other goblins sway along and mouth the words, watching for your reactions.
You will cry and you will moan
Goblins come into your home
Goblins hide where you can’t hear
Goblins pounce and bite your ear
Goblins hide when longshanks come
Goblins smart and you be dumb
Goblins hide where you can’t see
You can’t run and you can’t flee
You will scream and you will run
Goblins chase you down for fun
Goblins hide where you can’t spy
Goblins snatch and gouge your eye
Goblins creep and Goblins crawl
Goblins come when baby bawls
Goblins hide where you can’t find
Upon you flesh we goblins dine
When he finishes, all eyes go to Indrick.
He did not expect their little lie to go so well.
Even as the halfling hissed angrily at him, Indrick managed to maintain his smile as the goblin burst into... well, it wasn't the worst song he had heard, but it was mighty close. "Well sung, my little friend!" Indrick even managed to applaud. Every effort counts, right? They seemed mighty pleased by it, at the very least. "I am sure it brings terror to all your foes!"
Terror to one's eardrums, more like.
As the goblin king demanded a song from him, Indrick made a slight bow, taking a half-step forward. He shot Baris a look, hoping that he could buy enough time so that the others could move into position should things turn ugly.
"A song of war? Well, I am no master in war songs, but this one may suit your fancy..."
"♪Our land is brave
Our land is strong
The banners e'er shall wave!
The soldiers sing beneath their flag
As they march to Crusade.
For on the edge of our great land,
the demons laugh and shriek.
They wait for man's great heart to fail
so they can crush the weak!
Ho! Noble patriot,
Join us in the war!
With Mendev's bold crusaders
as we fight the demon horde!♪"
It was not a song Indrick knew very well. He had to improvise on a few points of the song, stumbling ever so slightly on the lyrics of the old crusader song half-remembered from a particularly heavy night of drinking. It seemed to fit together well enough. But would the goblins enjoy it? That was the immediate question that concerned him.
Bladecatcher stands next to Baris, his arms crossed against his chest, his axe nestled in the crook of one arm.
"Patience, my short friend," he murmurs to Baris. "I have no taste for double-talk, but let them parlay. Remember our true foe."
King Fatmouth stood there for a few seconds, everyone watching and waiting. Then he broke out into his biggest, toothiest smile yet. "King Fatmouth is very pleased! Song very wonderful, especially part about crushing weak!" With that King Fatmouth smashes his fist downward into his palm, making a grinding motion and laughing to himself.
Then he looked up, "Will brave adventurer longshanks go get dragon toy? If you help us, me help you how to beat big mean thing in other room." You can see the eyes of all the goblins light up at the mention of the toy.
Baris looks miserable, shoulders down, arms crossed but he is waiting... patiently... for now.
To know of what Baris is thinking:
Red-faced with embarresment, Sefyr quickly stands up, nudging Wilhelmina as she does, Pardon me. Sorry about that. trying to get herself into a better position.
Tochi had difficulty keeping himself from laughing during the goblin's song, as it was a few snorts might have escaped him, but thankfully it appeared that none of the goblins had noticed with their attention so rapt on Indrick. As Indrick sung Tochi instead listened intently, both to appreciate the other man's voice as well as the song of battle that he sung. Tochi had always been fond of battle tunes and those capable of raising morale by singing them. He hoped someday to be able to inspire others, though it wouldn't be through song.
Though he found lying distasteful, considering that the lies were keeping them from what could be a messy fight and had won them the information and possibly assistance to the Black Fang, he held his tongue.
Sefyr, you get up without incident. You can tell these goblins have no intention of fighting, unless they have to.
The goblin's song sounded like something Wilhelmina's older sister would sing to her to make her afraid of boogeymen in the night, while Indrick's reminded her of her father. Reinforced by the latter song and the blessing from Desna, Wilhelmina had regained some of her confidence as she looked from the faces of the goblins to those of her companions, trying to read their thoughts. Baris and Bladecatcher obviously did not like making nice with the goblins, while Tochi thought the music was humorous. Sefyr asked Wilhelmina to move aside, and while she had concerns about letting the most vulnerable party member stand front and center, Mina let her by, knowing she was getting in position for a Color Spray.
For her own part, Wilhelmina agreed with the others that there was no moral quandary about slaying these goblins. If this group didn't do it now, someone else would surely have to later. There was no reasonable expectation of redemption for the little beasties. The only question really was whether it would be right to gain from helping the goblins only to slay them right after. Lies and betrayal were not smiled on by the gods she revered, although one could argue that Erastil would want her to do what would help the group the most.
They can't be trusted to keep their word, either. They'd slay you in a heartbeat if you lowered your guard. They already attacked you once.
They just want their toy back and to be left alone. They probably don't even like Black Fang and would be glad if we got rid of him for them.
Yes, because it would free them up to do the kind of things they sang about just now.
Standing close enough to Sefyr so the morningstar at her belt was concealed behind the mage's robes as she surreptitiously reached for it, she whispered at of the rest of the group, "I don't trust them either, but we should learn what they know about Black Fang first."
King Fatmouth, widening his eyes because he heard every word Wilhelmina said, looks at her with an incredulous look. "Why you no trust us? We not attack, we sing you song, and still no trust? And who this Black Fang?" King Fatmouth thinks for a second, then another second, it's obvious that he's starting to make a connection, but it's almost painful to watch. Finally, it's as if the light finally went on, and he says, "Aaahhh, that what you call him, Black Fang. Hm... well, I tell you all about Black Fang if you first get toy." And with that he crosses his arms, obviously waiting for an answer.
Easy, easy. Indrick's song seemed to have a positive effect upon the goblins, but his comrades and their mutterings were making this a delicate situation. He had to act fast and try to regain control. "Forgive my friends," Indrick said hastily. "They are overcautious. Not all goblins are as generous as you are."
He paused briefly before continuing. Should he tell the goblins of the Black Fang? "Ah, yes. Is this Black Fang the big mean thing you spoke of? I, for one, would be interested to inquire about your dragon toy."
King Fatmouth eyed Indrick with a slight suspicion, but remembering that he was the one who shared the song, he decided to trust him. At the mention of the toy again all the goblins grew quiet and had hopeful look in their eyes. King Fatmouth points in a south-east direction, ”Bucktooth go that way, through shiny water room and other rooms to room with many spider webs. Two ways to go. One back through shiny water room, or other,” he points to the north-east corner of the room, "you go by big pond. We hear many splashes there before, don't know if safe. I say no more about Black Fang until I have dragon toy."
"And what about the spider web room?" Bladecatcher chimes in. "How safe is that?"
King Fatmouth just shrugs his shoulders. "Me don't know. Bucktooth no come back, so you tell me?"
Tochi quirked an eyebrow at the apparent lack of concern King Fatmouth had for 'Bucktooth' disappearing. But he wasn't one to judge the priorities of another, especially when that other would happily tear him apart. Resting his halberd on his shoulder he spoke to the others. "Looks to me like we have a choice to make in finding the King's dragon toy. Do we choose spiders or something that lives underwater?" He offered only a soft shrug in his opinion, because he was honestly not afraid of either option.
Spiders then pond. Whatever is in the water probably can't follow us, but the spider might attack while we are dealing with the pond. Sefyr looks to the others for their opinion. Perhaps someone else should go first this time.
Wilhelmina nodded her agreement with Sefyr and gestured to her healer's kit. "I don't like spiders any more than any of you, I'm sure, but at least I have this for spider bites. I don't have anything for being dragged underwater.."
"I'll lead the way," Bladecatcher says. "I'm not afraid of bugs, even ones nasty enough to fell a goblin."
When you re-enter the room with the fountain, you immediately notice a fairy floating in the corner of the room armed with a bow and arrow, but you notice that the tip of the arrow is shaped in a heart.
”Hello, weary travelers. I mean you no harm!” the fairy spoke. ”I come to you in the name of love. The great one who watches over you and decides your fates, who shall not be named, bid me to come and bestow gifts upon all of you!” And with that statement she shoots the arrow just above your heads and as it reaches your group it explodes into a cloud of magical dust. When you look back to see her she has disappeared!
Baris takes lead of the group. Once he gets to the door he listens to see what he can hear.
Well... That was unexpected. Desna or Shelyn?
"Anyone know how to unlock a door, besides force that is..."
Does the door open in to our room or out? If out, and I can see through the crack of the door, is there a bar barricading the door?
"Ooops, I guess it was unlocked", as Baris touches the door and it opens.
What do I see?
When the cupid shot its arrow toward the group, Wilhelmina's reaction was to duck, but just in case she got hit, she made a mental note of where Tochi was standing, and when she felt the magicdusting her, she made sure he was the first one she saw when she opened her eyes. Simply because out of the others in the group, he was the one she would most rather be forced to fall in love with. She didn't feel any different toward him after the arrow shot, though, which was fine by her. Her preference (and her god's, if she had her stories straight) was to let love develop naturally rather than by magic. It remained to be seen whether any love was to result from this adventure between any of the party.
"Maybe the goblin king has the keys to these doors," she suggested when Baris asked about anyone being able to open the one before them. Then the halfling proceeded to open the clearly-unlocked door by himself, so she just shrugged.
Oh nooooooo, I was looking up at Bladecatcher....
The door silently swings open to reveal a chamber bathed in red light. On the east side of the room, a pair of stone statues stand on either side of a dusty altar that is inscribed with runes. Atop the altar sites a large red gemstone. The creepy red light comes from the gemstone.
Just after Baris crossed the threshold of the door, a booming voice fills the room:
The look of confusion on Tochi’s face could cause it to freeze that way if it stayed much longer, and after the fairy had done what she came to do Tochi looked at the strange dust that now covered all of them. He shook his head roughly to shake it off, but noted that he now felt like he had had a great night's sleep and a clearer head.
When he turned to look at the others his mind hadn't been on the folk tales he'd read of similar happenings with fay, and so when he caught the odd look that Mina was giving him a blush crept across his cheeks. But just as he'd been about to open his mouth and ask her what gives she turned back to the halfling opening the next door and the look was gone.
Tochi repositioned his halberd on his shoulder and continued on to follow the group.
Baris sees the large shiny gem, perhaps a ruby. "Ohhhh...shiney."
He steps forward thinking of how he can get that gem out... Then the booming voice....
"I am so conflicted now, I should kneel down and slowly inch forward with my head bowed down, but I want the shiney gem... Ahh, ehhhh, echhhh." Baris sits down in the corner wracked with opposing thoughts and emotions.
Sefyr enters the room and carefully begins examining the room for magical auras. Wait a second Baris. I want to see if I can learn something about this first. You are the most nimble of us.
The voice boomed each one of them entered the room. Chastened by it though she was, Wilhelmina could not help but stare at the huge jewel and wonder how much it had to be worth. She did not dare come closer at this time. From the edge of the room she tried to make out what she could about the runes, the altar, and the statues.
"If I've been taught anything about humility," she remarked, "it's that just when you think you have it is most likely when you've lost it. Perhaps we should nominate someone, and no one should be able to nominate herself." Surveying the party, she concluded, "For example, I believe I would nominate Indrick."
[b]"Have I been nominated by Sefyr?"[b]
Yes you have. I suggest the rest of us stand back. Don't worry Baris. We have Wilhelmina.