Waifrin's sling bullet passes over the goblins at the barricade into the relative darkness beyond. There's a dull impact following by goblinoid swearing.
Zarabeta's acid strikes Raven's goblin and with a cry of anguish he drops into the sewage channel and begins splashing frantically and weakly.
The remaining barricade goblin struggles vainly to free himself from Mother Vangelis' vice-like grip.
Waifrin's goblin throws it's weapon. You see a small wooden handle and jagged piece of metal fly into the light on diverging courses. The goblin flees, leaving his captive comrade to his fate.
Mother grabs the goblin's legs and starts squeezing him into a small package. "Psst -- do any of you folks speak Gobbo? We can ask this critter what's going on down here. I got him just about tied up, I reckon." She reaches around to grab her coil of rope.
Pin attempt: 1d20+11=28 -- note that goblin's CMD is reduced by 2 because of Dex penalty
After the third goblin at the back made itself known, Raven turns to Waifrin, an impressed look on his face. "You have good eyes my young lady! I do not believe anyone had seen that goblin back there until now..."
Reloading his hand crossbow without putting it away just yet, he moves towards the older woman and her captive, amusement evident on his features. "As a matter of fact I speak Goblin rather fluently Ms.... Vangelis, is it? And I am more than happy to play the part of translator." With that, the elf crouches down, bringing his eyes on the same level as the goblin's beady ones. When next he opens his mouth, the words coming from the rogue are most certainly not in the Common tongue. Even in the strange language though, his tone could be considered friendly, soothing even.
Did you wipe the sword symbols on the walls away in an attempt to lead us to your ambush? What is beyond that barricade and how many of you are down here in the sewers? And is there anything else down here besides you, anything dangerous?
No need to be afraid, just take your time, think and give me some answers and that will be all."
Satisfied for now, Raven stops speaking and waits for the creature to talk, his expression calm and patient. After all, asking too many questions at once might only serve to confuse the goblin.
The elf turns to regard the warrior for a moment before turning his attention to the goblin once more.
"My my my... Are we not being overly cold my friend? If this fellow here answers a few questions, I see no reason why we should not let him go. After all, one of the goblins has already escaped us, yes? What would be the harm if this one is left alive as well? I find murder a little... distasteful after all." Although he is looking at their captive while speaking, it is quite clear the words, as well as the hint of annoyance behind them, are directed at the fighter.
The goblin snarls at Raven, a venom filled expression directed at the elf and beyond, at the party, at the whole world. Then, perhaps considering its options, it begins to talk:
The goblin galnces at Waifrin and licks its filed teeth. Then begins talking again.
The goblin takes a deep breath. then starts talking again,
Akorian passes Marius as he reloads his crossbow, looking down with the same measure of distaste as Raven had for the quick way the warrior had dispatched his goblin. Nonetheless, it couldn't be helped now. Coming alongside Mother Vangeliss, the elf and goblin captive, he squints into the shadows where the other one ran.
"What's he saying, Raven?" he asks in a low tone.
Mother finishes tying up the little creep. "Yeah, what're you two jawing about? Let us know if he needs a little 'friendly persuasion'."
'Bad things, are we? We did attack them first I suppose,' Raven ponders for a moment before turning to look at his companions.
"It would seem there is a small settlement of goblins, a 'nest' as he calls it, beyond the makeshift barricade. The ones hiding at the debris act as guards against the 'bad things' that seem to roam the sewers, 'bad things' like us I might add; his words, not mine by the way. And the one that got away? He is going back to tell the others about us, probably bring more goblins here."
Eyes closed, the elf shakes his head, a thin smile appearing on his face. "Not an ambush, simply a... misunderstanding if you will. I doubt they have anything to do with the missing symbols..." He turns to the captive again.
"Just asking him what these bad things are and where will the other two passages take us. If any of you have any questions, I can translate."
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Marius notices the looks of distate from Raven and Akorian and curls a lip. Those two obviously don't understand the realities of the world..it's kill or be killed with the little bastards no quarter asked or given...he thinks, his mind flashing back to the first pit fight he was forced into..alone with a blunt dagger against three of the little rats...he can still in ,his minds eye, remember the taste of the blood frmm the one whose throat he tore out with his teeth in the end.
"Staying to fight the Goblins only ensures our capture by the Hellknights. We should quickly move on."
"I agree," Akorian adds, "If we move fast enough, maybe the Hellknights and goblins will clash with one another and buy us that much more time. But we need to get moving quickly...markers or not. Another battle with even more of these things will only slow us down and not our pursuers."
Raven and the goblin converse. Raven translates, "He says both passages lead to through the sewers. The right hand leads to a source of falling fresh water. Straight leads to the bread hole and the machine room. He also says there's many bad things down here. Dark-beasts like fat snakes with claws, juicy bugs, crapeaters, screamers. He's not very coherent."
Janiven listens, her lips tightening and brow furrowing. "He's useless. Let's move."
Know (local) DC 16 -
Profession(engineering) DC 15 -
"The fresh water might be coming from an artesian well emptying into a pool with the overflow running off into the storm drains. There is one at the west side of the city."
Raven smiles at the goblin and stands up again. "And we should indeed move on, but what do we do with this one? We could simply let him go; his people seem to want nothing to do with the creatures living down here, so they will probably not follow us if we continue on our way, especially if we tell him of Hellknights moving through the sewers as well. Killing him is not an option I particularly like however."
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"The artesian well sounds familiar to me as well. Let's move." Zarabeta says decisely. To Raven she says, "If the Goblin knows which way we went, it might tell the Hellknights under duress. Or it could die in the fray. Kill it, or not, but do it now. The god's already dice with our fates tonight, what's one more roll?"
Hand back on Morosino's shoulder, she gets ready to move down the right passage towards the 'falling fresh water,' unless it seems that the rest of the group is going the other direction.
"He's useless. Let's move."
"Gets my vote," Waifrin concurs. "Let's get moving before they catch us up. Forget the goblins, they won't help us and we can't afford to take the time to fight them."
"Nor any of those other things the goblin mentioned," Akorian notes.
"...we should indeed move on, but what do we do with this one? We could simply let him go; his people seem to want nothing to do with the creatures living down here, so they will probably not follow us if we continue on our way, especially if we tell him of Hellknights moving through the sewers as well. Killing him is not an option I particularly like however."
"...Let's move," Zarabeta says decisely. "If the Goblin knows which way we went, it might tell the Hellknights under duress. Or it could die in the fray. Kill it, or not, but do it now. The god's already dice with our fates tonight, what's one more roll?"
"Send him running along after the other one," Akorian advises, "And let him know there are much worse 'big bads' coming along behind us. They'd do well to hide. Fighting the Hellknights will go much, much worse for them."
"Morosino?" he calls ahead, "Lead us out of here. And let's put some distance behind us and this goblin 'nest' of theirs..."
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Knowledge (engineering)1d20+5=18
"The machine room sounds like it could be one of the pumping stations..there's probably a maintenance hatch close by which could mean a way out ..or a bunch of Hell Knights waiting for us"
"The pump room sounds good to me; I don't fancy climbing up a waterfall myself. If they're are some nasty critters in there...well, we can be plenty nasty, too!"
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Zarabeta, hauls on Morosino's shoulder and points him down the tunnel towards the pump room. "Fine, we know there should be an exit there. Just stop changing our minds, already."
And she begins moving, the glimmering golden light faintly sparkling on her skin receding along with the light of Morosino's sunrod.
Her voice can be heard as she moves forward, "And I hope there are Hellknights waiting for us, because I'm ready to kill something or die trying..."
"Very well," the elf says simply, nodding in agreement, before turning to the captured goblin one last time.
'This should give him and his fellows something to think about,' he thinks with a smile as he motions to the female warrior to let the creature go.
"On we go then ladies and gentlemen?" Raven says in a more carefree tone before turning to Zarabeta for a moment, adding with a soft chuckle, "And as for gods and their dice-rolling, does it not make the whole adventure just a bit more thrilling?"
"On we go then ladies and gentlemen?" Raven says in a more carefree tone before turning to Zarabeta for a moment, adding with a soft chuckle, "And as for gods and their dice-rolling, does it not make the whole adventure just a bit more thrilling?"
Overhearing Raven's last chuckled comment, Akorian passes the elf and offers his own observation as he looks back with his loaded crossbow to ensure the freed goblin doesn't try anything.
"You and your thrill-seeking adventures," he remarks, "I believe we could do without it just this once, don't you think? And I'm also thinking the sewers aren't really the place of legendary accomplishments anyway. It's far more preferrable with a bit of fresh air involved. Am I right, friend?"
"You and your thrill-seeking adventures," he remarks, "I believe we could do without it just this once, don't you think? And I'm also thinking the sewers aren't really the place of legendary accomplishments anyway. It's far more preferrable with a bit of fresh air involved. Am I right, friend?"
Raven turns to regard the noble, his golden eyes almost sparkling.
"Ah, you should perhaps loosen up just a bit, my friend. You are always so serious," the elf offers in response. "Besides, I admit great accomplishments do not usually smell quite so... ripe, but it is only proper that a grand adventure has humble beginnings."
In the end, however, the rogue does show his agreement. "But you are right about the fresh air. We should find some sooner rather than later."
"Ah, you should perhaps loosen up just a bit, my friend. You are always so serious," the elf offers in response. "Besides, I admit great accomplishments do not usually smell quite so... ripe, but it is only proper that a grand adventure has humble beginnings." In the end, however, the rogue does show his agreement. "But you are right about the fresh air. We should find some sooner rather than later."
"Let's hope so," Akorian coughs, "And I'll give up being serious just as soon as we lose those Hellknights. In the meantime, I've got you for levity, at least."
"There'll be plenty of time for jokes once we get out of here," Mother Vangelis says cheerfully as she follows the others, leaving the bound goblin behind.
The rogue proceeds to untie the goblin, making sure the creature runs down the passage leading to the 'nest' he had mentioned, before returning the rope to Ms. Vangelis and joining the rest of the group as they start making their way along the central path, the one leadng to the machine room.
"Aw, son -- you could have just left him tied up. Now who knows what he's going to tell his buddies. Well, probably doesn't make much difference anyways; we'll be out of here soon."
Mother coils up the bit of rope and puts it back around her shoulder.
"Well, considering I made it fairly clear that between the 'bad things' down here and the bad knights chasing after us, it would probably mean the goblins' death if they started wandering about the sewers, I hope he will be telling the rest of his 'nest' just that. Besides, his fellows would have found him anyway, since one of them has already returned to the others. And, in case the goblins did not find him first, I would not want our pursuers stumbling on him on their way and wondering what has transpired, perhaps asking him a question or two."
"But, hopefully, we will all be out of here in a while and concern ourselves with such things no longer." And then, an eyebrow raised, he turns to the woman with a wry smile and adds, "And, really now, madam... 'son'? I think I like you already!"
And then, an eyebrow raised, he turns to the woman with a wry smile and adds, "And, really now, madam... 'son'? I think I like you already!"
"Raven here has probably lived three or four of our lives," Akorian explains with a chuckle, "Though, unfortunately for him, I've yet to see a display of the greater wisdom he's gathered over all those years. Jokes and songs aplenty, of course. But wisdom of the ages? Not quite as much."
"But," he continues, "Given that House Thrune only rose to power close to 70 years ago, he's old enough to remember Cheliax and Westcrown before they abandoned Aroden for the devil-worship of Asmodeus. There are often times I envy you, my friend."
"Everything echoes down here, sweetheart," Akorian replies, "Including our footsteps and the clanking of all this armor. Silencing our words to one another won't really help very much." Nevertheless, the priest keeps quiet for the rest of their journey through the dark.
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At the reminder that 'Raven' has probably seen a dozen human friends grow old and die, she trusts him even less, wondering what a human's life is worth to the elf, at this point in his own.
Keeping these thoughts to herself, Zarabeta maintains her soft grip on Morosino's shoulder as they move forward, whispering to him, "How are you holding up? That was quite a run earlier..."
During the conversation, the goblin who fell into the channel ceases his feeble struggling. His corpse bobs gently in the sluggish water.
His captured companion doesn't notice. He merely watches the group discuss the situation. When Raven tells him he's free to go, he doesn't seem to believe it. He nods deliberately throughout Raven's advice. He slowly backs away from the group for about 30', then turns, snarls out a series of goblin curses, and runs down the tunnel toward his nest.
Janiven watches the captured goblin run, "Good riddance, " she mutteres. Then, reflecting the views of many of the party members, she says, "let's go."
***
The party moves out down the passage. Marius sets a quick pace. You come to three intersections, but, without other clues to direction, keep moving straight ahead. In total you go perhaps 1/4-1/2 mile from the goblin barricade.
***
Keeping these thoughts to herself, Zarabeta maintains her soft grip on Morosino's shoulder as they move forward, whispering to him, "How are you holding up? That was quite a run earlier..."
Morosino whispers back, "I'm fine." He sounds casual, but the little shiver he gives could be nerves or adrenalin collapse.
***
At the third intersection, the tunnel to the right is short perhaps 40' long before hitting another tunnel parallel to yours. As Raven leaps the channel, he glances to his right and notices a flash of light on the wall of the parallel tunnel.
As soon as he notices it, the rogue motions to the others, pointing towards the direction of the flash. "Do you see that? That light at the end of this side passage? Seems to be coming from the wall of the tunnel parallel to this one."
Taking a step or two towards the path to the right, he tries to take a better look and see if he can discern what it is that is shining like that, adding, "Perhaps we should take the time to investigate?"
"You think it's a marker? Or something else?" Akorian asks the keen-eyed elf.
"Maybe the pump equipment makes some flashes. Is it the right direction?"
The light is diffuse. It dims and then resurges as it moves back and forth along the far wall of the parallel tunnel. Momentarily the near corner of the parallel tunnel and connecting tunnel is illuminated. A brick has fallen out of the corner and lies on the walkway.
"If someone wants to take a peek, I'll be right behind you in case you get into trouble." She gives the elf a wink, half-convinced he's a common pickpocket.
"You think it's a marker? Or something else?" Akorian asks the keen-eyed elf.
"I am not really sure, but judging from the way it moves, I think that someone is over there carrying it. Should we go and introduce ourselves?"
'Things get a little more complicated when one has companions,' Raven ponders, finding himself a part of a group for once instead of by himself. 'It was so much easier to reach a decision when I was the only one that would get affected by its outcome.'
To the others he says, "It could be someone we could ask for directions, perhaps even a sentry placed near a sewer exit to watch out for anything that might try to find its way to the city above? Or it could be an armiger or knight looking for us. I could try to move a little closer and take a better look, since I do not need as much light to see as you do."
"If someone wants to take a peek, I'll be right behind you in case you get into trouble." She gives the elf a wink, half-convinced he's a common pickpocket.
"I would certainly welcome the back-up Ms. Vangelis, especially if you can be a little quiet while following me."