Norton will step towards the goblin aproaching Rogar and attak.
Alice swipes into the goblin grappling Furiel lifting him up with her claws like spearing a sausage .. and then finishes him off with the other clawed hand.
Rogar and Norton each drop a goblin ..
The remaining goblin sees his allies killed .. he sees Furiel preparing to stand and the goblin takes it as his chance to run .. he turns and starts to bolt, just now remembering the area of entangling foliage .. he does a panicked shuffle and then runs straight for the radish barrel and dives under it - completely hidden and safe at last.
"Seems like we'll get someone to interrogate at least..." says Rogar pointing to the goblin hiding spot and then giving a raucus laugh
I smell trouble brewing between our two alpha wolves...
Just as long as they play nice, or papa bear here will have to come over and clap them both on top of their heads.
"Thank you Alice. I guess we know I came out on the losing end of that wrestling match." Furiel will advance towards the entangled goblins to cast a fountain of colors over them if he can avoid the entangle (will DC=15).
Watching the spray of colors wash over the goblins, Ta'de-win dismisses the entanglement and moves up to engage the goblins, if they still choose to resist. "I recommend surrender, we have you by the throats."
save
save
fail
As Ta'de-win dismisses her spell the sickly goblins collapse, seemingly worn out from trying to free themselves. The one that had poked Murak from behind has his hands up and is trying to casually scoot the spear away from himself with his foot.
Rogar scoffs at the pathetic sight the goblin pose:"What now? I suggest we ask them about the Stag Lord and then we send them their merry way... and explaining if we see them again they'll be killed on sight"
Furiel returns to speak to Green.
"What do you say we do with this lot? I am sure the hobgoblin is trouble--he cannot go free. Do we bring all the goblins back?"
I guess we can start a prison compound--maybe the prison labor will help start the new colony.
"Well, I got a question for them before I make such a call."
The Green Man walks over to one of the sick goblins and begins to do what he can to alleviate the pain.
While he works he gives the goblin his most reassuring smile.
"Trust me, I'm a healer!
Tell me something, are you part of a larger tribe? If you are, who leads it, and can you get a message to him?"
Norton dismount and heads towards Rogar and Furiel, clearly unhappy about how things did turn.
"What for the nine hell was that? You two had nothing better to do that turn a peaceful encounter into a bloodshed? We already have a drunk inhuman bandits lord and a wicked old men to care about and you can't wait to make some new enemies. Do we take these" pointing the goblins "as prisoners as well, or do we send them back to their tribe? As far as we know there could be hundreds of them by this Tusklake they were talking about. If they decide to strike back you will be responsible, if anyone of the farmers around here is attacked in retaliation, well, that blood will be on your hands."
Rogar's good humor doesn't seem shaken by Norton's words. As he hears the tirade the would be Aldori just shrugs and smiles:"If I recall correctly you would have allowed a group of enemy riders to roam our lands freely and not to answer to any question. I merely pointed out how they needed to tell us something more than just some story about berries and walk away scant free. Then they attacked furiel and I was forced to step in. They admitted they were in league with the Stag Lord himself, and as far as I know goblinoids don't need much provocation to attack. Then if you are so worried about their possible friends feel free to do what you deem "right" and deal with these survivors your own way. But remember these creatures just respect one thing... and that's strength. We showed them some of that and I dare say if we let them go they will be scared enough not to trouble us for a long time, and if they do... they will end the same as these poor bastards here. That said as far as I'm concerned as long as they answer our questions they are good to go, but, again, do as you please with them... just don't bring them back to Oleg's".
Rook and Kjell walk with Green .. Rook leans over the hobgoblin corpse. "That scar around his arm .. mark of the Bloodband. S'pose to be some sort of initiation ritual. Creepy monstrous lot."
A little water and just a bit of food helps soak up the toxicity of the radishes. They will still be sickened for a while, but the nausea lessens.
One of the goblins responds to Green. "No more tribe. Master give us back home for do work. Kobolds of Sootscale have our home that was. Now not us. Master say we can do work for him and he will make big fire .. burn out kobolds .. take back home. He little boss" points to the hobgoblin. "Master is Man on horse name Saldor"
Rogar overhears the goblin's answer and smirks:"See Ambrosi? No more tribe. You can sleep safely again! Although..." the young fighter approaches the goblin flashing his best smile:"Say little one... suppose we want to help you with these eeeeevil kobolds... where could we find them to avenge your tribe? We are great warriors and nothing would please us more than killing eeeevil and terrible... kobolds!"
Rogar smiles fiendly but somehow he doesn't seem too far away from start laughing openly... seems like the situation amuses him a lot.
Furiel looks somewhat surprised.
"Let me get this straight. Allowing goblins to roam free will save lives, but rounding them up is reckless and dangerous. We need to capture and pen evil bandits because they are human, but we don't want to think about doing the same to evil goblins. Evil goblins get to go back to their tribe--evil humans can't go back to their tribe."
Furiel points to Green. "This companion is why I don't judge anyone by who or what they are on the outside. Only on how they act and their nature. We came upon these goblins at a time of weakness and you wanted to heal them and send them on their way. I gave them the opportunity to surrender and they revealed their true nature. Then I look to Green to give me information about the goblins because I think he may know better than me."
"I know you are human/civilized and expect everyone else to behave so, but that is not the way of nonhuman/uncivilized. Green is probably the best equipped to make this call."
"Enemy riders? Enemies of whom? They were here collecting berries. And about these lands being ours: the charters says we have the right to explore and punish unrepentant banditry. I saw no bandits here, and these creature had lived here probably for generations, we came here not a week ago. And you Furiel you walked amongst them casting spells, asked them to surrender, what would have you done in their shoes? I'm sick of double standards. You all talk about evil goblins, I see a few berry collectors harassed and killed by enemy riders. We don't know anything of what surround us yet we run swords in hands killing everything that moves." Then hearing Rogar talking about Kobolds "Yeah, let's storm upon these kobolds too, lets waste every life form in these lands, who is the bloodthirsty evil now?"
Rogar keeps smiling at the goblin and doesn't seem to aknowledge Norton's words:"Don't pay him any mind goblin... er... friend. He just likes to preach from time to time... but back to what we were saying... you were going to tell us where your lai... ehm... home, was located so we can kill the eeeevil kobold invaders for you and you can go home"
The goblins watch as the conversation goes back and forth .. appearing confused.. When Rogar talks directly to the goblin who previously spoke, he decides to pass it on to the others how he understands it ..
"New master? .. New master! Kill Kobolds! Smash em with a rrrock! Turn em to goo! Poke em with a spear til it goes straight through!" He chants but sadly only gets mild support from his still sickened fellow goblins..
"That way! " He points southeast .. "Go go go around big grey tree and go go stop you are at caves. Go in, kill kobolds." and finishes with a strangely human "and there you have it" gesture.
I knew it, and they both raise good points in their own ways. This may become...problematic.
The Green Man is about to protest the plan of attacking a tribe of kobolds, but he manages to catch himself just in time as he realizes that is probably just a bluff to get the goblins in a good mood...probably.
At least I hope so, I would like to talk to them, they may know a lot about the lands if we can make peaceful contact.
"There you go, feel better? Food like this makes you sick if you eat too much, so always make sure to drink plenty of water, AND mix in some bread or meat.
Say, tell me a little more about this Saldor."
The Green Man also gives Rook a nod in appreciation of his information.
The sickly goblins answer Green..
"Saldor old master .. Big on horse, but not grow tree big like you. He lead tribe of bigs .. make friends with Magpie tribe of bigs .. their boss is black blood witchlady.
"Old master and witchlady say bigs with blue backs stole home like kobolds stole cave."
"Old master say... " the goblin furrows his brow and deepens his voice..'do work pick fruit from ground so that blue back bigs can't make juice and smoke for deer god. Deer god get mad at blue back bigs and happy at old master and witchlady.'
"So we do work pick fruit."
Ta'de-win watches the scene with much curiousity. Why did they attack the goblins? She had nothing against wiping out the creatures, as they are often a plague upon the lands they dwell. By the same token, she had nothing against working with them if the need arose and they could be coerced to follow. But it seemed the actions of the group were working against itself in this case.
As more information comes forth, she wonders aloud. "Deer god sounds like Erastil. But what could a 'blue back big' be?"
Interesting concept. It sounds like my impression was right.
So loading up some hard liqour and smoke would probably get us into the fort if we get the full entry phrase and use some disguises.
"That is good, you are telling me interesting things. Tell me what you know of the black blood witchlady, why do they call her that?"
Rogar nods at Norton hinting he needs to talk with him alone:"See how it's done, Ambrosi? We needed to know more about this land and now we know where a whole tribe of kobolds is making its nest. I don't mean to attack them unless they prove problematic... but knowing is surely nice, don't you think?"
"So Saldor and the witchlady want to be friends with the Deer god and want the deer god to not like the blue back bigs. Saldor is giving you instructions to pick this fruit so you can prevent them from pleasing the deer god and please Saldor do in return he will burn out the kobolds in your home."
"I was at first concerned your story would be complex and hard to follow." Furiel smiles. "I think goblin cooperation is sufficient."
When Ta'de-win thinks out loud .. one of the goblins answers ... he points to Rook, still wearing his blue cloak.. "Blue back big"
"Black blood witchlady daggers hand for magicking .. black blood comes out .. Saldor drinks it up and his eyes turn black!" the goblin gets a little excited with this last bit.
The goblins nod at Furiel (the two in particular who have been doing all of the talking) .. they are not quite sure what he means with his last statement .. but smile when he smiles..
Black blood, literaly black blood it seems. Haven't I heard something about that before?
I wonder if I have heard of this drinking of blood to turn eyes black.
You have heard of what most consider the curse of black blood of Orv. Something to do with an uncommon reaction to a substance found in the darklands. There is some connection to raising or controlling undead.
You have heard or read stories about necromancers drinking a black substance that increases their power .. at least one reference was made to eyes turning black in rituals involved with communing with "the void" or spirit world.
"The curse of Orv...a curse sprung from the darklands...we should not underestimate her powers I think."
"Necromancy this is, consuming spirit or void. Very bad."
Rogar looks at Norton expecting some kind of answer. The man looks at him seemingly unreadable.
Furiel draws his companions aside and speaks out of earshot of the goblins. Having two quick conversations if necessary to relieve the guards.
"I am satisfied with the goblin stories, I say we send them on their way with a strict admonition to follow our laws. Tell them to live and let live. Tell them we will handle the kobolds. We finish mapping this area and then camp."
To the goblins
"Tell me how to find this drinker of blood."
Furiel has an eery feeling it is the man with the goblin staked out we passed to raid the camp manned by Kressle.
"Yeah we know a few kobolds harassed some goblins, good intelligence, on the other hand some crazy warlock is going to know we killed half of his collecting party and disrupted his plans to piss off the Stag Lord. Is not like we got this information for free."
Seems to Norton that the goblins' master and the Stag Lord are on precarious terms. It would be nice to push that relationship off balance and just be there to collect the remaining, but diplomacy with the wizard seems out of reach now. Maybe the junky Stag Lord would react against the wizard if he knew this was thinning out his stash. This is something that could be worked out.
"Maybe we can use this at our advantage" he says to the others "we need to talk far from big pointy ears though."
Rogar opens his arms and smiles:"Well, there's that I admit, another something to add to our "to do" list. Anyway in my experience nothing is free, and information is no exception to this rule. Better to pay the price in goblin blood, I say. But you are right, we need to discuss this away from here." so saying Rogar moves towards the others:"I think we got everything we needed here? Do we need to explore this place a little more or can we move on? Anyway I'll send the goblins their merry way..."
Furiel addresses the goblins with a genuine expression of concern on his face and in his voice,"We need specific directions to Saldor, the drinker of blood and the witch lady. I recommend not socializing with them as they are using the magic of the dead and will think nothing of sacrificing your lives and spirits to fuel their evil plans. You are truly free to live off the bounty of the land without serving evil masters."
"We not know where go or from.. Little boss look at picture and say where go." points to the hairy hobgoblin corpse, then stands akimbo shaking his head.
"You say we free? We go? We go to place where females wait not to Old Master .. we wait and watch for no kobold in cave and go home." the goblin passes this on to the ones not so good with common, one replies and he translates "Take fruit?"
"We will take the fruits!"
"Well then... where shall we go now?"
Hmmm, no good will come of this. I do not want to wipe out an entire (possibly) friendly tribe.
But I'll not say anything while the goblins can hear.
"Let the goblin go and get back to their master. We keep their harvest."
"So we have become bandits ourselves then? Mayhaps Norton has a reason for this. But these conflicts, they could be resolved if only there was one pack leader...NO! I have resolved to learn their way. Maybe with time, I will come to understand."
"If we are to continue our explorations of the area, we should pack our things soon and determine how to handle this 'harvest'. We have spent a good deal of light here, and I'd rather not risk Heart of Wind an injury by traversing this terrain in the starlight."
Furiel speaks directly to the goblins.
"We have brought food that will last for many days and will not harm your stomach. How about we exchange that for your harvest? Our mistress of nature may be able to find some food for you too. The food from your harvest is making you sick."
To the group alone and privately--
"No need to steal what they have gathered when we can barter for it. I would not want them to spread the word that the new lords of the land steal what people grow and gather. I think that is worse than not allowing them to go, if you know what I mean."
"I agree with Furiel, I see no reason to rob them of what they have gathered themselves, let us trade."
"I might have misunderstood, but what they are gathering is not food, and is not something they had grown themselves, is just some wild plant the Stag Lord loves and they were picking it up before his men could. So I don't think taking that ourselves count as stealing."