"Beware!" Whispers Tunder. "There's about a dozen of them scattered about." He readies Iona, leveling her at a target across the chamber.
Near as you can tell, these would be normal everyday tear your face off and slaughter your horse goblins. But they seem much more cowed and afraid than wildly aggressive like usual.
"They seem scared of something, but gobbo's can be tricky when they want to be." He takes a couple of tentative steps forward and calls to the closest one in
Selena keeps her distance as removing the goblin threat and exploring the location was one thing, killing golbins cowering that pose no threat currently is another. Yet she will not prevent Tunder from taking overt action against them either. He has his reasons and it is not her place to change his mind right now. Perhaps at a later date there would be time to discuss his hatred of goblins and see if there is a rational explanation for it.
perception check to watch their back
One of the goblins calls back to the fierce dwarf. "We are hiding from you longshanks! You killed the great Gogmurt, you killed the Demon-hand. We are afraid you have come to kill us. Please, we have no home, let us live and we won't trouble wall-town ever again."
The cowering goblin peeks one bulbous eye out from behind a sack to see if you are in a generous and forgiving mood.
"Another demon sleeps here. We have come to silence it for good. Tell us. What dwells on the island of late?" the elf asks, in the common tongue. "We need not come to blows if you hold to your promise. Tell us what we need to know and we shall move on."
Barek watches the cowering goblins. They were a menace but to kill them like this seemed pathetic. He shales his head in indecision and waits for their response.
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"We have not seen anything on the bridge in days, master elf." says the speaking goblin groveling low. "Not since you long-shanks killed Gogmurt, the great goblin king Ripnugget, and the cruel and powerful Demon-Hand. That was a black day for goblins, especially us, the poor, forgotten Birdcrunchers." He breaks into noisy sobs of sadness, and soon all the goblins are sniveling and crying. Some out right bawling.
Tunder rolls his eyes as he sighs heavily and levels Iona. "Can I start killing them now?"
"... and subject us to more of this horrid wailing?"
"Leave them, Tunder. This isn't worth it." He looks back at the terrified goblins. "We've broken them. Let's find that demon. he was the source of the Chieftain's power."
Dragging Tunder away from the whimpering goblins, the party continues their exploration of the briar tunnels. As they leave the Birdcrunchers behind the leader calls out "Could you at least leave us food? Maybe a nice dog or horse steak?"
Ignoring the goblin's cries, you continue walking and soon stumble upon a a room where the thistle tunnels open into a large cavelike chamber. Above, thorny canopy grows thin enough that slivers of the sky above can be seen, while below, the ground consits of trampled dirt. In front of you, the distant sound of sloshing water echoes up from a hole in the ground.
The hole appears as deep as you can see, even with darkvision, but there does appear to be noises of water or waves coming from below.
Selena looks to Seldon as they examine the hole in the ground. Do you have a light spell prepared for today. I did not prepare that myself as I was thinking of other situations in my head that we may come across. If so then perhaps cast it on a stone to see how the light travels downward. If not I can use a sunrod as well. All we may see is the water below or it might open up to a cavern. then again we can wait till we are done with the goblin lair and come back afterwards.
Unless Seldon casts light or the others dissuade selena then she will use the sunrod and toss it down the goblin wishing well.
Seldon does indeed have Light prepared and he casts it on a stone which is then thrown down the pit. Listening and watching, you hear the splash of the stone in the water below. Based on the time it took to fall, you estimate the pit is 80-100 feet deep.
"Shut up." Tunder's response to the goblins' begging for food is punctuated by a shot fired from Iona in the area occupied by the most goblins. He goes with the others complaining that they're leaving without finishing the job.
+2 v goblin, +4 v giant, +2 underground
"There's something down there. We should lower a goblin to see if it's dangerous."
"Normally, I would stay to leave it. But we're here to clear out such dangers. Still, perhaps we can clear the rest of the area and come back to deal with this." He looks down the hole again. "Is there any other way down there?"
Barek doesn't see any immediate way down, though there is an occasional flash of natural light in the hole indicating that whatever lies beneath has another outside entrance.
"Let us clear the island first. Then we can sweep the shore and investigate, if it please you."
Shrugging her shoulders Selena agrees, Clearing the island is the most prudent course of action. It seems that the goblins here are cowed which is a good sign but who knows what else we may discover in their lair.
Selena takes the opportunity to cast mage armor on herself before continuing onwards after the men.
"Let's see this section to the north, before we head to the east." Barek points to an area just south of the bridge.
Yes. Moving on.
Moving along, the party continues clearing the land side of the goblin fortress. They come across another musty-smelling clearing where matted wiry fur and well-gnawed bones cover the ground. A dozen wooden stakes have been driven into the ground near the walls.
Lying in the back corner, having pulled loose from the tethering stakes, are four goblin dogs. The sense you coming and with backs up and jaws slavering they stand to defend their lair.
Goblin Dogs - Round 1
21 Tunder
20 Purple dog
19 Mirela
19 Barek
15 Seldon
12 Red Dog
11 Selena
10 Blue Dog
9 Green Dog
Tunder fires at red goblin dog then step forward to receive their verminous charge. He allows Iona to dangle from her harness as he readies Rumilda, his trusty waraxe.
Iona (Hvy Crossbow):
Goblin Dogs - Round 1 - continued
Tunder quick fires his crossbow, then drops it to the cord, drawing his axe against the onrushing canine. His one shot is enough to drop the first dog however.
Purple Dog rushes at the hated dwarf, snapping at him with slavering jaws, but missing badly.
Seldon steps into the clearing, loosing a pair of arrows at the hounds.
Barek steps up to defend Tunder, stepping into his boxer stance. He swings at the goblin dog. At the last second, however,he steps on a large stick, which sends him off-balance and nearly sprawls him out completely.
Goblin Dogs - Round 1 - continued
Barek steps up and lashes out at the goblin dog attacking Tunder, but his slips on the rough footing and his killing blow misses widely.
Seldon slips into the clearing and fires at Green Dog, hitting him once, but missing with the second shot.
Goblin Dogs - Round 1 - continued
Mirela rushes forward to fill the gap in the line between Tunder and Barek, brandishing her rapier. She lunges one attack at the dog, scratching him, but not downing it.
Seeing Seldon put an arrow into green but not put green op down selena tries to finish that one before it has a chance to get to the group in front of her. Moving up behind Miri Selena points her staff at the pooch and a bolt of force flies from it.
Ranged touch attack on surprised green cover not factored in for
Goblin Dogs - Round 1 - concluded
Selena steps up, her force blast downing the already wounded Green Dog. The slowest reacting dog is Blue and it rushes forward snarling at Mirela, as it tries to chomp down on her but misses badly.
End of Round 1
Goblin Dogs - round 2
21 Tunder
20 Purple dog
19 Mirela
19 Barek
15 Seldon
11 Selena
10 Blue Dog
Kill the goblin dogs.
Rumilda (Waraxe): 2H
Goblin Dogs - Round 2 - continued
Tunder uses his waraxe to good effect, slicing and chopping the nearest dog into mincemeat.
Purple Dog steps over and attacks the dwarf, but misses.
Barek steps up to the dog and tries to pummel it with both of his fists.
Assuming that Barek doesn't obliterate the goblin dog Selena moves around to the east to get a clear shot and unleashes an acid splash to conserve her telekinetic fists.
Ranged touch with precise shot for
Crit confirm for
Goblin Dogs - Round 2 - concluded
Barek's double fisted punches turn the dogs face into a bloody tangle as the fight ends.
End of Combat
Selena looks around at the end of the goblin dogs and admires her companions skill. Well done again. While I had not had the need to resort to violence in my past and still do not relish it now, I can truly appreciate how well we are working together. Granted these are goblin dogs but still we are working as a team.
ruminating over the goblin dogs and the fact that the goblins were still here. These dogs were not scared of us yet the goblins were. Animalistic tendencies took over presumably but it still does not explain why they were here and free. There must still be a dominant presence on the island to keep the dogs here and the goblins to handle the dogs.
Barek dusts off his hands. "So let's clear off the rest of this countryside and then make our way back inside." He follows Tunder to the last part of the hillside they haven't seen.
Lead the group to the next area.
Leading the group to the rest of the unexplored briar tunnels, Tunder stops in the first area (C6). A cloying musky odor lies heavy in the air here. A matted nest of red and black fur sits to the east. Checking the matted fur, it reminds you of the firepelt cougar you fought in these tunnels several days ago. This was likely its lair, but it empty now.
Moving on the the last part of the tunnels (C7) you find a tangle of vines hang from the thorny ceiling of this chamber each suspending a clattering collection of bird skulls, rib bones, teeth, and other bits of gruesome decor. In a few places, the vines droop all the way to the floor. A large nest of nettles and thorny vines sits to the south; a halo of half-eaten birds and rats, now decaying, indicates that whatever used to sleep here ate in its bed.
It appears this area was once the quarters of the now-dead goblin druid Gogmurt. There is nothing of value remaining in either room.
Well then it is on to the island. Do a once around the upper level before going below ground.
The group carefully traverses the rickety rope bridge over to the compound itself. The gates to the wooden palisade stand open and the wall is unattended as you approach.
No sign of any movement, save the seabirds and the waves far below you is noticed. A quick turn around the upper structure confirms that there has been no visitors or other occupants moving about since you wreaked destruction and havoc here.
Moving to the lower level, you descend the main staircase and find yourselves in a room with many doors. Some of those doors you have been through, but others are unfamiliar to you. To the east, lies a door that leads into a cavern where a strange tentacled creature lived, that you saw but did not kill.
Tunder checks out the bedrooms and storage area (D2 - D6) to see if anyone has been here recently, before trying the door that will take them to D9.
+2 v goblin, +4 v giant, +2 underground
Selena stays in the staircase room letting Tunder scout ahead by the bedrooms first then the door going west second. Should Tunder call out for help selena will be within range to at least cast a spell to aid Tunder if not be able to attack whatever is the cause for alarm. Before Tunder goes off though she whispers to him, Be safe as we don't kno what is down here that is cowering the goblins above. It has to be something powerful though so don't try to take it on yourself.
Barek goes with Tunder to do a cursory check of the bedrooms. They come back out and he nods to the dwarf. "Orik said he was warned not to go in here. There might be something nasty. Make sure you're ready, everyone."
Seldon casts bless and magic circle vs evil before falling in step.