Pirknok looks at Ysme ponderingly, then shifts his gaze to Ventus at the ranger's words, and nods. "Ah ruhmimber thet... there wuz uh murderer, an' he used ta carve birds on evrythin'. But how's thet cunnected ta this?"
Unless someone objects, he climbs the ladder and listens at the trap door, then opens it.
The trapdoor leads out onto the roof.
Other than lots of goblin refuse, there's not much to see up here.
The dwarf comes back down the ladder with a shrug. "Jest goes ta thuh ruff. C'mon, let's fin' thet evil gurl."
This large courtyard is open to the sky. Tenacious clumps of partially trampled grass grow fitfully here and there in the hard-packed earth, in places stained with blood or scratched with furrows. To the north, what appear to be two dead goblins lie slumped at the entrance to an outbuilding in the northeastern corner.
New doors appear on the northern and southern walls.
Pirknok approaches the dead goblins and prods one with his boot, trying to tell what killed them. "Hrh. We havint bin here afore, hev we?"
"Awfully quiet... where are the Goblins? Isn't this their home? And who or what killed these two?" Eli whispers to the others.
Pirknok frowns, motions for everyone to be quiet and moves back to the rest of the group. "Shh. Lots of 'um... thet way." He points eastward. "Mebbe we kin sneak uhround 'um?"
Ensu has little to add as the party progresses, preferring to keep an eye out for trouble on the flanks as the others who have proven to be far more effective at spotting things focus on moving forward.
Doran's ears perk up as he hears some scuffling and chatter coming from the east. "I can 'ear 'em comin' from 'at way, too," he says to his companions, nodding at Pirknok's statement. He lifts his weapon to his shoulder, eyes hard as he readies himself. "If we can' go 'round 'em, we can always go through 'em," he speaks in a cold tone.
"That...
may well be the best way, I fear." Ysme responds, interposing herself between the Crossbowman & the faint sounds of Goblins in the distance. Her Flail still stowed, Ysme flexes her claws as she catches the others eyes. "Do we meet them here or deliver death to them? It seems rude to visit without bringing a gift."
Ventus kneels next to one of the dead goblins, examining the wounds but failing to think of anything that might have cause the wounds. Standing back up he brushes his knees of and hefts his weapons.
"I'd rather eliminate what we can then leave them to come back and bite us in the arse."
The dwarf frowns thoughtfully. "Ah thought you were sayin' it wud be better ta not kill ez menny ez we kin... but... they kilt Rodrick's ma. They ought ta die."
With that, he hoists his axe and waits for someone to say the word.
"Perhaps we should try using some of the things that Shalelu gave us. Even if it wasn't a bad idea to kill the entire tribe, I doubt we are strong enough to do so and still face Nualia."
"A little of that poison on some crossbow bolts might even the odds a little." Eli says.
"Ensu, do ya think ya kin talk to 'um?"
Doran nods at Eli's suggestion. "'at's usin' yer noggin. I like it."
At Pirknock's query, Ysme's expression softens, "I argue against killing if we can avoid it Pirknock. I very much fear if we survive this we will need to make another trip down to the tunnels to eliminate more of those foul creatures."
"That said we are here, . We have no means of avoiding the Goblins to make our way through to the true threat, Nualia. As 'Ventus said, if we leave them behind us, it will almost unquestionably harm us & likely the town later."
At Eli's suggestion of Shalelu's toxin on the bolt heads Ysme frowns but nods in agreement. "T'wer done, best be done quickly." Though she does look hopefully at Ensu as Pirknock asks him if he might parley with the Goblins.
"That's a goblin shaman's dog bone fetish. Show it to any goblin and they'll be impressed - they think it brings good luck. Wear it if you want them to be in awe or you could try offering it as bribe."
"We should try to use the fetish, perhaps as a bribe to get them to back down, but I don't know that I'm the best one to lead the talking; Ysme would likely be a better choice. For one, she has been arguing for their protection the entire time, so her arguments would sound much more authentic; for another, she is likely to be better at talking than I would be, as I am a scholar, not an orator. I can back her up, but she should probably take the lead on this one."
Pirknok shifts his gaze to Ysme expectantly.
As Ensu informs Ysme of the fetish's value, she nods. "I...
See.
Yes, it could be helpful in that manner." Turning to Doran & 'Ventus, her brows arched enquiringly, "Do the two of you agree that this attempt is worth it?"
"It would be a good idea,... but may I suggest we do our negotiations in a strategic position if we find one?"
Doran gives Pirknok and the fetish a strange look, but nods. "S'pose it migh' be worth a shot... bu' I'd sti' like t' 'ave th' poison ready, if things turn sour," the Chelaxian concedes.
"Having the poison prepped as a backup is not a bad idea."
Brow furrowing in the realization that all eyes are now on her, Ysme coughs slightly to clear her throat, nodding as if in conclusion to an internal decision, "Well then, who besides Doran has any skill with a bow?"
"'Ventus, I know I'll not convince you or Pirknock to 'risk' myself by going in alone to treat with them, so I would like the two of you within arms reach should matters turn against us."
"Ensu, you & Eli should stay back to cover our retreat or lay down withering fire should such seem useful."
Turning in the direction of the sounds of massed Goblins, Ysme accepts the Fetish from Ensu. "If any of you have better ideas, now would be the time to speak them."
"Let's do it." The dwarf hefts his axe and prepares to open the door for Ysme.
Eli has spent the last minute or so mixing something in a vial. He then readies his crossbow, loading it with a bolt. "I'm not bad with the crossbow, though I'm a better shot with an explosive." he says. "Let's get it over with. Give me a vial of that poison and we'll get ready."
"Let's go then," Ventus says, moving towards the distant sounds of goblins.
"Sounds like a plan to me."
Nodding her head as the others voice their resolve, Ysme takes a firm grasp of the Fetish, holding it before her & slightly above her head as she walks cautiously but purposefully towards the sounds of the massed Goblins.
Doran takes one of the vials of poison and wedges it into his belt for further use. He shoulders his crossbow once again and nods to the others, ready to move on.
Pirknok follows Ysme, his axe ready to help diplomacize.
When Ysme opens the northern door, she finds that it opens into an improvised throne room. At the far end, a relatively tall and powerfully built goblin reclines on a throne made of skulls and stacked seat cushions. Dozens of goblins flank the room brandishing weapons threateningly and a giant gecko (the size of a large dog) climbs down the wall to settle at the goblin chief's side.
"So the longshanks that are so foolish as to invade the home of the Thistletop goblins finally shows themselves", the goblin seated on the throne says in a grandstanding manner.
"Tell me skinny longshank, why should Chief Ripnugget spare your lousy life?"
The rest of the goblins chatter among themselves while they wait for the order to attack.
Pirknok glares around a bit nervously at the large number of goblins present. I wish we'd just gone around them...
"Wull, furst, we aren't invadin'. An' umm... we don' evin wanna fight you. Also we brought you uh thing... fet-ish? It's uh dog bone an' it kin make you rich an' pow'rful...ler."
Just about to speak in response to the Goblin Chief's tirade, Ysme pauses as Pirknock gives his own opening.
"As my companion said, we have something you might want." Holding the Fetish high for all the Goblins to see, Ysme continues. "We also have something you want."
"Perhaps you have enough Goblin lives here to spend in costing us our own, perhaps you do not, but though only the six of us stand before you, we have already each claimed Goblin deaths & the spirits have told us there will be many more to claim before die."
" would prefer not to claim those deaths today, but obviously mine is not the only preference to be considered." Looking out over the assembled throng of Goblins, Ysme squints & purses her lips, as if counting all their numbers. "You don't have enough, you don't have nearly enough. Will you foolishly waste your tribe's lives to to accomplish an end that isn't even yours?"
"Our quarrel is with Nualia. It is her childish tantrum that has cost your people their lives & even now threatens to cost them even more, for every one of you that dies, their soul does not go to join your Fierce Mother...
Nualia has activated a relic below the town of Sandpoint & every Goblin that dies merely serves to feed it more, make it more powerful. She does not care for you, only that your hatred of the people of Sandpoint makes you gleeful fodder for her true goal." Gathering breath once more, We ask only that we be allowed safe passage to deal with Nualia ourselves. In return, we offer you this." As Ysme presents the Fetish once more.
When Ysme producing the totem, Ripnugget's eye go wide.
He points and one of the goblin guards approaches to retrieve it. The guard faithfully brings the fetish to the chieftain who sniffs it, licks it, and then places it on the armrest of his throne.
"You bring proper tribute so Ripnugget listen to your silly words."
***
"Longshake Nualia does send many gobgobs to die... But why should Ripnugget trust you over her? She's prettier than you!"
"Maybe you're just another longshank looking to move in on Thistletop territory!"
"An' wut would we be talkin' ta you fer if we really did want ta 'move in' ta Thistletop? We don't want ta 'move in' here, ah promise ya."
"To answer your question, what has Naulia promised you?" Ysme responds, "I have promised you nothing, I have merely told you the truth, should you continue to ally yourself to her will, naught but your death & the deaths of your followers will come of it."
"Prettier?! Whence does a Goblin care for beauty? What has that beauty brought you?How many goblins have died for every Longshanks dead?"
"What would want with Thistletop? It's too cramped for me, I want the open way at my feet. Besides, I'm only staying in Sandpoint long enough to resolve this matter, then I'm off to Windsong Abbey."
Ripnugget frown but eventually stands from his throne and meets Ysme's gaze.
"You speak well for a silly longshank and you raise good points. Too many gobgobs get killed for Nualia and all she ever does is yell. No more!"
"Ripnugget and the Thistetop goblins will let you pass and stop attacking your longshank village. In exchange, you kick out Nualia and her longshank friends. Deal?"
The goblin chief spits in his hand and extends it. The goblins lining the room press up against the walls to make room for Ysmerelda to pass.
Without hesitation, Ysme strides forward, her own hand outstretched. "Deal."
Ripnugget frowns at the lack of saliva on Ysme's hand but shakes it anyway.
"Good. Now go deal with that nasty longshank!"
Passing the goblins warily, Ventus breathed a sigh of relief, "That went better than I expected," he murmured to the others.
They really are smarter than they look, like that half-elf said!
Pirknok smiles as the agreement is sealed, and turns to leave before turning back around. "Oh... could ya tell us whar she is, please?"
Ripnugger points north.
"Stairs that way. Nualia and her longshank friends are down them."
"Wull then," says the dwarf, "let's go!"
He follows Ventus and Ysme down the indicated stairs, keeping his eyes and ears open so they won't be surprised (and in hopes that they can have time to prepare before encountering Nualia or her "friends").
Doran gives the goblins a harsh look, but doesn't do anything hostile as he and his companions walk past them. "Yer right t' 'ave chosen 'is path," he whispers in passing. "Th' o'er one wouldn' 'ave turned ou' nearly as nicely f'r ya," he finishes in a low voice, not giving the goblins even a glance as he prepares himself for the troubles ahead. He puts his left hand on Pirknok's shoulder, trying to get a better view down the stairs.
It's not hard to find the stairs Ripgnugget described and a pair of goblins appear in the northern hallway to show you the way.
Descending the stairs the party finds themselves in what is no doubt a war room - a large table surrounded by chairs filling much of the space. A slate board to the north is covered with scribblings in chalk, and the map of Sandpoint that has been carefully inscribed on it covered with small notations about weakpoints and vulnerabilities. It's obvious this is where the recent raid was planned.
Most troubling is the notation about the second bigger raid to occur soon. There is a notation confirming Ensu and Ysme's theory. 'Even if the second attack should fail, it will provide enough souls to allow us to tame the whispering beast and through him control enough sinspawn to raze Sandpoint.'
There are closed doors on the western and eastern walls. Pirknok and Doran hear muffled conversation coming from the east.
Eli breathes a deep sigh and readies himself as best he can. "Are we ready for this?" he asks in a whisper. It seems to be a question for himself more than for the others.