Are the guards alive, or posed, or drugged, or something? Why would any of our guards still be on watch and have let goblins with prisoners through?
Zalindra suspects the worst and soon confirms it. The guards keep watch with the stillness of death, and closer inspection reveals they have both had their throats slit. Whoever killed the them must have posed them afterwards. The rest of the guards who should be on duty here are nowhere to be seen, likely called away to defend against the attacks to the north.
Cecilia quietly curses. Dashing forward, the bard cups her hands around her eyes, peering into the distance. She scans both the road and the farmlands that surround it, looking for torchlight or signs of movement.
Jathal moves to the softer ground beside the roadway, looking for any signs of a group leaving the city recently.
Kra'el frowns at discovering the dead guards. While the others continue to search for tracks, he takes a moment to stoically lay the guards on their backs and close their eyes. No time to bury them yet, but he would be back. He didn't know them well, but they had been contributing to the safety of the people and even Kra'el hadn't been prepared for what happened.
"I understand your grandfather must be very important to you... but he is likely well beyond our reach now," Dayana says, looking over to Zalindra with an almost sympathetic look. As if it would soften her following words, she offers a frail grimace before continuing,
"We should secure this gate and aid Brindol in ending the attack."
It is cruel, she muses to herself, mismatched eyes narrowing slightly in thought, but more might die if we don't.
"It hasn't been long, yet," Aelion disagreed as he helped Jathal look for tracks. "We might still be able to reach them, if we're quick." If we were flying, there would be no contest.
He was loathe to give anyone up to the goblinoids, even in these circumstances, but he had to admit that the city still needed defense, even if they seemed to have things in hand at the moment.
"Let's search a short way. If we lose the trail, we can return," he tried to compromise, peering into the surroundings.
As Dayana begins to reconsider her priorities, and Kra’el lays the dead guards down to rest, Aelion is able to help Jathal pick up the trail by the roadside. It seems the goblins set off westward, hugging the town wall closely.
Dayana has a point. This gate is unguarded. There aren't goblins now, but they will likely come again unless we wipe them all out. I'm going to go wipe out this batch, but anyone who wants to stay behind to help in other ways is perfectly free to do so.
Zalindra follows Aelion and Jathal, wondering if the goblins looped around to enter the town again from another direction, or to kill the guards at the west gate.
Jogging through town he couldn't help notice the signs of war. He'd been told all his life what war really looked like, but with the exception of a few brawls among the dwarves he hadn't seen anything close to honest combat until tonight. Still he stopped to take everything in as he moved, watching the blind corners and after one spooked dog howled and ran in front of him, he kept the new sword in his hand.
By the time he reaches the Hall he sees no one about, instead he sees only the remains of what looks like a small battle. If nothing else he's reasonably sure the others would have made a small sized hole in the wall if they'd been in on this fight. So he steps out and turns for the nearest gate. Before long he sees the retreating backs of the others and keeps moving to catch up, suddenly very aware of how heavy his gear is.
Only when he gets close does he notice the guards, "Moradin's bristled backside... what the hell happened here?"
Kra'el follows the elves wordlessly, trusting in their long-lived experience where his had failed. Nothing makes sense about the situation and in many ways, the dragonborn is lost.
He would lead later. For now, he needs to learn. He needs to figure out how this could happen and why.
Jathal follows the trail carefully, if these raiders took an old man prisoner then they wouldn't be moving as quickly as they could.
Looking at those following her and Aelion she suggests, "Stay back a little, Aelion and I may be able to take them by surprise if they are occupied with their prisoner and whatever else they carry."
"Moradin's bristled backside... what the hell happened here?"
"The goblins took the Hall's curator and fled... we are trying to persue them, though I worry it might be too late," Dayana calls back to Javos.
She stands there uncertainly, bringing her hands up to wring them together — torn between doing the right thing and assisting in the search or doing the pragmatic thing and keeping put at the gate to secure it. Worrying at her bottom lip, she considers the rest of the group and, mindful of the potential danger that might be lurking, decides to stick with the majority of the group.
And if the majority suddenly shifts to the hunt for Zalindra's grandfather, then Dayana will follow in suit.
Dinvirte had been following along. Listening, thinking. The others hadn't seen convinced on his theory of why they attacked the Hall. Hell, I'm not entirely convinced, he thought as they had come across the dead guards.
The Tiefling continued to rack his brain as Javos came clanking up to the group. A sudden image of the heavily armored man simply running into and through Din sent a shiver down his spine. He stepped aside as Javos joined them and nodded slowly when Dayana spoke.
Something doesn't add up…. he mused. Din realized that he had been staring into one if the open eyes of the dead men and just before he forced himself to look away his tail flicked up.
”Can any or you determine how long ago those men died?” Din swatted at the tip of his tail, ”I'm getting there!” He said.
”Goblinoids prefer to be underground, right? It's part if the reason we we're so caught off guard; attacking in broad daylight. Could it be that they came in this way while the main force was distracted but fled through an underground pass?” Din squeezed an eye shut as if in pain and tried to remember of any tunnels, old or new, that led out of the city.
"An interesting theory, my friend..." Dayana replies. With a frown, the changeling moves back to the bodies and crouches down, beginning to examine them as she continues, "But why would they not enter through that pass as well, then? Unless it was blocked off from the outside of Brindol, but not the inside, and they were confident they could unblock it. But that would require inside knowledge of the city's layout."
Dinvirte racks his brain but can not recall ever hearing of any tunnels leading in or out of the town. At the tiefling’s instruction, Dayana places the time of death of the guards within the past half hour, leaving it unclear as to whether they were killed before or after the raid on the museum. In either case the sun had certainly set by the time these guards met their end, the goblins had used the cover of darkness to mask their approach.
”It was just an idea,” Din shrugged when he couldn't think of any sort of tunnels, ”Regardless, who's to say that it would be all too hard for the creatures to gain knowledge of Brindol,” He paused and peered into the shadows, ”Or even an ally within Brindol.”
Cecilia desperately wants to follow the trail and rescue her friend Sertanian, but also knows that this gate cannot be left defended in such dark times. The bard hesitates...
"Ge on with it. Kra'el most experienced as a guard. If others come, they'll be more inclined to listen to a local than a bunch o' outsiders. Otherwise I'd stay, but I only just got here!
Heck, that seems suspicious even ta me!
But this town's in trouble. Sending so many after one person d'nay make sense.
A couple guard. Another needs to send word you the main forces to get further instructions. Whoever goes after the goblins needs to be fast and stealthy.
That really excludes big, dark, and obvious,' she says motioning to the 7'2" Dragonborn, "Short and stocky she points to herself, "And our shielded hero here, unless he wants to go without the armor." she finishes on Javos.
"I'm not fast or stealthy so I'll stay. That's my view. Slow people stay. Fast and stealthy go, if your neither then they can be messengers. Oh, and anyone who can't see in the dark stay. No question there."
Ingra's accent thickened the more frustrated she got. There was much to do and no time to be talking tunnels and theories!
Aelion agreed with Ingra's division of labor, if not her feelings on the one versus the many. "Let's go, and swiftly. Who is with us?" He paused, then added, "If it is a trap, it is well-laid."
He tried to think of any likely area the goblins would go with their prizes... and any spot they might lay an ambush.
Zalindra continues to follow Jathal, but attempts to be more stealthy because of the warning.
Aelion can not think of anywhere nearby that would make a good spot to lay an ambush. Considering the geography of the area he is forced to wonder whether the goblins brought boats to cross the Elsir River. If their trail continues to lead north, the only bridges leading that way around here are within the town walls. Of course it remains to be established whether the West Gate has been breached. The raiding party may well have returned to the city streets.
Aelion shared his thoughts with the others. "Perhaps it is time for a new plan. Let's head to the west gate and see how things fare there. If the goblins have taken the relics and their prisoner back into the city to cross the bridges, someone will have seen them. If they cross the Elsir by boat, we might yet stop them. Even if the life of one man does not compel you to give chase, the knowledge that the raid was conducted to obtain the relics must give you reason to ensure that the goblins do not retain them. Besides, we can send someone from the guards to guard this gate once more, more vigilantly this time. Our time is better spent in pursuit."
Ingra listens to the Elf's alternative plan, nodding her head in agreement.
"Aye, that sounds like a good idea. It's good ta have people who know the area, this being a prime example why. So lets get going! We can chit-chat on the way to the West Gate!"
"That seems a good plan, I agree," Dayana calls back.
Kra'el nods at the elf's wisdom and moves to follow quickly. "Go," is all he has to say.
Cecilia finds this new plan very much preferable to the old plan. The last thing she wanted was to be left behind while the others went and rescued her for her.
"I agree. Let's hurry." She said, ready to move.
Not wishing to waste any more time arguing the morals of whether to stay or go, the group sets off in pursuit of the Goblins, agreeing that they will be able to convince the city watch to reinforce the South Gate and that their talents are better put to use recovering the town's relics and their elderly custodian.
Heading north, Jathal and Aelion are able follow the goblin's trail fairly easily and they find it does in fact continue to hug the town wall all the way up to the western gate.
When the group arrive at the West Gate, they find the town's defences here in are even worse state than those on the eastern side of Brindol.
The earth is soaked with blood and blackened by smouldering pitch. The splintered and charred remnants of the gate that once stood here lies propped up against the side of the gatehouse. More bodies line the streets within, outnumbering those in the small pile of goblinoid corpses nearly two-to-one.
Standing in the open gateway are four gruff looking soldiers. They wear the insignia of the Axenhaft company, rather than the familiar lion's head of the city guard. Two of them lower their halberds toward the group as they approach from out of the darkness, while the others grip the hilts of their swords. The grave, gravelly voice of one of these two calls out "Who goes there?" as she raises a torch held in her left hand.
As the companions traverse the trail along the wall, Kra'el has time to organize his thoughts while the elves pick out their path. This attack was clearly carefully organized and executed. Is the Red Hand truly returned? Bahamut grant me strength, for I do not think I could have been ready for this. But I will fight to oppose the goblins and whoever leads them. I have found surprising allies who have stood together despite the challenges facing us all. Perhaps this is as ready as I could have been. In some ways, for their presence, I am more ready than I thought. There is no time to waste.
His confidence somewhat returned, Kra'el takes on an expression of grim determination mixed with raw, unbridled anger.
----
The dragonborn emerges from the darkness like a towering shadow. His voice like cracking thunder, Kra'el ignores the question. "The goblins took a hostage and several relics this way. Tell me what you have seen!"
The dragonborn's anger seethes from his eyes and maw both as he towers over the soldiers, ignoring the threat from their polearms.
The guards collectively take a step back as the dragonborn's voice erupts from out of the gloom. They are visibly shaken by his presence, although the apparent leader quickly regains her composure.
"Stand down... it's Blackscale." she says, almost bitterly, then she motions toward her men, and they relax their halberds.
Staring up as the dragonborn, the woman begins to answer him. "We haven't seen much, we doubled back to secure the gate once the fighting at the bridges began to die down, we just got here, maybe a few minutes ago. If any goblins passed through here before then they did so unchecked."
"If you have missing people to report, you should head to the market square, the Lord Warden is overseeing the damage assessment from there."
The big dragonborn scowls at the guards but doesn't respond as he turns to the elves. "Can you follow the trail further?"
No time to waste.
Kra'el can't yet admit to himself that they are probably too late.
"The question is did they know the gate was safe to pass by, and so did that? Or did they slip back into Brindol?"
Jathal decides to keep looking for the tracks, and worry about the goals of the Goblins later.
Eying the guards he looks over the group a moment and takes stock of what they have and what they could most likely do at this point. With a shake of his head he slides the sword back in it's scabbard and steps to the large reptilian solider, laying his hand on the man's shoulder and whispering softly, "And do what, exactly? I don't like it any better than you do, but we'd do better tracking these things in daylight. Hopefully with better supplies and some horses so we can make speed and all of us can see to fight."
Looking at the guards he frowns, "And do you trust these people to guard anything more precious than a sheep's chastity right now? Cause if I gave them a glass of spirits to guard they might swap it for warm piss as far as I'm concerned." He shook his head, "I'm not afraid to try, but I don't want to crawl down some beast's gullet in haste."
While Zalindra waits, hoping that Jathal can pick the trail back up, she asks Was anyone sent to secure the South gate? We just passed through there recently and there was no guard.
Aelion frowned as they passed the carnage; things here were far worse than he had imagined.
He listened to the conversation as he joined Jathal in looking for tracks, unwilling to jump to any conclusions just yet. Still, the situation seemed dire for the old man. Once the goblins had what they wanted from him, his life was forfeit.
”Just because some of us can see in the dark, doesn't mean we want to see what's out there,” Din mumbled to no one in particular.
He avoided making eye contact with Zalindra as the group headed for the, the shame of his thoughts weighing heavy on his shoulders. He told himself that if he had more that just his cantrips still he would have been the first to suggest rushing off to save the old man. The truth was that Din had seen what lurked in the inky shadows outside of Brindol. The monsters with their gnashing maws. The sticky saliva that dripped as the beasts creeped closer.
drip
drip
drip
But the things that terrified him the most were the monsters that looked and walked and spoke like people. The ones that would buy you a drink while slipping a noose around your neck. And he knew those were out there.
No. Chasing after the goblins at this hour was foolish.
———————
Din mimed striking a match and spoke in Infernal ”Би жарығы.” Moments later four ghostly lanterns appeared around the group.
”I agree with the Steel Mage,” Din gestured at Javos, a grin struggling to be reigned in, ”I think we should regroup and report what we've discovered to the Lore Warden. Tomorrow the fight can be on our terms.”
Din was not sure how things would go if the others decided to go chasing the goblin army. Outside the walls. At night.
”What happens when our ragtag group finds the gobs? Huh? Or worse, what happens if we don't find them and we wander for hours in the dark until they find us? We were lucky to survive those first attacks and both fights we outnumbered them. What happens when the numbers are in their favor?” Din paused to catch his breath and pointed to Zalindra, ”If you can tell me, honestly, that your grandfather would want you risking your life by maybe running in the right direction, in the middle of the night, then I'll be right beside you. Otherwise, I think we should wait until the sun is on our side.”
The four lanterns sputtered out a few seconds later and the tiefling let his thoughts keep to the shadows with him as he looked passed the guards and through the gate, ....would I go?
Zalindra knocks Dinverte's finger aside. If you're afraid, Din, feel free to stay behind, or go tell the Lore Warden yourself. No one is forcing you. But don't presume to tell me what to do, or what my grandfather would want. Next time you have a family member in trouble, remind me to lecture you. If this is your way of saying that my grandfather is dead, you suck at it. GET OUT OF MY FACE, COMPASSIONLESS MONSTER!
By the end of her little speech, Zalindra is screaming. She then completely loses it and starts sobbing. She walks over to Kra'el. They don't get along in a lot of ways, but they grew up together, and he knows how to get things done. He will at least understand this, she hopes.
Dayana watches Zalindra and Dinvirte, folding her arms over her chest. "He is right, you know. It is dangerous out there, and we've already lost a fair deal of time on them — they must be well ahead of us by now, and every moment we've wasted standing still and speaking they've gotten further away..."
The changeling shakes her head.
"Do we have any healing left? Any spells to fight them with? It is dark, we must all be tired, we've been running all over Brindol at this point, and they're still getting further away," she pauses, sighing heavily and gathering herself before continuing. "By this point, odds are they have made it back to the remnants of whatever force attacked Brindol."
"'Is far as I'm concerned, this has become a non-human issue. Not to be offensive, but yer kind can't see like we can, and it's gonna get darker. We can't just wander around with lanterns against little buggers who can also see in the dark, and have a habit of setting things on fire from distance.
I don't know what we'll find, but we can find it faster if only those who can still see come. Yer wanna argue? Yer really wanna risk the time wasted? Wanna risk the rescue just because you wanna be the one to save him?"
Ingra took her flask out and had a small swig, the taste reminding her of back home, and her family.
"Javos, the bard, and Zalindra, and by the sounds of it Barrel Blaster over there should stay. The rest of us are enough, even if it's just to confirm where they are heading, and what's happened to yer grandpa."
Ingra put on a compassionate face, she was a dwarf, she knew what family meant and how important it was. But she was also practical. It was best for them to have any advantage they could, and blind people wasn't one of them.
"Be sure, lass. We'll do everything we can to bring him back. You should do what you can here so we have something to bring him back to. I saw you jump into action at the tavern to help the locals, this is yer home. There are thousands of people still here that are afraid or hurt or in danger. There is still much here to do, that you can do far better than a bunch of outsiders, excluding Kra'el and the chick who stares at people. Sorry, haven't learnt everyone's names yet, but that's not my point.
If nothing else, we need to get confirmation. Of whether he's alive, of where they are heading. Goblins are fast and sneaky. If we wait until morning, they'll have regrouped and even made it to a base or set up ambushes."
She shifts her greatsword, looking out of the gate. She hated drawn out discussion, unless it was while doing something.
"So everyone choose. Stay or go. One word people. And those who can't see in the dark, let me remind you the sun has set, and light would make it pointless to go. Consider your abilities before you say your coming and weigh up what you want more; for the mission to succeed or to be a part of it.
It'll be hard enough with the slow-pokes tagging along, but I can at least run."
Mercy be, I don't think I've talked so much in me entire life. And ma wonders why I'm single...
By the end of her little speech, Zalindra is screaming. She then completely loses it and starts sobbing. She walks over to Kra'el. They don't get along in a lot of ways, but they grew up together, and he knows how to get things done. He will at least understand this, she hopes.
Kra'el is stern and standoffish at times, but he's not socially inept. When the sobbing young human walks up to him, he wraps her in a big, gentle hug. Her plight, her sadness, her fear is a reflection of the struggle of the people today and while there's a time for stern and uncompromising, this is not it. Kra'el has a moment for comfort now, while the dwarf gives her speech. Stern and uncompromising would be for the goblins later...
She is terrified of losing her grandfather. I fear what losing those relics will mean for the people. And he may be the only one who knows what is really going on here. We cannot wait until morning. He may be dead by then.
His voice is a like the whisper of a cold breeze. "Ingra is right. We must continue, this night. Zal, I will find him." The dragonborn pushes back from Zalindra and raises his voice slightly. "They kidnapped him for a reason. He is still alive. We will bring him back."
If her grandfather is dead, she would be worse for getting her hopes up here, but hope is all they have. He would keep them strong.
Aelion catches Jathal's eye and points out a set of small footprints in the soot and churned earth, forging a path through the carnage.
The elves quickly manage to establish that the goblins arrived here after the gate was breached, and re-entered Brindol before it was secured.
The mercenaries scowl as one or two of them overhear Javos' remarks, but their foul attitude doesn't stop them answering Zalindra's question.
"Lord Warden sent reinforcements to secure all of the town's gates. As well as some patrols to round up any stragglers still within the walls. It looks like the green-skinned scum lost their nerve though, the battle at the bridge was only just heating up when all of a sudden they all start screaming some ungodly thing and start making their retreat. Cowards." The lead guard punctuates her last remark with a spit and adjusts her belt.
Jathal and Aelion await the chance to share their new knowledge as the rest of the group begin to argue. Kra'el tries to keep the party strong by siding with Ingra, just as a slow sob begins emanating from between his legs, followed by a shrill shriek. "Aiiieekk!"
"О жоқ! Бейн маған көмектес! Мен өзімнің аяғымды сезе алмаймын!"
Aelion just managed to agree with Ingra with a nod and give Zalindra a sympathetic look before Kra'el's captive began shrieking.
"There is a task those remaining behind can take while the rest of us run for the bridge," he suggested, gesturing at the goblin with his bow. "Interrogation. Find out what they want with the relics - and Zalindra's grandfather. Have any of you a spell to act as a messenger between us? Else learn what you can, and we'll return when we can."
He glanced up at the crescent moon, hoping it would prove sufficient light for he and Jathal.
"The goblins have a head start, but they were burdened with a captive and the relics, and probably whatever loot they stopped to pick up, the greedy little bastards. No time to waste. Let's get to the bridge! Run!"
Zalindra allows herself to be comforted for a moment, and then pulls away instantly when Kra'el agrees that she should stay behind. She listens to the mercenaries, and asks
Do you remember what they were screaming?.
Then, whatever the answer, she walks home, seething with hatred for everyone for telling her what to do and leaving her out, and not willing to help any of them. If she had to stay behind, she would go clean up the museum as much as she could and wait for word. It was unlikely that she would be able to sleep.
Ingra watches the young woman leave, knowing that how this mission went would greatly affect their relationship with her.
"I'm a bit confused on why they left then came back in... Are they heading west or north?"
She gets herself ready to run though, knowing that she had to in order to keep up with the Elves.
"Come on then! The hunt is on! Kra'el, dump the Goblin with the others, I trust at least one of them can talk to the bugger! Lead the way Arrow, and make it the fastest!"
After Zal left Din turned his attention back to the group. He forced himself to give off an air of calm and he would have succeeded too if it weren't for that blasted tail, ”Half this town thinks I'm a loon, yet most of you 'battle hardened types” think it’s heroic to throw yourselves on to some blades. I'm real sorry that the curator was taken. I am.” Din motioned to the destruction around them, ”But while you lot are off getting yourselves killed, this 'compassionless monster’ is going to help bury my neighbors and put out fires. Come tomorrow, when I have a better understanding of what's going on, I'll come fish your bodies out of the river.”Din blinked, realizing that he was staring straight at Kra'el's….nethers, ”Nearly forgot about that.”
He took a step towards Kra'el, ”Me and the smart Steel Mage will deal with that thing while you're gone.” Din softened and added, ”I hope your god protects you.”
"Stay."
The big dragonborn frowns at Zalindra's reaction, but makes no move toward her.
She will be angry until I return with him, perhaps. But it is the right thing.
Kra'el pulls the goblin bundle off his belt and drops it on the ground near Din. His voice is the rumble of distant thunder, not urgent or close, but certain. "I protect myself, though Bahamut is with me. Which one of us took wounds this day? It is understandable that you are afraid to find more goblins."
Without waiting for a response, the dragonborn moves quickly after Aelion, breaking into a sprint to keep up.
"Erathis protect you all," Dayana says as the others begin to move off in hunt of the museum's custodian. "If you survive, let's all have a round of drinks on me at the Cardhouse... assuming it hasn't been burnt down."
Stepping closer to the bound goblin that has finally regained consciousness she frowns down at the creature before looking over to Dinvirte, Javos, and anyone else staying behind. "... I don't speak Goblin. Do any of you?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
For a long moment Cecilia actually considered staying behind. As much as she hated to admit it, the dwarf had a point.
But the temptation to be a part of heroic rescue was just too enticing. And besides, how could the bard write this epic if she wasn't there for all the good parts? With her mind made up, Cecilia began to follow the dragonborn, elf, and dwarf. She would rescue her friend, deliver justice to their enemies, and reunite Zalindra and Sertanian before the night was over.
Cecilia of the Crimson Lash was back on the hunt!