Taken by surprise, the party quickly arms themselves and make ready to take this goblin down again. Tylur makes a quick lunge to try and catch it, but the goblin easily avoids him. Shalelu quickly sizes up the situation and realizes the most important thing is to shut the door. She slams it closed and lowers the bar, grinning at the goblin's expression of dismay as its best chance at escape is eliminated. The creature's crafty eyes dart around the room, searching for its next best option. Seeing that only the small female is holding a weapon, it dives between Aurora and Tylur and darts beneath the table.
It reaches the cover of the table and then lobs something brightly colored into the fire. You didn't get a good look at it, but based on the way it is now shooting out sprays of white sparks, you can guess it's nothing good.
Aurora - draws dagger
---------------------------------------Round 1
René - gives the evil eye, cackles
_
Cordwin - draws weapon
Tylur - moves, tries to grab the goblin, fails
Shalelu - closes the door, grants everyone +1 bonus to hit and damage
Goblin - moves, draws something and tosses it into the fire
Olaff
Aurora
---------------------------------------Round 2
René
Cordwin
Tylur
Shalelu
Goblin
Olaff
Aurora
Taking advantage of the goblin's lack of sense, self-preservation, and knowledge, Olaff strikes with the back of his hands, taking advantage of his cestus to hit the creature hard on his head... more than a couple teeth went flying across the room as the poor goblin felt unconscious into the ground. With the tip of his boot, Olaff checked if it was finally down while gloating, "Smarrt move, pest! Ya actually got down, rrite? Not by choice, but even so beforre I got my svorrd!"
Olaff then looked closely, watching the blood oozing from the goblin's head, "By Jorrvalk's hairry balls... I tink I killed de bastarrd..." Olaff then looked lost to the others, "... it vas not my intention... I svearr..."
The goblin takes a heavy hit from Olaff but he still makes it under the table and throws the object into the fire.
Quickly lashing out with her only weapon while snapping, "Little monster is still moving!"
Seeing that the goblin was still alive, Olaff gave up on his idea of grabbing his sword and instead tried to grab the goblin! "Come herre ya filty pest! I'll skin ya alive if ya rrsist!"
Ye best get out from under that table. We'll break it if need be!
Cordwin says as he raises his hammer over his head ready to drop it on the little thing's head if it pops out.
Crouching down and slashing at the goblin. This is very far from her element, fighting under a table. That is what the drunkards do. "Move you little monster!"
Tylur draws his chained spike and waits for an opening to strike at the goblin.
Olaff makes a grab for the little monster, but it proves too nimble and evades capture. Aurora takes another stab at it with her dagger, but catches the hilt on the table instead. René moves in, giving the goblin the evil eye, but it seems to have little effect.
Cordwin merely threatens violence while Tylur endeavors to enact some! He steps close enough to strike and lashes underneath the table at the hiding menace. The chain connects and the goblin falls unconscious and bleeding out beneath the floor.
Certain that the worst of your troubles are over you are about to heave a sigh of relief when a foreboding crackling and popping sound in the fire reminds you of the item the goblin threw that way earlier. You turn just in time to see a shower of bright colorful sparks cascading out from the fireplace. A beat later, an explosion of color and light strains your eyes and a loud BOOM leaves your ears ringing.
Tylur smiles as he strikes the goblin with the spiked chain. He turns to say something to the others and no sooner has he turned his head when everything goes black in his world...his last thoughts are I hate goblins
Letting out a yelp when the explosion happens then staring wide eyed at the now rather burn Olaff and Tylur. He is on the ground. That is bad.
Scrambling over to Tylur and willing her hands to glow again like they did with the little boy as she knees next to him.
I'm beginning to think they owner of this establishment is correct. That little pest is more trouble alive! Cordwin says with a smile. His smile quickly disappears as the explosion from the fireplace paints the room in bright colors. He sees Tylur go down and Aurora heal him.
Do we want the little menace to be healed or let him bleed out? Cordwin says feeling more of the latter instead of the former.
Olaff puts his hand on the back of his head, returning it stained with his own blood. Still a bit dazed and dazzled, Olaff gets on his feet slowly while he grabs is longsword. "Neiderr of de two... I'll split its head like a F~&&ING FRRUIT!" he eyes to others, daring them to stop him.
Tylur eyes start to slowly open as he feels a warm aura surrounding his body. Looking up he see Aurora kneeling down beside him a smile flashes across her face.
"Whhat..haaappened? That noise..my..ears...are still ringing. Others alright?" he tries to concentrate but his words still come out slurred and he squeezes his eyes tightly.
The ringing..is so loud.
Her blue eyes widen and she seem to relax, "Just lay there for a little longer, ok. The others are fine."
Looking up, "Olaff! do not let your anger control you like that. Come here and I will fix that injury. That beast is no threat to us know and the guards might be able to figure out if there are more in town. Leave it alone."
And this is why we stay away from the fire when a hostile creature throws something in to it.
René pauses, eyeing the Northern and seeing if he would go through with his threat. If he notices a pause or that he's not going to, he edges closer to the goblin, now doing a more thorough pat down of the creature to remove any other possible traps before attempting to tie it up again.
He didn't care so much if the creature bled out or not -- after all, he was no healer -- but he did prefer for it not to have free reign if it did get stabilized and woke up again.
Cordwin shrugs and starts to go over to help René tie up the goblin, but realizes he doesn't know enough about knots to know if this will secure the little pest this time. Not sure what should be done or what he should do, he shrugs again.
Aurora's words weight on him. The small girl is right... I'm no berserker. Instead, Olaff kicked the goblin, even if wasn't necessary this time, "Just checking if it is not moving dis time..." to Aurora, he shook is head, "...and derre is no need forr healing. I can walk just fine."
Looking René fighting with the rope, Olaff sighed before taking his place, "I tink it vould be betterr if ya let me do it dis time..." Olaff then hog ties the goblin with its hands on its back.
Huffing but staying near René until he feels ready to stand again. Olaff if you get killed by that little creature because of your pride then I will kick your corpse like you did that goblin. You are injured. Conscious and loud but still injured."
Rubbing his hand against his temples he stands up slowly trying to get a better assessment of the damage caused by the goblin's bomb. Looking at what is left of the place he can only groan.
Fighting to steady himself on what was left of a chair Tylur adds, "The...goblin..should be taken..back to the barracks. We also need to address the issue of finding this family a place to stay at while this place gets rebuilt. Come on let's leave."
Scrambling up to help Tylur stand, "Don't rush yourself." Aurora is going to hover shamelessly while frequently shooting Olaff a worry tinted glare.
As he finishes his job, Olaff notices the amount of blood covering his hands, looking back at Aurora he shrugs, "Ya should be morre vorried about dis little pest not dying dan about me, de brrute frrom de norrt... as farr as ya know about us ya could assume ve have trroll blood and could rregenerrate as dem... besides dat, de only vay dis one vould be able to kill me vas if he farrts too harrd..."
Shaking her head and glaring at Olaff, "Fine you want to suffer then suffer." Moving over to the hopefully still unconscious goblin and trying to stanch the bleeding when her hands glow softly again. What the hell?
Cordwin still does not trust the unconscious goblin. Are we sure the vermin is still out? he says warily.
René shrugs as he lets the Northerner take over the rope work, helping where he can.
He almost laughs as Aurora heals the goblin. It almost looked like they were intent on following his lead, resulting in the Ulfen man carrying a lifeless sack for no reason.
René shrugs at Cordwin's question at he peers at the creature. "Mebbe we should hurry 'case th' critter wakes up agin?" There was a decent chance that if it woke up mid-transport while not in a confined space and managed to slip its bindings that it'd get away, which would be no good. It would probably kill more and then that man would likely come and find them to yell at them some more. It was an experience he'd really rather avoid if possible.
With the goblin well tied and his bleeding stopped, you get ready to march your prisoner to the Barracks to be locked behind bars. Fortunately, the Barett house is well built from stone brick and while it is in quite a disarray from the explosion, nothing is truly destroyed other than some dishes and pottery as well as the wooden shelf of the mantle above the fireplace.
A crowd soon gathers around you, roused from their homes by the loud explosion. They are understandably alarmed by the smoke pouring from the household and your unconscious captive. "Another goblin? Where did it come from? Is another raid starting? What should we do?"
With Olaff carrying the goblin like a bag of rice Tylur steps forth and tries to dispel any need for alarm.
I probably am going to regret this but here goes...
Friends of Sandpoint. Yes we have another goblin. Where it came from I cannot say. This was one lone goblin who probably was separated from the pack.
These creatures are mischievous as you well know and have witnessed firsthand. I do not believe another raid is starting but right now if at any time is when we must all gather as a friend and ally.
We must all be the eyes and ears of the town. Look to your neighbor and pay them a visit to ensure that everything is safe. If you see a goblin report it to the watch before deciding to deal with it on your own. Let us all return to our usual business and we not let the goblins' actions further disrupt the peace and safety of this beautiful town any longer.
Sheriff Hemlock and the Good Mayor Deverin have asked us to help in discovering the cause of these goblins. My companions and I ask you trust to us in knowing that along with the Sheriff and his men we will protect this town should any more disturbances come alight."
Olaff simply grunted, this time able to hold his tongue. What should you do? You should brow a pair of balls and defend your family... you should make a trip to the north and learn how proper humans behave... you should be the wolves, not the sheep!
Olaff doesn't stop by the common men to answer their questions, continuing to move forward, glaring at them as if daring them to block his path.
Cordwin nods approvingly at Tylur's words, adding, Yep! What he said! We have made great progress in our investigation. Fear not!
Cordwin had hoped that his words would bolster Tylur's but seeing the smoking home and battered goblin didn't seem too impressive.
"There really is nothing to worry about. The Goblin is going in a cage."
René trudges along, whistling to himself softly. He mostly ignores the onlookers, instead opting to watch the goblin and make sure it doesn't plan to wake up and try to escape any time soon.
The townspeople do not look especially reassured, but Tylur's words are sound and Aurora's familiar face seems to set them at ease and soon the crowd disperses. You are able to take the goblin to the barracks and downstairs to the jail without further incident. The townguard are unsettled to say the least and promise to double the watch, just in case.
Once it is secured behind bars made for small humanoids, you leave the still unconscious creature to recover from it's wounds slowly. You return to the Rusty Dragon and find the Barett family huddled together and licking their emotional wounds. Ameiko has given them food, but it sits on the table before them mostly untouched as they stare blindly ahead, clearly in shock. The mother rocks the baby, who has finally quieted and gone to sleep against her shoulder.
What is left of your food has gone cold. But your table is still set as you left it. Shalelu sets herself down and lifts her bowl of cold soup to her lips and slurps it down noisily. "Well, I think we can mark that little tussle down as Goblins 101. Now, we can talk about what went wrong and how you might do better next time. Or we can talk about the goblin tribes of the area. I'll bet you five gold that I can guess which tribe that little closet monster is from." She raises an eyebrow at you, challenging any takers to her wager. Then she shrugs, "Or you could talk to the family. See if they can tell you more now that there is no need for haste."
Olaff sits on the table to resume his meal, now completely cold. She is quite tempted by Shalelu's wager, so he tries to come up with anything smart...
...failing to do so, he simply grunts, "Nah, I'm new to dis parts... unless ya have a 'Hiding in de closet' trribe, derre is no vay forr me to take ya wagerr."
He then tastes the cold food and isn't impressed anymore. Grumbling, he goes to the kitchen where he prepares a salsa made of onions, tomatoes, lemon, and a couple herbs. He cuts his eels thinly and pours the salsa over it. Tasting, he smiles and brings his eels to the table so everyone can enjoy it...
Cordwin is intrigued by Shalelu's wager. He narrows his eyes deep in thought as he mentally pours over everything he's read about goblins and everything he can remember about the little bomb thrower they just deposited into the jail.
He just can't reconcile what he knows about goblins with this particular goblin. He sips his soup sullenly feeling like he's failed.
After a few noisy slurps he decides to turn it into a learning experience.
I am not familiar with the local vermin tribes. Perhaps ye can give us a rundown?
Tylur is tired when they finally make it back to the Rusty Dragon. Things had only gotten progressively worse as he woke this day. He had never expected that trying to take down a goblin could be that dangerous.
His eyes kept drifting to the Barrett family. While the house might still be standing he wondered how safe they were going to feel going back to their home. Even as Shaelu mentioned talking to them he already knew that someone needed to. Playing the hero seemed to be great when everything was going well but when things were not it left him feeling frustrated. He felt as if all eyes seemed to be focused on them for answers and here he was listening to the elf wanting to wager what goblin tribe was involved.
At this point he did not care one bit. Pushing his chair from the table he stood up and then sharply responded to Shaelu doing his best to keep his voice low."What does it matter what tribe it is? Those people very well could have died and now we are to make a game of this with guess the tribe? Just tell us where the tribe is. These people need to be reassured they are safe. The goblins have gone too far here we need action now." Leaving the table he walks directly over to the Barrett family trying to let his anger cool down.
He stops in front of the family and taking a long deep breath he composes himself. "You have my apologies for the destruction and fright the goblin caused to your family. My colleagues and I have removed the threat from your house, unfortunately the creature threw something into your fireplace that caused quite some damage. Be assured your house still stands. If you would rather not go back to your house right now I can ask Lady Ameiko if she can provide you a room even if it is my own. You have my word that these goblins will no longer endanger your family. Please take this and use it to fix your house." Tylur slips his hand into his pouch and produces two gold coins that he passes to Lady Barrett."Again you have my apologies for whatever of your possessions was destroyed and my reassurance it will not happen again."
Cordwin is surprised by the rebuke from Tylur and tries to think of a good enough response why knowing what tribe the little pest belonged to would be important. Finding no suitable response he looks back down into his soup and begins to slurp it again.
Sullenly following the others back to the Rusty Dragon. That is not how I thought today would go. Sitting down at the table in a bit of a daze and sour stomach. Not touching any of the food. Tylur's harsh words snap her out of her thoughts.
Silently following him over to the Baretts and waiting for him to be done talking. "I also wanted to express my apologizes for what happened and ask if any of you were still feeling any pain?"
"I will also speak to my cousin, Kendra Deverin, about getting your home fixed as quickly as possible."
René considers the question of which tribe the goblin was actually from. He remembered that the previous goblin they talked to was of the Birdcruncher tribe. But Shalelu had mentioned that all five of the tribes had been present, as unusual as that was, so that didn't really mean much. He frowned, trying to see what he could remember of the local goblins.
Sorting through his knowledge, he settled on what he thought was the most likely answer, but he kept it to himself. 5 gold wasn't really worth the possible drawback of Shalelu taking real notice of him and deciding she wanted to "make use" of his knowledge and give him even more responsibility. It was already bad enough that he'd had to go "deal with" that goblin and now his food was cold. He poked at the offending morsels dejectedly. "Ain't nuthin' worse'n good grub gone cold," he bemoaned, mostly to himself. Under his hat, Hadley thumped his head. If it was in admonishment or agreement, René couldn't tell.
As Tylur gave his little tirade, René watched with mild interest, pulling out some bread to try putting Olaff's salsa on. He pulls some extra rolls out and offers the Northerner one of his own to eat while enjoying the show. Mouth half full, he mutters, "Coulda woulda shoulda. The tribes coulda stayed all 'ostile-like ta each other, so's t'avoid all this rot. But it didn' jus' as th' family ain't gone 'n' kicked the bucket. Ain't no use with what mighta 'appened iff'n it didn't. They's livin'; all th' rest is jus' stuff."
Although I suppose contemplating alternative situations is worth it if it helps you be better prepared in the future. But there's no use crying over milk that might have spilled but didn't. As to why the "game" of guessing what tribe, that seemed pretty obvious to René. It was cliché, but knowledge was power. Knowing how to recognize goblins by their tribe meant in the future they might know their enemies' motivations, likely tactics, and weaknesses. As to the game, one lone goblin was hardly a threat compared to the goblin invasion earlier. Shalelu probably could have handled that situation in her sleep. After all, why else sit back giving advice while some wet behind the ears wannabe heroes tried to deal with it? Besides, different people responded differently to stress. Some could only handle it by cracking a joke; the ranger had probably just been trying to ease tensions.
Now no longer really paying attention whatever Tylur and Aurora were saying, he absently informs Olaff, "S'good" in regards to his salsa.
The remainder of the night passes quietly-both from the now-wary townsfolk and amongst yourselves. Having enough of the cold food you all trudge upstairs to your rooms. Early the next morning you all are rudely awakened by knocks on your door. You open it to find an aged halfling woman standing there. She says sharply Dress quickly and follow me! She leads you all to the laundry room of the inn. Before closing the door she looks right to left looking for anyone that might listen to what she has to tell.
Me name is Bethana Corwin one of the maids that works here. Cordwin interrupts, Me name is Cordwin as well. Ye don't look like a dwarf though and Cordwin's me first name and not me last!
The woman is annoyed at the interruptuion. I said Corwin not Cordwin! Now I needs your help if ye be quiet enough to hear me tale! She looks sternly at Cordwin who looks like he is about to interrupt again, but thinks better of it. Seeing that there will be no more interruption she continues. This here very morning I goes down to help Miss Ameiko begin breakfast only there ain't no Miss Ameiko there! I figures she jest slept in so I go up to her room all nice and quiet like, but here's tha thing, when I peek in, she ain't there! Her bed hadn't been slept in. I don't like to snoop.
So I thought about jest closing that door and goin' about me business, when I noticed a crumpled up piece of paper on tha floor. I know I shouldn't. I really shouldn't, but its unlike Miss Ameiko to disappear and I thought tha note might be important!
She looks around to see if there are any signs of reproach from any of you.
Now tha note is written in minkaian, but Miss Ameiko had been teachin' me how ta read and write it.
I wrote it in the common tongue here. She hands Aurora the note, because quite frankly, the rest of you scare her!
What do ye think it means?
Cordwin tries to see over Aurora's shoulder to read the note, but not finding much success he impatiently waits until she is done with it. What does it say? What does it say? he says, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Olaff waits for a couple seconds, imagining that Aurora would read it aloud, but noticing that she was probably reading it quietly first, me moves slightly behind her and peeks in, having no trouble to read the note thanks to the huge difference in their sizes.
Taldan wasn't Olaff first language and even in Skald runes he was a slow reader, so he did not even try to read it aloud, instead, he simply gave Cordwin a short version. "Hum... it appearrs Ameiko's faderr mite be involved vif de goblin's attack. It vas herr brroderr who send de note, asking herr to meet him at a Glassvorrks place at midnite..."
He then crosses his arms and steps away from Aurora, not to bump her by accident and provoke the small lynx once more. "It mite be noting... Ameiko could have met herr brroderr and folloved him to solve dis... orr someting vent vrrong..." Turning to the Halfling, Olaff had an idea, "Hey ya, tine one, vat can ya tell us 'bout dis Tsuto guy? Ya must have saw him once orr tvice... or 'stumbled' on anoderr crrumbled note..."
Tylur takes a look at the letter as well seeing the look that Aurora has on her face.
"The old man seemed crazy when we met him but that seemed to be directed at Lady Ameiko. Still the way he treated us for helping the town it was as if we had done something wrong. It is clear that any answers we need will be found at this Glassworks factory. Aurora can you lead us there?"
Taking the note to give it a quick read though before handing it along seems to have no use as the tall ulfen moves to stand behind her, just looming. This whole things is insane and steals her voice as she continues to to read with wide eyes.
Nodding along with Olaff's explanation and handing the letter out to which ever one wants it first.
Looking at Tylur and nodding, "Yes I can."
René represses a snort at the snoop comment. Only a snoop would have entered her room and taken a crumbled note out of it to read. He had met many women like that before. On the bright side, they tended to be the more benign of hypocrites he had thus far run in to. He takes the proffered note from Aurora, internally wincing as he realizes that Olaff had taken what had meant to be a secret and told it to someone who'd most likely make sure the whole town knew by dawn. Ameiko had been good to him, and she certainly didn't deserve that.
"Naw, prolly just a prank on th' brother's part. Or mebbe they wants ta go play a prank on this 'ere father o' theirs."
"Anyway, 'tain't no matter fer us. That there's family bizness. Ain't no reason ta go busting in. 'Sides, it's late 'n I'm bushwhacked." With that, René promptly turns on his heel and head to bed, purposefully walking in to Aurora's room. As he walks, he lets out a short cackle before murmuring loud enough for anyone to hear. "Ha! Them's goin' and takin' it all serious like. Sommone's got this whole 'heroes o' Sandpoint' goin' ta their head. Not like we's the busibodies o' Sandpoint or nuffin'." Lordie, I hope they get the message.
Nodding along, "René makes a valid point. That whole thing sounds rather far-fetched. I am sure this is nothing so dramatic."
Smiling at Bethana, "I am sure it is nothing. Ameiko is quiet luck though to have such caring staff." By the Gods did that man just walk into my room?!
Olaff watches as René enters Aurora room. "I vould neverr had expected dat... ya and René? Noting against it, jus surprrised..."
Aurora's cheeks flush and she looks down at the ground, "Well it is.. umm."
Olaff watches as René enters Aurora room. "I vould neverr had expected dat... ya and René? Noting against it, jus surprrised..."
René winces as Olaff's voice carries through the door. Perhaps he should have thought this out more, but Aurora's room had been his best bet: she seemed the most likely to pick up on his message (or at least the most likely to come yell at him for entering their room) and if she followed him in, well, she was the one who knew how to get to this Glassworks places, so the others would most likely at least wait for her if they missed that he was trying to get them to continue talking in a more private setting. Or of Tylur missed both the message and the insult thrown his way. Well, here's hoping playing dumb will mend the girl's embarrassment.
He adopts his best confused expression as he attempts to find some odd place to peer in to that wouldn't invade Aurora's privacy. Finally he settles on peering under the bed in bewilderment, prepared to loudly question where his food stash was and who had been messing with his room.
Cordwin starts to reach out for the letter but then Tylur grabs it! Cordwin taps his foot impatiently as Tylur reads the letter. When he is done he grabs it to peruse it for himself. As he finishes reading, he notices that his friends say that this is no big deal. But...but..its a lead! He stammers as René walks into Aurora's room. What is wrong with these people! he thinks as René's voice pops into his head. Cordwin shakes his head wondering if he is losing his dang mind!