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Makena draws a bow and an arrow from her back and prepares to shoot. She takes a deep breath and holds the air in her lungs, waiting for the goblin to walk out of the crowd. When Ekkie appears on her field of view, she aims for the legs and releases the bowstring, exhaling softly. That should slow her down.
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Al's wearing a cestus on each hand and with his combat reflexes ever time she tries to stand up he tries trip her to put her back down.
But it doesn't work out like he planned, so sighing he chases after her shoving people out of the way and watches as Ennoia grabs the goblin. So he tries to calm the situation down Why don't you stop struggling and running away, so we can have a little chat about this whole situation? He says in the most soothing voice he can manage
Ennoia grabs Ekkie and Makena puts an arrow into her leg. The little goblin screeches and then howls in terror as the party closes around her and the people in the street begin to clear out of the way of the trouble.
"Please! Please! Ekkie stops! Ekkie stops!"
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Ennoia refuses adamantly to let go, despite any protest the goblin might issue. She seems surprised at first to see the green-skinned creature speak common, but tightens her grip, and studies it carefully while she waits for her companions to surround Ekkie and offer her no way of escaping.
Candid as ever, the young paladin presses the goblin with questions.
Now's the time to talk, little one. Why were you stealing from us? How did you come to live the life of a criminal?
Ekkie begins to mutter while patting the skull that she holds. She seems to be talking to herself or perhaps having a conversation with it. ""Plarg, ošklivé Dlouhán se chystáte sn'st nás." "Ano, jsou! Pod'vejte se, jak se d'vaj' na nás se svými korálkové očkama. " "V'm, že mě chránil Plarg." "Plarg ř'ká, že jsem otravný a plné nemoc', a pokud budete j'st mě, zemřeš!"
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Makena sees Ennoia grabbing the goblin just as her arrow leaves the bow. When Ekkie starts screaming in pain, she feels bad for the goblin. She frowns and mutters "Ouch, maybe that shot was unnecessary..."
She approaches Ekkie, points to the arrow in her leg and speaks to her and the group, feeling a little awkward. "Hm, sorry about that, I thought she was going to run away, and, well..."
Oblivious to the meaning of Ekkie's word, she just looks at Ennoia and asks "So, what did she take from Bakrakhan House?"
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Bizzle eventually makes it to where the group has corralled the goblin. Whew! Well done! Good thing you guys can move fast or this little fella would have gotten away with... umm, well, what was it that the goblin was actually doing? Has anyone searched it?
Bizzle looks at the skull that Ekkie is petting and chatting with and decides to Detect Magic.
Bizzle notices several magical things on her: necklace of fireballs type II, potion of cure light wounds, and a wayfinder.
She also has masterwork studded leather, a masterwork dogslicer, a backpack, the skull, 3 days worth of horse meat rations, and masterwork thieves' tools.
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Bizzle informs the group of his findings. Now what use does a goblin have for this necklace or the wayfinder? Full of surprises, this one. Obviously stole them for someone. Bizzle will step up toward the goblin and ask Did you take these items from the house or were you looking for something else? Why were you there? We won't hurt you... well, anymore... just answer the questions, OK?
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Let's tie her, take her back to the Lodge and see if we can find any goblin translator. I'm curious about any friends she might have around, for these goblins often live in tribe. More goblins is more trouble. Let's also return these items to the Lodge, since the wayfinder is obviously a Pathfinder's possession, it's a start to look for the victims of her unlawful theft.
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Bizzle speaks nicely to the goblin and Ekkie snaps out of her muttering and says, "Oh, Ekkie talks! Ekkie talks! Be nice! Be nice and Ekkie tell you what you want!"
"No ropes!" she yells at Ennoia, "Ekkie's still hurt! Don't take my things! I need my things! Things! Especially my cage-brother!" she pats the skull she was talking to.
Now that Ekkie is speaking, it's hard to get her to stop, "Ekkie misses her cage-brother. Gnomes are small like goblins, but this one is fatter than Ekkie. Ekkie likes food, Ekkie could go for some horse-meat!" She reaches into a pocket and pulls out some jerky and begins chewing.
"Mean one looks shiny. And other woman hurt Ekkie. Oh, a butterfly!" Ekkie gets distracted by the butterfly for a few moments.
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To be honest I not sure her things are stolen Al states. Lets heal her and go back inside the house for a chat, I've got a wand of cure light wounds that someone can use. Somebody should probably pick up that gem too. Turning to Ekkie!, while taking some shiny coins from his belt pouch and doing some simple 'magic' triks [occ]take 10 on slight of hand = 18[/occ]Were going to heal you and head back to our house ok?
Ekkie! perks up a little at Al's words. She follows meekly back to Heidmarch Manor, where Sheila is waiting for you.
"I heard that you had captured a thief; I'm glad that it did not end in too much blood on either side. Get her cleaned up and figure out where she came from and what she was doing here."
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"I go with what he say", Mu points at Fruno, "Chop him into bits and toss in soup."
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Ekkie! is frightened of the aggressive half-orc and lets out a small squeak before squirming over to Bizzle and grabbing ahold of Bizzle's legs. "Save me!" She cries, looking up to Bizzle with tears in her eyes. "Oh save me, blue beard!"
After a few minutes of calming the goblin down, Ekkie! dries her eyes and let's off on a long story in answer to the party's questions. It's difficult to get a word in. Ekkie! is a very talkative goblin.
“Even out in the swamp, we heard stories about the Nightsoil Marauders—a gang of goblins in the longshanks city. When Murg tried to bite off my ear—again!—I left the swamp and came to the city to join up. I met some other goblins outside the city and they sneaked me inside. They took me through the smelly tunnels and made me wait outside their lair. An important-looking goblin with a big, dangly hat came out and stared at me. He said his name was Versevosh. I thought he was the boss, but he said that the big boss is much scarier than him. Versevosh said rude things about me and my tribe and said I’d have to prove myself if I wanted to join the gang. He said I’d have to steal shiny things from a tribe of longshanks in the city. He showed me drawings of what to look for.”
Ekkie!, having forgotten her fright, excitedly runs over to a side table and grabs a pencil and paper. She grips the pencil with whole hand and scribbles out to quick pictures: the Glyph of the Open Road and a wayfinder.
“The other goblins showed me the way through the smelly tunnels to the horse-killing place. I like that place, ‘cause they cut up horses there and you can see their insides and I got lots of dead horse to eat. The goblins said to steal from the big house then go back to the horse-killing place, then they ran off. It was almost sunrise and I could hear longshanks so I hid. Later I sneaked up to the big house and took some shiny things from the small houses, but then you caught me."
Sheila Heidmarch quietly reenters to the room to catch the end of the goblin's story.
She sits quietly for a moment, reflecting on her capture. Then her face perks up again and she takes a seat at Bizzle's feet and puts an arm around his legs. "Ekkie could take you to the horse-killing place, if that will keep Scary Tooth from hurting me." She gives Fruno a nasty look. "If you promise to be good to Ekkie, I can show you the sewers and the lair of the Nightsoil Marauders if you'll just let me be free."
Sheila Heidmarch speaks up from the corner of the room. "I don't want you folks tramping about the city with a goblin in tow. It will certainly attract the wrong sort of attention. If you are going with Ekkie, you'll need to conceal her in some way-a backpack, sack, barrel, anything." Ekkie hugs tighter to Bizzle's legs.
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A sack? A barrel? Oh my. There must be a better way. Bizzle looks at Sheila Heidmarch with concern. Do you know anything of these Nightsoil Marauders, Ms. Heidmarch?
Bizzle then turns to Ekkie! again. Don't worry, no one will hurt you as long as you keep being a good goblin. Is there such a thing? I wonder... Turning to the group, Yes, I know how you feel about goblins but Ekkie! here is just being bullied and hazed by these sewer goblins. If these goblins are an evil nuisance then Ekkie! here might be the only way we can locate them and deal with the threat.
Bizzle tries to size up the goblin. Do you think you could ride in a backpack? I promise these longshanks won't hurt you if you let one of them carry you. You must promise to stay hidden though, otherwise Scary Tooth will eat you! Understand?
Sheila Heidmarch admits that she does not keep up with the goblin tribes in the area and has never heard of the Nightsoil Marauders.
Ekkie nods shyly towards Bizzle when he asks if she would be willing to ride in a backpack.
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The Aasimar ponders for a moment, then nods. It sounds like a plan. We can't allow those goblins to operate freely, causing mischief and chaos in the good city of Magnimar. Venture-Captain Heidmarch, I beseech thee for permission to pursue this gang of sorts, and put an end to their dealings. It might also be interesting to discover why they want a wayfinder. Could the Aspis Consortium be behind the scenes?
I know that some large sacks exist that can contain familiars or moderate-sized companions of animal nature. Maybe we could acquire one of those for Ekkie? It has holes to breathe.
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I can carry her in a backpack. Al then turns to Ekkie, I wonder have you ever seen someone juggle fire? He takes some torches out of his pack, sets then on fire and starts juggling.
[occ]take 10 slight of hand = 18[/occ]
While he juggles he adds I could do a little shopping, I seemed to have misplaced a dagger or two. With a grin he adds And I could use a few more torches.
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I can't believe this. Of all creatures this goblin has to take a liking to it has to be a gnome? A strange one indeed, this Ekkie!
Let's get moving if we're going to do something about this clan then! Juggling torches isn't going to get us anywhere, though I admit I think Ekkie! is quite fascinated by fire. And lets get something for her to eat, got any rotten meat around here? Goblins just love that stuff. Saves you from having to throw it away! Ha!
Ekkie excitedly claps for Al after his juggling act.
Sheila Heidmarch agrees with Ennoia that the goblins should be tracked down and their motives for breaking in discovered.
Ekkie slides into Al's backpack without too much fuss. Following Ekkie's directions, everyone heads to the mariska Knackery in magnimar's Lowcleft district. The knackery stands on the northern edge of teh district, two blocks west of the Matador's lodge. Lame or old horses, as well as animals and beasts maimed or used up in events at the Serpent's Run arena or the Matador's Lodge, are brought to be slaughtered and dismembered, and their meat and other remains are sold off.
A middle-aged man of mixed Varisian/Chelish ancestry with a graying walrus-like mustache introduces himself, speaking with a heavy Varisian accent. "Greetings! Name's Tersus Mariska. What can I do for you folks?"
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Failing to notice anything unusual there, she honestly answers Tersus Mariska.
Greetings, good sir. I'm Ennoia of the Pathfinder Society, and these are my companions. We have reasons to believe that your knackery also serves as a secret passage for a gang of goblins living underneath Magnimar. We are looking for them in order to have them stop their mischief, of course. Perhaps you saw something that could help us? Any information would prove invaluable. Besides, it is in your interest if those goblins stay away from this place.
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Mu returns from a quick visit to Grand Lodge friendly merchants with a wand and hands it to Shu, then curtly tells the others, "Armah against the goblrins. Tell the emperor heah, if you need anytime. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Tersus shakes his head at Ennoia. "I'm sorry, I don't really have any idea what you mean. Goblins? Using my place as a secret passage? No, I've never heard such a thing."
Those standing behind Al notice the top of the backpack rise a little bit and Ekkie's beady eyes widen with a hungry look as she looks about at all the horse meat on display. One can easily guess that she is drooling all over herself in the backpack.
"You're Pathfinders, eh? Give my regards to the Heidmarches. You folks do quite all right in this city, in my opinion."
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Why so anxious, sir... umm, what's is your name again? Tersus! Right. Anyway, we have it on good word that goblins come through here. Yes, goblins. Little wide-headed things. Eat dead meat, like these horses here... oh my. What do you do with these things? I bet goblins would love to get a hold of this stuff. Are you sure goblins don't come in here?
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Tersus sighs and throws his hands up. "All right, I'll tell you."
“What could I do? Those little vermin have got me right where they want me! At first, I tried locks and bars to stop them, but the thefts got worse. If there’s any way in, they’ll find it!. Then the big, creepy one, at least a foot taller than me, came one night. It put the fear right into me, I’ll tell you, lurking there in the shadows with its snuffling breath and twitching ears. It said it knew exactly where my family lives and said it’d know if I tried to go to the watch. Then they burned down my shed outside to make their point. So I’ve had to go along with them, leaving the best slabs of meat for them and ignoring the scurrying I hear down in the cellars at night. If I don’t, they’ll burn down my home and murder my family! What else could I have done?"
Tersus sighs again with an exasperated look. "Ok, I know you Pathfinders are powerful and deal with this sort of thing all the time but the situation's beyond me. Maybe you can help. Come back this way."
Tersus leads the party to the nearby sewer drain used by the goblins. "As far as I can tell, that's where they've been coming from. Now my neighbor's got an old bloodhound I'm sure he'd lend you if you think it'd help and if you plan to go after them. I surely won't be doing anything of the sort but I'm pleading to you to help me out."
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That's a good man. See, that was so hard. Leave it to us! Bizzle says to the man. A bloodhound you say? Hmm, could be fun to use! Can I ride him? Nevermind, its not your dog. Turning to the group Bizzle says, So! If we have a bloodhound with us it should be easy to find these goblins! Whatcha say? I say we go down into the murky sewers! Haha! I've never been in a sewer before.
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Thank you kindly, good sir. You won't regret trusting us, we will deal with this situation and thus protect your family. May Falayna watch over your wife and daughters.
Bow in hand, Ennoia approaches the sewer drain, inspects it for a second, and nods at Bizzle's proposition. Let's ask for the hound's help, it is a good idea. The culling can then start.
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Good sir, Mariska, here's a couple of gold coins, can you wrap up say ten 2 pound packages of the fresh horse meat? It might come in handy dealing with the goblins. [occ]when Al gets the meat he'll take ten on a slight oh hand to give one to Ekkie!, the rest he will splint among the party to carry (carrying his share of course)[/occ]
[Occ]Edited because I posted under the wrong alias[/occ]
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Tersus wraps Al's meat up to go and doesn't seem to notice when he slips a bit into his bag. His gives Al a strange look though, as Al's bag begins to moan in pleasure a bit.
The party can easily navigate the sewers with the help of Ekkie and the bloodhound. The stone
of the passages and chambers has crumbled in places
but is in no danger of collapse. The place reeks with
the rancid smells of goblin habitation but there is some ventilation, making the air less stale than the sewers.
Although Ekkie is able to get you to the beginning of the Nightsoil Marauder's headquarters and territory, she has never actually been inside and is not able to tell you what lies beyond.
As the party rounds the corner to enter the Nightsoil Marauder's territory, they notice three goblins up ahead who are likely supposed to be on guard duty but are instead playing some foul game involving a dead rat and a nail.