Talia whispers back. "I think we should deal with them now, before they are released to harry us."
Laufey considers silently for a moment. "I think there are no goblins behind us. If that is so, then there would be nobody to untie them. Maybe we should feed them to keep them busy and move on?"
As you decide to bypass the goblin dogs, Rasmorn looks about and spots a cat of some kind sneaking up behind Laufey. Of greater import is the goblin with a sword of fire in one hand a ball of fire in the other!
That is a firepelt cougar, a common type of predator cat found in Varisia. They are so named for the orange streak on their back that looks like fire.
The cougar, realizing it's been seen, gives a roar and bites at Laufey's leg.
Though it's fangs sink into her ankle, it is unable to pull her down.
Rasmorn's eyes widen with alarm when he sees the new foes, particularly this intimidating-looking caster. Trusting the others to deal with the cougar, Rasmorn takes a small step toward the caster, and then triggers a spell, causing a wave of colors to burst forth in the direction of the menacing-looking goblin.
Laufey doesn't like being surprised one bit. She rounds on the cat and hacks at it, but between the cat's attempt to trip her and her own haste, she swing isn't well aimed.
Rasmorn's eyes widen with alarm when he sees the new foes, particularly this intimidating-looking caster. Trusting the others to deal with the cougar, Rasmorn takes a small step toward the caster, and then triggers a spell, causing a wave of colors to burst forth in the direction of the menacing-looking goblin.
The goblin shakes off the effects of Rasmorn's spell, as he seems to ignore the bright, swirling colors. He then begins casting a spell of his own, a wicked grin on his face as suddenly the plants in the area come alive and whip about, reaching and wrapping about the heroes' limbs!
Laufey doesn't like being surprised one bit. She rounds on the cat and hacks at it, but between the cat's attempt to trip her and her own haste, she swing isn't well aimed.
Laufey - 29/35
Rasmorn barely has time to register his disappointment at the failing of his own spell before the plants ensnare his legs.
Isabella somehow manages to avoid the grasping tendrils, and she provides the group with a quick blessing before moving as fast as she can to get to a better position.
Isabella somehow manages to avoid the grasping tendrils, and she provides the group with a quick blessing before moving as fast as she can to get to a better position.
The cougar lets out a growl and bites and claws at Laufey.
She's able to evade the bite, but both of the cat's claws scratch furrows on her skin.
Laufey - 20/35
Still entangled.
Rasmorn's face tightens up in a look of resolve. Don't let a *goblin* caster get the better of you! He begins chanting, preparing another spell, doing his best to ignore the grasping vines.
Then, gritting himself for the sudden jerk, Rasmorn blinks out of existence for just a second, causing the vines to fall to the ground as he appears 5 feet to the southwest of his previous position.
As he gets settled into his new position, though, the vines ensnare him again, causing a flash of annoyance on the little gnome's face as he continues chanting.
The character is ensnared. Being entangled impedes movement, but does not entirely prevent it unless the bonds are anchored to an immobile object or tethered by an opposing force. An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.
Talia attempts escape the entangling vines, but is unable to do so. She sights in on the goblin, but the vines make it hard for her to escape.
Rasmorn's face tightens up in a look of resolve. Don't let a *goblin* caster get the better of you! He begins chanting, preparing another spell, doing his best to ignore the grasping vines. Then, gritting himself for the sudden jerk, Rasmorn blinks out of existence for just a second, causing the vines to fall to the ground as he appears 5 feet to the southwest of his previous position. As he gets settled into his new position, though, the vines ensnare him again, causing a flash of annoyance on the little gnome's face as he continues chanting.
The caster moves through the thistle walls, clearly unimpeded by the thick tangles of nettles, and swings the flame blade at Isabella.
The blade grazes Isabella's skin, leaving a small burn across her arm.
Laufey - 20/35
Isabella - 17/21
Isabella grimaces and twists away from the flames as she counterswings uselessly.
Laufey curses and snarls back at the cat, stepping to the side to avoid the tangling vines and trying to position herself in the cat's flank.
Laufey curses and snarls back at the cat, stepping to the side to avoid the tangling vines and trying to position herself in the cat's flank.
Her sword bites deep into the cat's flank, causing it to growl.
Isabella grimaces and twists away from the flames as she counterswings uselessly.
The cat snarls and hisses at Laufey before attacking her again.
The firepelt bites Laufey's leg and tries to pull her down, but she proves the stronger. It swipes at her with its claws, scoring a blow to her shoulder.
Seeing things are looking nasty for Laufey Talia moves closer to her to assist.
The big cat is slicing Laufey to ribbons. She knows that she could bleed out from all the wounds even if none of them are singularly fatal. She snarls at the cat again and brings her sword down on it hard, needing to end the fight before it goes further.
Rasmorn's chanting reaches a crescendo, before he points at the spot directly to the north of the goblin, which causes an eagle to appear in that spot. The eagle eyes the goblin with a burning hatred before laying into it with various attacks.
The gnome then immediately begins another spell, ignoring the grasping of the vines at his feet.
He gestures over to the goblin, and a patch of grease appears beneath his feet!
Finally, Rasmorn blinks out of existence again, causing the vines to drop loose of him, and reappears 5 feet to the southwest, safely outside the entangled area.
Seeing things are looking nasty for Laufey Talia moves closer to her to assist. Her crossbow bolt goes wide, however.
Rasmorn's chanting reaches a crescendo, before he points at the spot directly to the north of the goblin, which causes an eagle to appear in that spot. The eagle eyes the goblin with a burning hatred before laying into it with various attacks. None of its various attacks hits the goblin, however.
The gnome then immediately begins another spell, ignoring the grasping of the vines at his feet. He gestures over to the goblin, and a patch of grease appears beneath his feet!
The goblin slips and falls flat on his back. Finally, Rasmorn blinks out of existence again, causing the vines to drop loose of him, and reappears 5 feet to the southwest, safely outside the entangled area.
The goblin attempts to stand up, leaving an opening for Isabella.
The goblin fails to stand, merely slipping in the patch of grease.
The big cat is slicing Laufey to ribbons. She knows that she could bleed out from all the wounds even if none of them are singularly fatal. She snarls at the cat again and brings her sword down on it hard, needing to end the fight before it goes further. Her second sword blow catches the firepelt square in the midsection, dropping it to the ground, bleeding.
Laufey - 8/35
Isabella - 17/21
WHOOSH! The huge falchion is too slow to take advantage of openings like that, as Isabella struggles to control it.
WHOOSH! Her backswing is no better.
Isabella takes a couple of swings at the goblin, but his wriggling around on the ground does just enough to keep him out of her blade's path.
The cougar appears to stop bleeding, though it remains motionless.
Tangletooth - -2/26
Laufey - 8/35
Isabella - 17/21
Laufey reverses the sword in her hands and drives it down through the cat's chest. She has no intention of giving such a dangerous animal a chance of getting back up.
Seeing Laufey has dealt to the pussy Talia aims at the Gobbo caster.
Rasmorn flinches as the thistle snags some skin. "Drat and bother..." He tries to muscle his way through the thistle to the other side.
While Rasmorn plays in the bushes, his eagle tries to be a bit more productive, launching another attack at the prone goblin.
Seeing Laufey has dealt to the pussy Talia aims at the Gobbo caster. Since the goblin is still prone in the grease, her shot goes over its head.
Rasmorn flinches as the thistle snags some skin. "Drat and bother..." He tries to muscle his way through the thistle to the other side, but ends up having to use his ability to shift his way clear, standing behind and next to Isabella. While Rasmorn plays in the bushes, his eagle tries to be a bit more productive, launching another attack at the prone goblin. It manages to scratch the goblin with a talon.
The goblin again attempts to stand.
The goblin slips around a bit, but finally succeeds in standing up!
Laufey reverses the sword in her hands and drives it down through the cat's chest. She has no intention of giving such a dangerous animal a chance of getting back up.
Tangletooth - -2/26, stable
Gogmurt - 35/39
Laufey - 8/35
Isabella - 17/21
WHOOOSH
WHOOOSH
Talia targets the Gobbo again, and winces at yet another awful shot.
Rasmorn joins the group in uselessly flinging projectiles at the goblin, shooting forth the trusty glob of acid right past his standing foe.
His eagle takes another shot at attacking as well, finding marginally better luck than the gnome did.
Isabella swings at the goblin, missing. Talia follows suit with a crossbow bolt, as does Rasmorn with a glob of acid. The eagle screams and swipes at the goblin, one of its talons finding purchase.
The goblin, seeing Laufey preparing to stab her sword through his pet, hurls the ball of fire in his hand at her. It strikes her arm, burning her.
Despite the flame nearly finishing her, Laufey is able to finish driving her sword into the firepelt, killing it. The goblin shrieks in rage.
Tangletooth - dead
Gogmurt - 30/39
Laufey - 3/35
Isabella - 17/21
Rasmorn's eagle takes a swipe at the goblin as he launches his spell.
Rasmorn tries to lob another glob of acid at the caster's back, but fails miserably.
His eagle takes another valiant attempt at damaging the caster as well.
Laufey is looking terrible by now, and the scorch from the goblin's fire is almost as much as she can take. Seeing red and eager to put an end to the painful nuisance, Laufey closes in on him with a cleave.
Laufey is looking terrible by now, and the scorch from the goblin's fire is almost as much as she can take. Seeing red and eager to put an end to the painful nuisance, Laufey closes in on him with a cleave. Her sword comes down and gashes the goblin something fierce.
Isabella swings her falchion missing the nimble goblin.
Talia fires her crossbow at the goblin.
This time her crossbow finds home, grazing the goblin.
Rasmorn tries to lob another glob of acid at the caster's back, but fails miserably. His eagle takes another valiant attempt at damaging the caster as well, meeting with more success as one of its talons and its beak find the mark.
The goblin attempts to withdraw into the brambles, but instead his feet slide a bit in the grease, and he is unable to escape. The flame blade disappears and he falls to his knees, crying out, "Mercy! Mercy!"
Isabella quickly moves to soothe Laufey's wounds.
Holding a dagger ready Talia quickly searches and removes anything the Goblin has on him that is dangerous.
Rasmorn dismisses the grease as his eagle fades away. He responds, in the same language the goblin used, "Dismiss your vines and answer our questions, then! Who is your leader? Is anyone else nearby?"
Laufey is too worked up to just stop on a dime. She brings her sword down at the cowering goblin, shifting it aside slightly to drive it into the ground beside him. She leaves it there, letting go of the hilt. She walks few steps away, bent over and panting.
From the goblin Talia takes a couple of potions, a couple of wands, a sling and a spear. He appears to be wearing leather armor, and has a cloak as well, but she would have to strip him of those.
The goblin dismisses the entangle spell, then shouts, "Gogmurt know why you here. You here in retribution for attack on longshanks village! It not Thistletop goblins fault, it all longshanks fault!" His eyes suddenly go wide, and he claps his hands over his mouth as though he said something he shouldn't have.
Talia holds one of the daggers and eyes Gogmurt's more delicate bits with a smile. "No no Gogmurt. You've started so well, don't keep us waiting! Who is this 'Longshanks'?"
Talia wracks her her brain. :)
You know that 'longshanks' is a typical goblin pejorative for non-goblins, particularly those who are bigger than them. While he is likely referencing specific people with that outburst, he may also be worried he just offended you, since you are a 'longshanks.'
Gogmurt lowers his hands and says, "Lately, Warchief Ripnugget has become enthralled with these lon...er...taller folks, specifically a very angry woman with white hair and violet eyes and a torn-up belly. He may even like her." With a shudder of disgust at that, Gogmurt continues, "Chief Ripnuggget has been placing a lot of trust in her advice - she's the one who told him to attack your village. I'm living out here because I don't want her to taint me too."
"She has some dangerous allies of her own, too. There's Bruthazmus, a mighty bugbear warrior who lived in the northern Nettlewood for a while. he came down to trade with us. There's a quite human man in armor, and a violent dark-skinned human woman who burned several goblins with fire for getting too close to her. Then, there's that half-elf like you who seems too happy all the time and plays the flute. I think he and the angry woman with the torn up belly are lovers, because I saw them going at it like donkey rats. I told Chief Ripnugget this, and it made him angrier. I thought it would convince him to kick them out so Thistleop could be a goblin home again. Worse than a harpy, that one!" Gogmurt spits, then hurriedly says, "The woman. Not Chief Ripnugget. Don't tell him I called her a harpy!"
"Please don't hurt any more goblins! The angry lady and her friends are the real troublemakers. If you go into the fort and kill them, Thistletop Goblins will never bother the village ever again, promise!"
There's no possible way for Gogmurt to be able to honor that promise - goblins are typically too chaotic for that. Still, he does genuinely care about his tribe, and does not want other goblins hurt.
You recognize the description of the half-elf as Tsuto.
The angry woman with the ripped up belly sounds like Nualia.
"Torn... torn-up belly?" says Isabella, a crawling sensation making the hair rise on the back of her neck.
"The sign of a follower of Lamashtu?"
"The word of a Goblin?" Talia remarks dryly. "As quickly forgotten as it is given."
She nods at Isabella's question. "It sounds as if it could be. Along with Tsuto. Getting the Goblins to do their dirty work for them."
She turns back to Gogmurt. "If we go in your Goblins will attack us. Is there a way we can sneak in and deal with the 'Longshanks' only?"
Squeaking slightly in excitement, Rasmorn promptly forgets about the goblin, trusting in his friends to manage him. Instead, he begins to examine the potions and wands eagerly.