Talia checks both doors.
Then after making sure everyone is ready opens the eastern door.
Karu curiously studies Talia as she goes about checking the doors for any and all signs of danger. You can't trust goblins, right? "If ye need me eyes, you jus' lemme know, ok?"
The dwarf then grips her oversized spear with both hands and tries to not let the tension get to her. After all, there could be goblins about. Or worse! Lots of goblins.
Using the keys taken off Ripnugget, Talia is easily able to open the door. This room contains an armory of crude weaponry (mostly dogslicers and shortbows) and several goblin-sized suits of studded leather armor and dented shields. To the south stand a pair of workbenches. While almost everything in here is of typical goblin quality, Talia does notice that one of the dogslicers hanging on the north wall is actually very well-made.
She smiles. "Desna's stars guide us in many ways. If you'd like once this is all over, I can do a divinatory reading of the stars for you." She looks around. "I should have for this journey, but sometimes there's things I don't want to know."
Riori keeps an eye out for strange patterns or sounds while Talia checks for trouble.
But sees nothing.
Taking the MW Dogslicer before Cade destroys it Talia again waits until everyone is readied and then opens the north door.
"If ye think it is a good thing to do, sure! Me mentor once told me that you ought to keep your eyes on what's right in front of you or else ye'll trip over the clutter. I guess that makes sense from a halfling point of view ... us dwarves and humans are much taller, after all."
Karu assumes a defensive position behind Talia and gives her a firm Dwarvish nod. "Ready when ye are."
Several rugs made from dog or horse hide lie strewn over the dirt floor of this room. Against the north wall stands an impressive collection of horseshoes, each nailed to the wall. To the east sits a ragged padded chair next to a rickety desk that may have once been an expensive antique. In the northwest corner sits a canopied bed covered with silk sheets and sporting an elaborately carved headboard that features nymphs and satyrs cavorting in a forest. The bed’s sheets are stained with dirt, while the headboard is bashed and battered.
Based on the once-nice decor, this looks like the chieftain's bedroom.
"I'm not sure I want to know how that headboard got that way," Riori comments. She kicks over a few rugs to see if there's anything beneath them.
Syeira looks over the room with a disapproving look. "Its sad, at one point these may have been beautiful works of craftsmanship. Why destroy just to destroy. Such a waste." While looking over the room she keeps an eye for anything that may not have been destroyed by the goblins.
Talia gives the room a search.
Once that is complete they head back to a unopened door.
Once again Talia is quiet and efficient and waits until everyone is ready to open the door.
Karu keeps watch when the others move into the room to investigate it. Who knows, maybe there are hidden treasures to be found inside? The dwarf wants to deny the possibility of that, but she has to admit to herself that what they might consider a treasure, the goblins might've seen as garbage. "Perhaps true value is found in the observer, and not in the observed."
Talia finds a silver unholy symbol of Lamashtu with tiny garnets for eyes under one of the pillows, and Syeira finds a large iron key wedged under the seat of the chair in front of the desk. There is nothing else of interest in the room, as none of the horseshoes looks to be particularly valuable or important.
Talia's check of the next door reveals a set of stairs leading down.
Keeping his sword in his hand he follows close to the lesser armored members, watching the areas as they pass, "Looks like this was a hell of a fight. No wonder you returned for supplies and rest."
"I suggest we complete the check of this floor before we head down." Talia proposes. "Looks like the vermin cleared out but better safe than sorry."
Karu nods vigorously at Talia, "That sounds smart to me. Here, if ye don't mind - take this, it will let Desna guide your step." The dwarf gives Talia a rune-etched bead. The gift is accompanied by a muttered prayer.
Riori nods in agreement with Talia.
The only place you haven't searched on this level is the courtyard, so you head that direction. Stepping into it, you see three doors - two that seem built into the fort, and one that looks like it leads to some sort of shed. Next to the shed you spy a dead goblin, it's head looking kind of...squashed.
...looks like we might not be the only ones around here that do not like goblins...
Riori eyes the unfortunate goblin and then looks up. "Did something fall on it? But then I guess there'd be something nearby..."" She examines its corpse.
With a closer look, Riori can't tell what squashed the goblin's head. She can, however, hear the sound of something in the shed.
Riori slowly steps away as she points at the shed. She whispers, "There's something in there."
Talaia listens carefully, trying to determine what is moving in the shed?
Riori slowly steps away as she points at the shed. She whispers, "There's something in there."
Well then let us take a closer look at what that may be.
Cade step towards the shed, pulling his rapier out as he does so.
They had dogs in this area before...might be one left behind.
Talia listens carefully, and is able to make out that whatever is within the shed is bigger than a goblin dog. She hears a stamping sound, kind of like a hoof or something.
Cade notices that the door to the shed is nailed shut - whatever is in here, the goblins did not want it getting out.
It would appear that whatever is in there was not liked by the goblins. It may even by an ally.
Cade points out that the shed is nailed shut to keep something inside from getting out.
A sad frown washes over Karu's round face, painting dimples in her otherwise puffy cheeks. "Goblins hate horses, don't they? They even got a special weapon to fight 'em, named it a horsechopper. Mind if I open the door and see if I can calm whatever is inside? Right, and in case it isn't a horse, well, I'm sure ye got my back? Great!"
The idea of saving whatever poor animal is inside energizes Karu.
Riori nods at Karu and stands ready.
It takes Talia a few minutes, but she's able to open the door to reveal...a horse! It whinnies, rears up and swings its hooves towards you, as much to frighten as to threaten. It has clearly been malnourished, and its eyes are wide with fear. You also spy the bodies of two other goblins in the shed, trampled by the horse.
Karu can tell that this horse is clearly a trained warhorse. She attempts to calm it down, but she's unable to do so.
Karu talks to the poor thing and offers it food."Come on now, dear! We're all friends!" But warhorses aren't exactly the friendliest of horses, what with them being trained to maim and kill. Realizing that things aren't exactly going her way, she hisses at the others, "Quick, anyone got a spell to put it to sleep?!"
Talia looks around hopefully for anything to feed the poor animal?
Placing himself between the horse and Bellum. Cade tosses an apple to Karu.
Try this
"Maybe this will help..."
Having grown up in a rooftop neighborhood, horses have always felt foreign to Riori. But she even she can tell the creature is probably frightened above all things. So perhaps if she simply removes fear from it...
She gestures toward the horse, repeating, "Peace of the stars upon you..." and lets the divine magic flow.
The horse calms down some - enough that Karu and Cade are able to calm it down further and begin feeding it. It especially likes Cade's apple, munching away at it. Now that it's calm, you can see that the saddle bears a name - Shadowmist.
You recall that the merchant you re-claimed the family sword from had said that goblins had stolen his and his partner's horse, Shadowmist, and that one of the gems from the hilt was in the saddlebags.
Karu breathes a sigh of relief when the horse visibly calms down. "Oh my, you're a lifesaver! These type o' horses don't take kindly to strangers telling 'em what to do. Especially so when they're scared!"
Seeing the saddle and the name brings a huge smile to his face. Taking a cue from Bellum, the handsome halfling rubs the side of the horses neck.
hey there shadowmist. You feeling better now? My name is Cade and I have met a friend of yours. He mentioned that he had an item of mine in your saddle bags. Do you mind if I take a look?
Cade rubs the nose of Shadowmist as he stands on his tippy toes to scratch between the eyes. Trying to show the horse that he means no harm.
Very slowly he walks back towards the saddle bags, talking kindly to the horse.
He tries to keep the excitement out of his voice and describes what he is looking for.
That gem is part of my family's legacy. It belongs to the weapon that is on my hip. I am also looking for the other gems that are part of the weapon. By chance do you know where they might be? No...it is ok. In time I will find them. I hope that the gem is in there and if so I owe you for keeping it safe.
Rummaging in his pack he produces a handful of trail bread and extends it to Karu by gently tapping on her shoulder with the back of his hand, "See if the poor thing will eat, yeah? Probably been down here so long Master Cade might start looking like a treat."
"Probably dehydrated as well." Talia remarks, looking around for a bucket that can be filled with water.
Karu accepts all the gifts of help offered to her by her companions. "Sure, sure thing, now that the fear is outta 'is eyes, it shouldn't bite me hands off." Carefully, she fills the bucket with conjured water by singing a song of prayer, for Desna blesses those who follow the path of stars. "Here, have some of this now 'ey," she says with what must be her soothing voice as she goes about feeding the horse.
Riori exhales. "Desna has blessed us indeed. I'm honestly not sure that was going to work..."
Riori eyes the horse with some wariness; she's used to seeing them on the road now. But they still seem so... big. She'd be more useful doing something else, so she keeps an eye out for trouble while the others attend to the horse.
While the horse is being cared for Talia will search the two rooms tthat are unexplored in this area.
If the doors are untrapped she will open them, taking 20 if unlocking is needed.
Talia finds neither traps nor locks on either door. Opening the southern door reveals several cages, full of rabbits. It appears you've found some of the goblins food supplies.
The other reveals a short hallway with a door to one side.
Shadowmist seems to be calmer than he was, but Cade's search of his saddlebags turns up empty. It appears that the goblins removed whatever was in them - perhaps the jewel he seeks is hidden elsewhere.
Cade closes his eyes as his hands come back out empty. The excitement that was on his face a moment ago fades to a visage of disappointment.
ah F~@*, Well it is here somewhere...I hope.
Karu feels for the halfling. Thinking you're there, finally able to reclaim something so very important to you, only to have life deny - it must hurt. "Logic would suggest one o' them goblins has it in its possession. Which beckons the question: where are they?! Well, we still got the basement to check out and oh, that door over there!"
"Logic would suggest one o' them goblins has it in its possession. Which beckons the question: where are they?! Well, we still got the basement to check out and oh, that door over there!"
Time will tell. As for where they are...we gave them a beating and they could have all ran off or gone below. We shall soon find out.
He shakes his head as he looks around, "Even if the Goblins had what you were looking for, I doubt they're holding it now. If the little things have time to scavenge then they've most likely snatched anything of worth from their dead companions. Either way we're not going to find your trinkets here, sir halfling. Are we ready to move on?"
"Your family is with you in your heart no matter what you possess."
She looks,at the horse. "What should we do with him? Tie him to a post outside? Obviously you knew the owner if you recognize the horse."
Riori is otherwise ready to proceed.
Talia nods agreement. "Tether him by the gate and leave some water as well. Nothing to do here but head downstairs. Hopefully it won't be as nasty as what's under Sandpoint."
Now calm, Shadowmist seems content to graze on the grass within the courtyard. The horse doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and you haven't seen any goblins on the floor since you arrived.
A search of the remaining rooms on this floor turns up some kind of meeting chamber, with a table and a few chairs (all goblin make, of course), as well as what can only be described as the goblins' latrine. This small, foul-smelling room features little more than a reeking hole in the ground, its rim stained with refuse and waste.
While looking in the latrine, Talia, Riori, and Karu all notice that the western wall contains a small, hidden door. Investigating the door reveals a catch to move it out of the way, behind which lies a locked sea chest. The iron lock appears to match the key you found in the Chieftain's room.
"Huh. Dad used to hide his valuables in the outhouse too." She looks to whomever has the key to await its opening.
Karu raises a hand to her companions, indicating that whoever has the key should hold. "Wait a second, please. Let me look to the Stars for guidance so that the path ahead is not fraught with danger ... "
She then wiggles her hands and invokes a pair of Desnian prayers in Dwarvish. Whatever the words might mean, they temporarily grant the dwarf the ability to detect both magic and poison.