"Well Father, I reckon we outta search these buggers out, see what they're about. We will let you know what we find out.".
Grizmark, looking at his new mutt, "Well boy, you might as well start learnin' to take orders from a dwarf. I'm new to this, so a little patience would be appreciated on your part, and I'll try to do the same. We need to sniff out where these greenskins came from, and I'm bettin' you've got quite the sniffer on ya."
To the party, "I don't know if my new friend gets the meanin' just yet. I think we should look for tracks to try and see if we can find a trail or clues, but I certainly don't have the gift for it."
Grizmark may make a handle animal check at a -2 to try to get the dog to understand the command, as he isn't actually trained to do anything.
It is currently 3:00 PM in game... not basing that off of actual time or anything.
Khaz nodded to the priest as he felt the channeled power of the man's god knit his flesh back together. Then, turning to the party he said:
"I can see that you are keen to pay these goblins back, but perhaps we should ensure that we get paid for this as well? Perhaps go to the town watch and see if there's a bounty on goblins ears or some-such. Food, ale and lodging doesn't pay for itself."
"I must admit my pockets are rather light these days. Perhaps I can let the dog sniff around for a bit while y'all speak to the guards. I don't want to risk losing the scent or tracks while you try to secure us some employment."
"Aye then. You lot follow the dog, I'll make my way to the watch house. Let's meet back here to regroup once we're done."
Who goes with Khaz, and who follows the dog?
Grizmark is with the dog
Parii looks between the two groups, and decides in her best interest to follow Grizmark and the dog.
Before leaving, Khaz goes from goblin to goblin, cutting off the ears. Upon finding the guards, he boldly walks up to them, holding an open palm out with the severed ears. As he walked up, he tried to look at their uniforms to figure out which one was likely in charge, in the hope that doing so would help his negotiations.
"Oi there! Sorry to bother ye durin' this, but might I have a moment o' ye time? Me kin an I have been killin' these wee buggers, an' are actively lookin' for whence they came. Before we keep our killin' spree, came to ask ye lot. Be there a bounty on the greenskins, or on information about where they came from?"
"There isn't a bounty on goblins my good dwarf, but we thank you for your assistance in our time of need. What are your names strangers?" says Sheriff Hemlock, whom you only recognized due to his introduction this morning.
With the dog failing to find the tracks or scent, Grizmark will try to find Khaz and Leroy to meet up with them
"The name's Khaz, Khaz Dourblade." He tries to hide his disappointment as he says this, tossing the ears at the bound goblin. "I'm 'ere with me kinsmen, Leroy. We got two others out huntin' more o' the buggers right now. Got any idea what be 'causing this? We ran intae a group over yon who were pushing a burning cart at ye new temple. Looked like they were plannin' to burn it down, 'fore they got some axes to the skulls, ye ken?"
"No, we know next to nothing of how this happened... And these lil' blitters have next to nothing between their heads... All they know is that the one who lead the assualt wasn't a goblin, but a 'longshanks' which could mean anywhere from human to orc, so little good that does us..." He pauses. "You all going to be in town long?"
About this time Parii and Grizmark catch up with the group.
"Aye, we might as well be. Jus' a group o' travelin' dwarves, ye ken? We follow the work as it comes, though in me kinsman's case, it was to see yer new temple. Why ye ask?"
He begins to answer your question when Father Zantus runs down the road, hollering for Sheriff Hemlock. Hemlock is pulled aside by Father Zantus who begins to speak to him in whispers...
After a few moments Hemlock nods, and turns towards you and says, "It appears that there's been some trouble in the graveyard, presumably while the raid was occuring..." He pauses, grins, and says, [i]"I don't suppose you all would be interested in assisting me while I check some stuff out down there? It'll free my men up to continue interrogatin' these here Goblins, who knows... maybe we'll find a little something of our own down there."
"Yes, we will go. Please tell us the nature of the issue on the way"
Parii, who has been mostly quiet through the rest of the night, is keenly interested about the graveyard being in trouble. "I agree to go, and that we would like to know of what has happened."
As you head towards the graveyard, the sheriff explains, "It appears that the former head-preist's tomb has been entered. Hopefully nothing of great importance has been taken, and it's just a small prank from some trouble-makers taking advantage of the confusion... but, you can never be to careful... So, where do you lot hail from?"
Khaz eyed the tomb hungrily. He had spent his entire adult life fighting the walking dead, and he had developed something of a taste for it. He sincerely hoped that he'd be able to bring his axe to bear on them once more.
"Karak Uzkul. We be from Clan Deathhammer. Gnome excepted, of course. He ready lads?"
"Parii, from Magnimar. At your service."
As you approach the suspect area, a stone structure whose doors hang open, you notice that there are many fresh prints all around the structure, if you wish to try to identify the footprints you may make either a perception or survival roll.
Khaz bends down to inspect the prints. With no need to rush, he takes his time studying them.
(Take 10: Thus an 18)
Most of the prints are goblin, but there is a set of larger shoed prints among them.
Interesting
"Well lads, looks like we found the ringleaders. What do you say we go pay them a visit?"
Khaz will follow the prints.
Khaz needs to make a survival check to follow the prints.
The tracks end at the door to the mausoleum, there are no tracks out of the broken doors.
"Weapons it is. Dog, stay here. Let's go
Grizmark advances through the door, trying not to make any loud noises if possible, with his longspear out and ready.
Make a handle animal check.
Anyone else doing anything?
"Now boy, keep yourself safe and watch the door for us, no need getting yourself hurt"
Khaz moves in, shield and axe out. He deliberately gets in front of his longspear wielding kinsman so Grizmark's reach doesn't become a liability.
Inside the crypt, lies... everything, still untouched, but the door of the vault, the actual chamber holding the various deceased High Priests, lies slightly ajar...
The sheriff raises an eyebrow and says, "They haven't grabbed anything from here, wonder what they wanted inside the vault... Shall we continue on then?"
"I hope the priests want out! Tired of these goblins dodging here and there. Give me a shambler any day."
"Aye manling. Follow me, let's see what we're dancin' with tonight."
As the sheriff opens the door, two skeletons wander out, mad and ready to fight, since you were expecting them, and they were waiting, there is no suprise round: Turn order is as follows
Khaz
Grizmark
Leroy
Parii
Skeleton
Khaz moves in to attack without a hint of fear. Quite the opposite, he was excited to face a familiar foe.
Girzmark follows suit and attacks the other skeleton
Parii draws her sword and smites the nearest skeleton towards her.
Grizmark and Khaz together down one of the skeletons, just as it enters through the vault door, neither one does as much to it as they should've as their blades went through the skeletons a bit more than they contacted it...
it will be Leroy's turn.
"Apologies for falling out. Life got busy.
Parii draws her sword and smites the nearest skeleton towards her.
Using smite evil, +3 attack bonus, +1 damage bonus, and overrides damage reduction if evil outsider, evil dragon, or undead."
Parii does not have to use her smite evil, as Leroy downs the skeleton with a single pebble, the blunt force surrounding it shattering the bones like glass...
Turn order has ceased and you are free to investigate the now empty vault.
Khaz walks confidently into the vault, axe and shield at the ready. He takes his time to carefully search the vault.