Look out, Eberk! She's trying to Daze you!
Sure. It's the verbal component of the Daze spell.
spoiler for Yod
"I smacky-smacky me hands - you glazey-glazey you eyes". Presumably, there was more to the spell when she prepared it. This would be some kind of triggering phrase for a goblin version of this spell.
For DM
I take a step forward and try to shut her up, atk roll 20 + 6 total 26
confirm roll 11 + 6 total 17 Damage roll d8 = 1 + 7
total 8 if a critical second d8 = 8 + 7 total 15
Somebody slap me. I don't think I have ever been that confused. My roll was a big ole 2+0=2. Good thing Yod killed her or I may have thought she was my high school sweetheart.
Eberk sees a blinding flash of light that no one else sees. Rather than press the attack, he stands there blinking and rubbing his eyes.
Bang bang. Maxwell's Silver Morningstar made sure she is dead. The card says Yod does the normal double damage he's supposed to do, plus the already mortal wound gets infected. It'll probably leave a scar too.
Shalelu sheathes her sword and comes over to Sari offering her hand.
"My thanks to all of you. I asked you to trust me and then I led you into an ambush! I cannot believe Bruthazmus burned me so badly. He had more than one of my prepared draws trapped, and he picked up my trail twice after I thought I'd lost him. This last cave - I thought for sure I was a step ahead of him and his lot. If it wasn't for you guys, I might have paid a dear price for that last mistake."
"I think I know why you seek me, but why don't you tell me anyway," she starts to walk down the slope as she's talking. "...while we make our way to those horses of yours. I have no idea at this point how many more goblins we share the wood with."
"Nice! I've got just enough left for a detect magic spell or two. Let's check out these two," pointing at the newly dead female and the archer. "We'll gather up anything that looks valuable and I'll check them out as soon as get to some relative safety. Ishah come."
One casting will cover the search of both bodies. Each of them possesses a vial of liquid that radiates magic. There's also one arrow in the archer's quiver that radiates minor magic. There are no other sources on either of the bodies.
Otherwise, you find 4 platinum pieces in a pouch at Bruthazmus's belt, and his bow draws your attention. It is a masterwork composite longbow - obviously not of goblin craft. The scrollwork on the bow suggests it may be of elven make. It is not magical, but it is obviously a fine weapon.
Shalelu stops by Bruthazmus's corpse and bends to cut off his left ear. She threads the grizzly trophy onto a lanyard that holds many such gnarly pieces of goblin flesh, and stuffs it back into a leather rucksack she carries. She also replenishes her arrows from those remaining in his quiver, though she defers to you all on the arrow that radiates magic.
The fire is now just a smouldering bush. The forest is apparently wet enough that it is not able to really take hold.
Occasionally, a distant shrill whistle call reminds you that there are still enemies afoot.
"Let's get moving," Shalelu suggests.
I tell her your welcome for the ear, stick with me and you'll need to get a larger bag for them.
"I have no use for the bow or arrows." I whisper to Yod, "The way she shoots, she could use the arrows. Let's get out of here."
Well I am interested in the bow, I'm not trained to use it but we at least need to find out if it has a strenght bonus, if it does I might want to use it. Shalelu probably can't use it anyway. We should check the arrow too, might be usefull to anyone using a bow.
Yod tests the bow. Shalelu displays nothing but a casual interest in the bow's make. She shudders at the look of the magic arrow, but cannot really tell you why. There's also a heavy flail and a whip in the loot - both of which bear signs of goblin craftsmanship.
Shalelu leads you back to your cart track (which she calls the Biston's Pond road). By the time you reach the track the whistle calls have either ceased or moved farther away. More than that, the return of some of the normal sounds of the forest convince you that the goblins have called off any chase.
Walking up the track back to the Lost Coast Road your pace slows down to where even Eberk can walk and talk.
"Now tell me what has happened in Sandpoint." She queries. "There was an attack - that much I heard from the goblins chasing me. Were you all there to see it?"
As we walk and talk, we tell her about the goblin attack and the stealing of the bones from the cemetary.
If it's the same arrow as the ones he was sticking in her I can see why she might not want to se one, they seam to do much damage!!
So where are we going now, back to town now that we found her? or further on down the road?
It seems fate was wise to bring us together. Now that you know our tale, what insight can you add? It seems we all have many questions, but few answers.
While we walk and talk I'll take a better look at the vials and the arrow. Nice! "I can't tell much about them. Sari, why don't you take a look at them."
"Why would they steal bones?"
"And those were more than just Thistletop goblins in the raid on Sandpoint - not like this lot that's been chasing me for two days. I listened to two goblins at a 'listening post' of theirs last night talking about the raid. There were warriors lent from all the other local goblin tribes for that raid. In fact they all wanted a piece of the raid for some reason."
"This thing with me was more personal. Bruthazmus has been running with the Thistletop goblins for awhile now. He's obviously led them to no good. I bet if a trail is to be found after the lost day, it is going to lead straight back to Thistletop."
"I can go back to the town with you - indeed, I need to resupply. But I also need to get back out into the woods quickly and get some questions answered."
"Shalelu, why do you say it was personal? And, I didn't think it was normal for goblins to act together like that. Maybe they are linked to the unidentified stranger that left the wagon. It seems we have more questions than answers, and I really hate that. Could you use some help?"
You don't know exactly what the arrow is, but you believe that Shal's intuitive avoidance of it may be a strong clue.
There are crude marks in goblin scratched on each of the phials which Yod can read. They mean 'healing' and 'better healing'.
Knowledge (local) or (geography) checks needed here. Read the spoilers your total entitles you to. In any event, you think you've seen Thistletop on a map somewhere before.
DC 10
DC 12
DC 15
DC 20
Shalelu turns to Sari.
"Well, Bruthazmus and I go back a little bit. I generally try to keep an eye on the countryside for Sandpoint, and Magnimar a little as well. More often than not when I come through this stretch of the woods, Bruthazmus and I have a way of finding one another. He was a murderous thug, and the runt goblins he'd shacked up with at Thistletop are like weeds that bite. He'd take a shot if he could get one, then lope off into the woods and end up eluding me in the brambles and weeds. He sold his little servants cheap." She lifts the lanyard out of the bag and shows you again, shaking it for emphasis.
"I guess those games are over, eh?" She turns to wink at the boys.
"So I think he may have been trying to keep me from Sandpoint so I couldn't interfere with their raid, but more likely he just wanted my ear on his string, and was taking advantage of some new influence he had over Ripnugget's clan."
"No doubt the answers are out there," she gestures back to the forest.
"You're absolutely right that the tribes working together is an odd thing. Someone with influence is organizing the tribes against Sandpoint and the homesteaders south of the river."
"I think for now, I will be better off on my own for the tracking mission, and I'll recommend as much to Belor. I can move very fast and very quietly while tracking, and I'll be doubly safe now that Bruthazmus is history. I'm not convinced that the danger to the town has passed.
"I think some of the answers to the mystery of your stranger with the wagon were written on the ground, but are destroyed by now. I have high hopes for the graveyard and the tracks leading from there."
"I don't know much about this area except for the little bit I travelled through on the way in. Where is Thistletop and what is it?"
"Thistletop is in the Nettlewood. It's a small island just off the coast, and has been a goblin lair for many years. I haven't seen the place in a long time - can't get close enough to get a good idea of what's going on there. With their bugbear buddy slain, the place may be a little easier to approach if that becomes necessary. My tentative plan is to try to find and follow the tracks the raiders left through the woods and establish that Thistletop is responsible for the raid."
"Once we have a better idea of who this guiding force among the goblins may be, then maybe we'll hae enoughinformation for Belor and Mayor Deverin to act."
Your group reaches the intersection with the Lost Coast Road. Across the way you see Sivian and the horses, along with another of the watch talking with him from the saddle. One of them spots your party as you emerge from the forest.
"Shalelu! Praise Desna! We were worried about you." Sivian starts preparing the horses for the ride back to Sandpoint.
"I'm riding ahead to recall the men sent to the bridge." The other watchman calls as he spurs his horse into a canter. "Good to have you back Shal. Maybe we can start to get to the bottom of all this now."
Knowledge Local roll = 20 + 5 total 25
Knowledge Local roll = 20 + 5 total 25
Anybody up for a beer, all this walking and talking has made me thirsty.
Shal, how long do you anticipate being gone? Is there something that we can do to help? Should we head towards the goblin lair for some recon???
"Probably a day or two, depending where the tracks lead. Let's wait and see what Belor has to say as well. He and Mayor Deverin may have a plan of action already, and we should speak with them before settling on anything. Certainly if it comes to attacking Thistletop, the town will need all the help it can get. There aren't enough men in the garrison to guard the town and mount such an attack. Perhaps a small group of tough warriors might succeed where a frontal attack would be doomed."
She grows thoughtful for awhile. You mount up on the loaned animals and start on your way back towards town.
After a little while, Shalelu continues. "The loss of so many warriors has to have severely weakened the Thistletop tribe. What with the Sandpoint raid, and the damage we've done today... but there are still too many pieces of the puzzle missing. I won't personally sign on to any mission to attack Thistletop until we have a really good idea of what we'll be facing. Certainly, if there is some coalition between all the local tribes centered on Thisteltop, it may be nigh unassailable."
So this Ripnugget is he going to be the one running this operation or what ever is going on here, or who might be pulling his strings if he's not in charge?
What else do you know about him? I'm guessing we are going to end up knocking heads with him face to face as soon as he figures out that we are messing up his plans whatever they might be.
Is he tough or tricky? How many bolts will I have to loose into him if he wont listen to reason?
Will he come after us or just send more fodder at us, or will we have to go after him?
"It's not the goblins that make me curious about this whole affair. There's a human element in this. The attack on the town was well coordinated. Points of entry were ungarrisoned at the appropriate moments. Also, Father Zantus got back up to make a speech during the festival. The crowd noise was loud and to get everyone's attention, he tossed a item on the ground that made a loud noise. All of the attacks seemed to commence upon that sound. When we asked the Father about it, he said he had never done that before, but it was common in Magnimar to do that to draw a crowd's attention. I don't think the Father intentionally started the attack, but I'm wondering if he wasn't somehow persuaded. Have you seen anyone else out here that seemed out of place, even during festival time?"
She turns first to Cha.
"That's why I'll feel better if folks such as yourselves are in the town while I sneak around and follow the track. I'm hanging up on some of the same questions and I wonder if Sandpoint is really safe yet. There is definitely an element to this that's inside the town."
Talking to both Yod and Cha now, she says, "This part of the coast is really rife with goblins. The authorities among the tribes are their 'heroes'. Bruthazmus was one such champion. Ripnugget, the clan leader of the Thistletops is another. Koruvus was another, but he hasn't shown his mug for sometime now, so someone probably stuck a dogslicer in him. Another's named Gugmut and lives up in Mosswood.
"I guess they're chieftains because they'll personally kill anyone that doesn't listen to them, and that's what passes for leadership among goblins. It's hard to fathom one of them ever unifying the goblins into one force. Certainly not for any purpose other than to pillage."
Again addressing Cha, she says, "I've actually been south of the Tundarok, among the homesteads for a couple of days prior to the festival. There were some fires, one in a mill, another was a barn. I was looking into it, and missed any chance to warn Sandpoint of the goblins. I heard about the Sandpoint raid from one of the last homesteads I visited before recrossing the river and walking into Bruthazmus's traps. A fortnight before that I was in Magnimar.
"The festival certainly seems to have provided great cover for sneaking goblins into the town. What with all the Varisian wagons, plus merchants coming for the festival."
"And Father Zantus is right about the thunderstones. They do use them occasionally to get the attention of the crowd. Not a cheap practice, but common enough. It's just that kind of thing that drives me right back out of the cities and back to the tranquility of the forest."
So back to town? I'm ready for another good meal at the inn while I stare at Ameiko !
I ride along with Eberk while listening to Shalelu's retelling. As conversation winds down and we are still traveling, I ask my friend Eberk to help me make up a new ditty. I open the contest to all...."Anyone that comes up with the best verse gets their meal on the one with the worst verse. Shalelu can judge."
"I'm in.
Headed to Sandpoint, we found our elf
Battling with Bruthazmus, up near Leb's Tors shelf.
He stuck her full of feathers, but she's quick on the mend.
Yod put him to sleep, he'll n'er do that again.
I'll be after Ameiko's best tonight with one of you paying."
At "...stuck her full of feathers..." Shalelu frowns and sticks her tongue out at Cha. But she laughs at the rhyme all the same.
As the others ponder their verses, your group breaks out of the woods and comes back out into the sun. The wind is off the water and carries a bit of a late afternoon chill with it. You pass the track to the fairgrounds on your left.
Cha, my friend, while your verse is most lyrical, I must appeal to Shalelu's baser side.
There was a young man with stars in his eyes,
He crooked his finger, and I with no ties
Lay in the late morning sunshine.
We laughed and we loved, all that glorious day,
And when the sun set we went on our way,
Alas,
Love in the sun is brief, but, ah, what an a&&!
Anyone else care to join? What of you friend dwarf? Your singing is always so enjoyable!
"Sari! What would your father say?"
He would want to hear the verse about the beautiful, lush, round....apples on the tree in the meadow, I'm certain. Would you care to see the dance that goes with this song, my friend?
Shalelu laughs at the song. When Sari challenges Cha, she asks "Hey, now. I'm the judge, not him." She turns back to the half-Orc and the dwarf to see if there are going to be other entries. Sivian looks at you all like you're mad.
He would want to hear the verse about the beautiful, lush, round....apples on the tree in the meadow, I'm certain. Would you care to see the dance that goes with this song, my friend?
"Yes, I'm quite certain I would. Maybe when this is all over..."
He's only 1st level
"Well Sari, looks like Yod and Eberk will be treating us both to dinner tonight...no verse equals worst verse I'm thinking."
Makes me feel like killin sumthin not singing, perhaps these verses should be repeated during some future battle, might give me a bonus of some kind.
Anyway not too many minstrals about the town during my youth
thus I never picked up any skills in that area. So if you need to have a meal on my coin so be it.
Or instead perhaps I'll just cook you dinner, plenty of dead goblins around to make enough stew for everyone!
"I think Yod's concession really means he did not accept the challenge. The loser was to buy, right? And my meal as well, as I understand the rules? What say you good Dwarf? Are you a minstrel or do you just provide the dancing?"
Before Eberk can answer, the group crests a rise and comes into view of the Old Light and the town of Sandpoint clustered around it. From here the monument looks bigger, like the tip of a great finger pointed straight at the heavens. Even the new chapel structure is dwarfed by its scale.
Sivian spurs his mount to take the last stretch at a half-gallop and you all manage to do the same without incident, though by the time you reach the city's gate, Eberk wants down and Yod's horse wants him to get down.
You're waved through the gates and greeted by Belor in the yard of the garrison house. He clasps Shalelu's hand.
"It's good to see all of you back." He looks at the field bandaging Shalelu's used to dress what's left of her wounds. He tells one of the watchmen by the door to go get Father Zantus.
"Looks like you've been in a bit of a scrape yourself Shal."
Belor ushers all of you into the mess hall inside the garrison building. There’s a large wooden table in the center and many chairs. He motions for you all to be seated, but Father Zantus goes from person to person taking a look at each one’s injuries. He looks up at Cha and nods his approval.
“Most of these are just superficial now. Really just bloodstained clothes and minor cuts, though these,” pointing to Shalelu’s arm and shoulder, “were most likely life-threatening. Yes?”
He whispers a prayer to Desna over the wounds and the marred flesh of Shalelu’s exposed shoulder smoothes out.
While the Father is muttering his prayers, Shalelu begins to relate her story of the last couple of days. There’s really nothing in her explanation that you haven’t already heard. Part-way through her explanation, Mayor Deverin comes in and takes a seat at the table. When Shalelu finishes her tale, Belor describes the attack on the town. Again, you’ve heard it all before, but are gratified by his description of your actions to defend the town and its citizens.
When the tale is complete, everyone sits for a moment in silence, digesting everything that’s been said.
Belor breaks the silence. “Shal, I’d like you to take a look at the tracks left in the graveyard. The ‘human’ element of this attack is still the wildcard. I thought the corpses of the attackers bore the marks of all the local goblin tribes, so your overheard conversation bears that out. I’d like to know where Father Tobyn’s remains were taken, and by whom. If that was the reason for the raid, then those tracks may very well lead us straight to the planner and thief.”
“Further, I think we need more men under arms to safeguard the town from further mischief. The mayor and I agree that someone needs to go to Magnimar to present this request to the lord governor there, and that I’m the right person for that mission. I have connections in the administration that might make a difference.”
“The town’s security is still an issue, though. Corporal Hegred is capable of keeping the patrols going and seeing to the general security, but I have concerns over how he may handle an emergency. I would take it as a personal favor if you,” turning now to the party, “would see that nothing happens to my town while I’m gone. I know you’re not part of the watch, and I hold you under no obligation. But my mind would be easier if you would agree to keep an eye on things in my absence. I should only be gone a couple of days.”
He turns now back to Shalelu. “If, in that time, you were able to track the grave-robbers to their base, perhaps we can talk about going on the offensive when I return. With any luck, I’ll have an armed column at my tail.”