Isorion points at Aldren in a threatening manner, the tip lighting up while casting a spell which made no sense to the noble untill he heard some whispers in his ear: You are safe. Just sit there on the disk and don't make any noise if you want to remain that way. .
He makes a couple of step towards the hole but does not fallow the others, instead he points his finger in the hole aiming at one of the shapes and starts whispering If you need help let us know.
After that he begins studying the markings on the wall.
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Aldren says in a cowardly voice Ba but, you are not going down there aaaare you? Um, wait are you leaving me here alone? Please no, please lets just go back to town. I, I will give up adventuring. I will pay you double, NO Triple! If we can just leave now.
Avizzi shrugs his shoulders as he nears the cliff face, preparing to lower himself down after Idril. "Hope you don't mind the view of my feet," he says with a chuckle.
"Calm yourself, Aldren. To answer your question, I think that we encountered the Tickwood Horror. Unfortunately, you were knocked out in its initial charge, but we still managed to defeat it.
Isorion cast a spell to create a Floating Disc to carry you, and the boar's head (which, incidentally, will make an excellent trophy!). After we defeated the boar, we heard the sound of Goblin voices coming from the boar's dwelling, and we were going to go investigate.
We were not going to leave you alone; the disc will follow Isorion. If you feel strong enough, you can get off and walk, if you choose. Our adventure is not finished yet - we have Goblins to kill!"
Sergei eyes the fall dubiously, shrugs, pulls out some *knotted* rope, a piton, and a hammer, knocks the piton into the ground, and attaches the rope. He then begins to carefully climb down.
"I'll drink to that!" echoes the Ulfen's voice from the cave at Sergei's last comment, followed by an "Oof!" as the warrior tried to do just that and nearly lost his grip.
Cutting a piece from Sergery's rope, Isorion fixed the boar head on the disk. I wish I could take you back but... first we need to get our friends out of there and solve the goblin problem. I would advise to hold the boar's ears tight; it would be a crazy ride.
Sergei raises an eyebrow when Isorion cuts a portion from his length of rope.
"I know that I can simply Mend it in the morning, but I would appreciate it if you at least asked before doing that in the future..."
He then peers around the underground cavern.
"This is not natural. It was hollowed-out by sentient creatures..."
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Sergei sees several goblins up ahead attempting to hide as he is examining the cave.
Sergei whistles.
"You know, I think that this was once the entrance to an old Duergar city. You see that symbol over there? It is the divine icon of Droskar, The Dark Smith, and God of the Duergar. This place is ancient... It would require an immense horde of Goblins to fully take over this place..."
His voice trails off as he sees movement ahead.
"I SEE YOU! Come out and die!"
He then eagerly hustles forward towards his sworn racial enemies...
At least we hope you'll be safe up here, as she listens to the explanation given to Aldren.
She follows the others into the boar's den and watch them somewhat gracefully descend down the slope. Her own attempt is far from gracious, firstly she picks up to much speed and looses her footing, then as she tries to correct her mistake her chain shirt tips her balance and she falls down the slope.
Cursing under her breath she looks up from the dirt floor at the others. She suddenly goes quiet as she hear Sergei speak, his mention of the Duergar makes her shiver even though she doesn't know what they are. The final shout from the dwarf tells her that some enemy might be near and as she draws her dagger she thinks: By the gods please let this be something "natural".
Jumping down the last ten feet, Idril brushes her hands and smooths out her clothing before pulling out a torch and lighting it with a quick flourish.
She tenses when Sergei shouts his challenge, and searches the shadows for a target.
Sliding down any more of the way, Avizzi grunts as the arrow plinks into his shin. The Ulfen brings up his fists into his typical guarded stance and moves forward, ready to strike at any goblins that get too close.
"You should have listened..."
Sergei charges forward, swinging his warhammer in an overhead blow at the Goblin who shot him.
Round 1_____________
"OW!" Idril jumps as she is stuck by a deflected goblin arrow.
Glaring out at the little bastards, and wary of charging into the shadowed depths of the cavern, Idril holds the torch in her mouth as she takes her reinforced scarf, loops it around her hand, loads it with a chunk of rock and slings it at a handy goblin.
for a possible crush damage.
Isorion glances at the archer goblins and sighs knowing that combat could not be avoided. He releases a bolt at one of them before this fight would enter the melee phase.
As the goblins release their arrows the speech of her companions begins to warp in her ears and once again Chammady understands nothing. A presence far away presents it self for the third time and once again she reaches out calling it to her: "Tultan lye huan Angamado"
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23 Isorion Killed a goblin with Cross bow
23 3 Goblin archers Fired at Isorion, The floating disk and, Sergei
20 Sergei
Avizzi Readies attack
10 Chammady Begins a summon
5 Idril Has a torch and is firing a sling.
As Idril lights her torch the area brightens up. Odd runes on the walls of the cave glow in the fires light that were not visible before. The writing frightens the goblins who run away in fear.
Isorion lowers his crossbow and checks the scratch left by the goblin arrow on his shoulder. Sergei, don't scare all the goblins away! Especially when their heads are worth a lion's pelt. He casts a detect magic spell checking the glowing runes for signs of enchantment.
"Huh, weird," Avizzi says as the goblins run off. Turning to the group, he notices the writing and leans back. "Huh, weird."
Hmm... Interesting. It would seam our dwarf friend was right. This place is ancient. You see those runes up there? Those were used for protecting this place. But I fear that since this place is crawling with goblins either the source of magic has been extinguish, quite unlikely . Or, the tricky little critters found a way to bypass it.
Oh and does the name Xin-Shalast ring a bell for anybody?
The sorcerer rubs his chin thinking of the name inscribed on the runes. He gets closer to the fallen goblin and , with disgust, starts removing his head .
"No idea. Does it translate to anything?" Asked Idril idly. Interested in the runes, she wrapped her scarf around her shoulders again while walking up to some of the runes, holding up her torch to get a better look at them.
We have it's location. I would have to check the library to get more information, I had my share of studying the ancients but I'm by no means a scholar.
He throws the goblin head next to the boar's and after cleaning his hands he gives Idril a pat on the shoulder.
Oh and Idril, you did a fine job activating them with your fire. But I'm afraid that as soon as it burns down they will return to their previous state.
He heads towards the direction of the fleeing goblins than turns to the others
somewhat expecting that one of them would go first. Let's check what our friendly goblin sentries are doing. They might have sounded the alarm by now
Idril frowns at Isorion patting her on the shoulder, but then deciding it was a simple comradely gesture, she shrugs.
"I activated it? You must be mistaken, I am certainly no sorceress."
She peers into the darkness after the fleeing goblins.
"Well, normally I am quite adept at sneaking around matrons and chaperons, but I'm afraid down here underground I need light to see by." She holds up her torch by example.
"I fear that sneaking is probably no longer an issue. I dare say that those Goblins will raise the alarm... which is fine by me; I would prefer all of the Goblins to be in one place!"
He then heads after the Goblins, hoping that the others will follow.
Isorion lets the dwarf pass him and fallows closely dragging the disk with the noble and the heads along. He looks back at the humans reminded about their difficulty with dark places. I would recommend you keep the torch lit. There might be more of these runes around and I might want to see what are these goblins doing here before Sergei jumps at them and claims all their ears. Master Janderhoff? Care to explain how are we going to take all of them at once?
Seeing the goblins flee, Chammady regrets calling the presence and lets it fade away before it gains for. In the back of her mind she feels the growl as it isn't allowed to kill. Shaking her head slightly the sounds of her companions once again turn into words. She smiles at the friendly banter. If they can enjoy themselves here, we must be safer than I thought. "I care not for the method as long as they are handled," she smiles at Isorion's request.
Idril tossed her hair back.
"Don't worry. I do not want to be sightless down here."
She shudders when she looks at the severed heads. Especially with them.
Sergei grins at Isorion.
"How about we just keep crushing Goblin skulls, until we run out? I am sure that there will be plenty to go around, never fear!"
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You take the torch further down the cave and a few more runes light up. About 30' down the cave this stops being the case. The Goblins, if they are still in the cave, have made no more attempts to come after you.
Can we go back now please? I am in need of a hot bath. Aldren says in a voice a child would use on their mother.
"Not yet I am afraid, your adventure is not concluded." Chammady answers the man in a somewhat sombre tone. She moves to his side and glances over his wounds once more. He seems fine, scared but fine, she reasons with herself. She bends down and picks up a rock from the floor. Reaching inwards she takes hold of her inner flame and separates the light from the rest, letting the light flow to the rock, it begins to shine. "Here take this. It'll provide some light for you to see by," she says and hands it to Aldren.
Sergei smiles warmly at Aldren.
"Come, now, a true hero is one who is afraid, but swallows his or her fear, and still triumphs! Don't let a little discomfort dishearten you - there is still glory to be won, and bounties to be collected..."
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You come across some rotten meat and other signs of recent goblin activity ahead, but so far no Goblins. You travel for hours, following the twisted cavern.
Back underground, Sergei feels quite at home, contentedly humming a Dwarven marching song under his breath as the party continues onward.
After a while, he comments:
"You know, I think we are following a fairly sizable force... probably around 40 Goblins and their Goblin Dogs. I also think that this tunnel system is heading back in the direction of Sandpoint... We should probably hurry. The last thing we need is an attack upon the town!"
The eyes of the half elf open wide when Sergei had announced the size of the goblin group ahead. He took a deep breath checking how the others took the news and looking backwards more often than before but still moving on, his pace becoming faster. Hear that Aldren? We're taking a shortcut! We might even get there before dinner. He makes a circle in the air making the disk to remain further behind than gets closer to the others. We can't take them head on. We need to overtake them and prepare the defenses. he says with a shushed tone.
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With your encouragement and news of a possible invasion of goblins Aldren stirs on the floating disk.
You are right. I am sorry gentlemen, I have lived a sheltered and pampered life. I will fight these beasts, we may be the only thing that can turn the tide. Aldren stands up and readies his equipment.
On horseback the tickwood was only about thirty minutes from Sandpoint. This underground path is proving to be very long and difficult. You estimate it is about dusk when you finally see the exit. It is as you feared. You can see in the distance goblin figures in the streets. Avizzi recognizes the exit, it is at the base of a tree he and the Shoanti inspected right before the first attack. It is only large enough for small creatures to slip through, you will have to make it bigger to fit yourselves and the floating disk.
Peering at the hole, Idril swears; "Blast the luck! Did anyone bring a shovel? Or a crowbar?"
Sergei nods to Aldren.
"No trouble at all. We will make a Hero of you yet! Think of the stories that will be told!"
He then grins at Idril.
"I do indeed have a crowbar, but I also have a pick, which can be used to loosen the earth a *lot* faster..."
Sergei draws his pick, and sets about enlarging the path...
Smiling to herself at the exchange between Idril and Sergei. "You almost seem at home down here," she says to Sergei. Did anyone look through the hole and know what is no the other side?" she inquires.
Idril is startled at first to see Sergei hauling around a pick as well as a crowbar, then she grins.
"Well, if you insist on taking the easy way out, by all means!"
She turns to Little Chammady, her smile fled.
"I looked through the hole, and saw the streets of Sandpoint. And the Goblins."
Sergei smiles at Chammady.
"As I was growing up, I often explored the tunnels below our city, so yes, I do feel quite at home."
He winks at her conspiratorily before turning his attention to Idril.
"Well, I would not call it the easy way," he says between pick blows, "but it is definitely the most direct!"
Sergei swings his pick swiftly and forcefully, trying to dig through to reach the Goblins as quickly as possible...
"Aghh.. They're already there?! Isorion jumps at the hearing of goblins on the streets and climbs along the others and starts removing the mud out of the way.
Taking a moment to breath and to regain his forces he looks at the dwarf and smiles. Sergei, you are by far the queerest cleric I have ever seen. But as long as you don't hit me with that big pick, you are fine by me.